1940, 2¢ James Fenimore Cooper, Rose Carmine, United States (Scott #860)

The submitted stamp is part of the "Famous Americans Issue," a landmark series released by the U.S. Post Office Department in 1940. This expansive series consists of 35 stamps honoring prominent figures in American culture, categorized into seven groups: Authors, Poets, Educators, Scientists, Composers, Artists, and Inventors. This specific stamp is the second denomination in the "Authors" group.

It honors James Fenimore Cooper (1789–1851), the prolific American novelist best known for his frontier adventure tales, including The Last of the Mohicans. The engraving is based on a famous daguerreotype of the author taken by Mathew Brady.

Technical Specifications

• Catalog Number: Scott #860.

• Denomination: 2 cents (2¢).

• Date of Issue: January 29, 1940.

• Printing Method: Rotary Press.

• Perforation: 10½ x 11.

• Color: Rose Carmine.

• Subject: Portrait of James Fenimore Cooper.

Condition Analysis

• Status: Used. The stamp features a black ink cancellation, commonly referred to as a "wavy line" machine cancel, which was standard for high-volume mail processing during the mid-20th century.

• Centering: Fine to Very Fine (F-VF). The design is slightly shifted toward the top and left margins. While the margins are somewhat unbalanced, the perforations do not cut into the design frame, maintaining its collectible integrity.

• Postmark: A clear machine cancellation consisting of six horizontal wavy lines. The cancellation is primarily concentrated on the left side of the stamp, leaving the portrait and the name plate largely legible.

• Damage: No visible tears, creases, or missing perforations are observed on the front. The reverse side (from the second image) shows evidence of a hinge remnant, indicating the stamp was previously mounted in a philatelic album.