1948, 3¢ Dr. George Washington Carver, Red Violet, United States (Scott #953)

This stamp is a genuine specimen of the 1948 issue honoring the distinguished American agronomist and scientist Dr. George Washington Carver. The stamp was released to commemorate the fifth anniversary of his death.

The vignette features a portrait of Dr. Carver; the lower left corner depicts a chemical retort, symbolizing his contribution to science and chemical research (specifically his work with peanut, sweet potato, and soybean products). This issue (Scott #953) is a classic example of mid-20th-century U.S. commemorative stamps. The printing quantity exceeded 120 million copies, making it a common and accessible issue for collectors, although copies with perfect centering are less common.

Technical Specifications:

• Catalog Number: Scott #953.

• Denomination: 3 Cents (3¢).

• Release Date: January 5, 1948.

• First Day City: Tuskegee Institute, Alabama.

• Printing Method: Rotary Press.

• Perforation: 10½ x 11.

• Color: Bright Red Violet.

• Subject: Portrait of George Washington Carver and a chemical retort.

Condition Analysis:

• Status: Used. The stamp has seen postal circulation.

• Cancellation: The face bears a heavy black machine cancellation. Fragments of lettering are visible ("...ORD," possibly ending a city name like HARTFORD or BEDFORD) along with the date "...AR 5" (most likely MAR 5 — March 5th). The cancel obscures a significant portion of the portrait and denomination.

• Centering: Fine (F) or Fine-Very Fine (F-VF). The design is noticeably shifted to the right and upward. The left margin is significantly wider than the right, and the bottom margin is wider than the top. While the perforations do not cut into the design, the margins are unbalanced, which lowers the philatelic value of this specific copy compared to perfectly centered examples (XF/Superb).

• Reverse Side: The gum is absent (washed off), which is typical for used stamps removed from envelopes. No visible thin or paper tears are apparent under current lighting.

• Perforations: Generally intact with minor irregularities typical of separation from a sheet.