1c Dorothea Dix Stamp (1983): How to Identify It
1c Dorothea Dix, Great Americans Series (1980-1999), issued 1983-09-23: design, perforation, printing and varieties to check, with the issue notes quoted from stamp references and USPS.
At a glance
- Denomination: 1c
- Series: Great Americans Series (1980-1999)
- Issued: 1983-09-23
- First-day city: Hampden, ME
- Scott catalog number: 1844
- Designer / engraver: Portrait by illustrator Bernie Fuchs
- Printing: Engraved
- Perforation: 11
- Color: Black
How to recognize the 1c Dorothea Dix stamp
- Portrait source: based on an 1846 photograph of Dix by an unknown photographer.
- Printing significance: the first definitive stamp produced specifically for the 'A' combination gravure-intaglio press, which printed multi-color stamps with floating plate numbers.
Checks that apply to any U.S. definitive
- Measure the perforations with a gauge; the same design often exists in two or three gauges, and that is usually what separates the common one from the scarce one.
- Sheet, coil or booklet: coils have two straight edges on opposite sides; booklet panes have one or two straight edges from the pane edge.
- Tagging: hold it under a longwave UV lamp; tagged and untagged printings of the same design are listed separately.
- Condition (centering, gum, cancel) is a separate question from identification.
How to photograph it for identification
Lay the stamp flat on a dark background in daylight, fill the frame, and keep the phone parallel so the perforations are not distorted. Photograph the back too if there is a watermark or gum question. The app reads the design and denomination; the perforation and tagging checks above settle which listing it is.
FAQ
When was the 1c Dorothea Dix stamp issued?
1983-09-23, first day in Hampden, ME, as part of the Great Americans Series (1980-1999).
How do I know it is the 1983 Dorothea Dix and not another one?
Portrait source: based on an 1846 photograph of Dix by an unknown photographer.
Is my copy worth anything?
This page identifies the stamp; it does not price it. Most definitives were printed in the hundreds of millions, so what matters is which variety you have and its condition. Identify it here first, then use the varieties list to see if you have one of the scarcer printings.
Related
Sources
Updated 2026-09-11.