8c Statue of Liberty Stamp (1954): How to Identify It

• Milestone: the first U.S. bi-colored (two-color) definitive stamp issued in a denomination under $1.
• Milestone: the first definitive stamp to include the motto 'In God We Trust.'
• Debut ceremony: President Dwight D. Eisenhower presided over a special televised ceremony debuting the stamp.

The same design was issued in more than one form. Which one you have changes the catalog listing:

• 1954 Flat Plate / Rotary Press printing (Scott 1041 / 1041B): Earlier printings required two separate passes through the press, one per color, leaving two plate numbers in the sheet margin.
• 1958 redrawn Giori Press printing (Scott 1042): The redrawn 1958 version was printed in a single pass on the Giori press and carries only one plate number instead of two; its color is carmine rose rather than plain carmine.

• 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.

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.