1c George Washington Stamp (1954): How to Identify It

• Series and printing: this is the 1¢ George Washington stamp of the 1954-61 Liberty Series.
• What it replaced: issued to replace the 1938 Presidential series, this patriotic set of stamps honors guardians of freedom throughout U.S. history.

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

• Coil stamps in the Liberty Series: Liberty Series coil stamps are perforated on only two opposite sides (gauge 10), unlike sheet stamps which are perforated on all four sides at 11 x 10 1/2.

• 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.