25c Paul Revere Stamp (1958): How to Identify It

• Portrait source: the image of Paul Revere is based on an 1813 painting by Gilbert Stuart.
• Coil perforation: gauge 10, vertical.

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

• Coil stamp, Scott 1059A (1965-02-25, Wheaton, MD): The coil is perforated only on the vertical edges (gauge 10) rather than on all four sides like the sheet stamp.

The 25c Paul Revere coil, like the 2c Jefferson coil, stayed in production and was reissued repeatedly over a long period rather than printed once, which is a documented reason large numbers survive.

• 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.