U.S. Definitive Stamp Identifier

4 1/2c The Hermitage (Andrew Jackson's home) Stamp (1959): How to Identify It

4 1/2c The Hermitage (Andrew Jackson's home), Liberty Series (1954-1968), issued 1959-03-16: design, perforation, printing and 1 variety to check, with the issue notes quoted from stamp references and USPS.

At a glance

  • Denomination: 4 1/2c
  • Series: Liberty Series (1954-1968)
  • Issued: 1959-03-16
  • First-day city: Hermitage, TN
  • Scott catalog number: 1037
  • Printing: Rotary press
  • Perforation: 10 1/2 x 11
  • Color: Blue green

How to recognize the 4 1/2c The Hermitage (Andrew Jackson's home) stamp

  • Design subject: pictures a Greek Revival mansion, the Hermitage.
  • Wet vs. dry printing: dry-printed examples can be told apart by whiter paper and a higher surface sheen.

Varieties to check

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

  • Coil stamp, Scott 1059 (1959-05-01, Denver, CO): The coil version is perforated only on the horizontal edges instead of on all four sides like the sheet stamp.

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 4 1/2c The Hermitage (Andrew Jackson's home) stamp issued?

1959-03-16, first day in Hermitage, TN, as part of the Liberty Series (1954-1968).

How do I know it is the 1959 The Hermitage (Andrew Jackson's home) and not another one?

Design subject: pictures a Greek Revival mansion, the Hermitage.

Are there different versions of the 4 1/2c The Hermitage (Andrew Jackson's home) stamp?

Yes. Coil stamp, Scott 1059 (1959-05-01, Denver, CO): The coil version is perforated only on the horizontal edges instead of on all four sides like the sheet stamp.

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

See what your stamps are really worth.

Start with a single scan.

Sources

Updated 2026-09-11.

Help us understand what works

With your permission, we use privacy-limited analytics to measure page use and App Store clicks. We do not load analytics or send events unless you allow it.

Read the Privacy Policy