3c Thomas Jefferson Stamp (1938): How to Identify It

3c Thomas Jefferson, Presidential Series "Prexie" (1938-1954), issued 1938-06-16: design, perforation, printing and 3 varieties to check, with the issue notes quoted from stamp references and USPS.

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At a glance

Denomination: 3c
Series: Presidential Series "Prexie" (1938-1954)
Issued: 1938-06-16
First-day city: Washington, DC
Scott catalog number: 807
Designer / engraver: Design by Elaine Rawlinson (contest-winning designer for the series)
Printing: Rotary press
Perforation: 11 x 10 1/2
Color: Deep violet

How to recognize the 3c Thomas Jefferson stamp

Series numbering logic: the fifth issue in the series depicting a deceased U.S. President, with the denomination matching his numerical order in office.
Perforation: 11 x 10 1/2.

Varieties to check

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

Booklet pane of 6 (Scott 807a): Sold bound into a pane of 6 stamps rather than as a full sheet.
Vertical perf 10 coil (Scott 842, 1939): A coil-format version perforated only on the vertical edges at gauge 10.
Horizontal misperforation error: A striking printing error where the perforation rows run in the wrong direction relative to the design.

3c Thomas Jefferson vs 1c George Washington, Presidential Series (Scott 804, 1938)

Both are part of the same 1938 'Prexie' series with the same border style and denomination-order logic, but the 3c stamp pictures Jefferson (3rd president) in deep violet while the 1c stamp pictures Washington (1st president) in green. See the 1c George Washington page.

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 3c Thomas Jefferson stamp issued?

1938-06-16, first day in Washington, DC, as part of the Presidential Series "Prexie" (1938-1954).

How do I know it is the 1938 Thomas Jefferson and not another one?

Series numbering logic: the fifth issue in the series depicting a deceased U.S. President, with the denomination matching his numerical order in office.

Are there different versions of the 3c Thomas Jefferson stamp?

Yes. Booklet pane of 6 (Scott 807a): Sold bound into a pane of 6 stamps rather than as a full sheet. The page lists 3 in total.

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.

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