4c Abraham Lincoln Stamp (1965): How to Identify It

• Subject and series: pictures Abraham Lincoln, part of the Prominent Americans Series honoring individuals who played significant roles in U.S. history.
• Color: black.

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

• Coil, vertical perf 10 (Scott 1303, 1966): A coil-format version perforated only on the vertical edges at gauge 10, unlike the sheet stamp.

The earlier Liberty Series 4c Lincoln is printed in red violet; the later Prominent Americans 4c Lincoln is printed in black. See the 4c Abraham Lincoln page.

• 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.