10c Jefferson Memorial Stamp (1973): How to Identify It

10c Jefferson Memorial, Prominent Americans Series (1965-1978), issued 1973-12-14: design, perforation, printing and 1 variety to check, with the issue notes quoted from stamp references and USPS.

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At a glance

Denomination: 10c
Series: Prominent Americans Series (1965-1978)
Issued: 1973-12-14
First-day city: Washington, D.C.
Scott catalog number: 1510
Printing: Rotary press
Perforation: 12
Color: Blue

How to recognize the 10c Jefferson Memorial stamp

Design subject (a building, not a portrait): the Jefferson Memorial, designed to reflect Jefferson's admiration of Roman architecture.
Architectural details visible on the stamp: circular marble steps, a portico, Ionic-order columns, and a shallow dome.

Varieties to check

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

Coil (Scott 1520, 1973-74): A coil-format version of the same Jefferson Memorial design, issued alongside 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 10c Jefferson Memorial stamp issued?

1973-12-14, first day in Washington, D.C., as part of the Prominent Americans Series (1965-1978).

How do I know it is the 1973 Jefferson Memorial and not another one?

Design subject (a building, not a portrait): the Jefferson Memorial, designed to reflect Jefferson's admiration of Roman architecture.

Are there different versions of the 10c Jefferson Memorial stamp?

Yes. Coil (Scott 1520, 1973-74): A coil-format version of the same Jefferson Memorial design, issued alongside 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.

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Sources

Updated 2026-09-11.