Identify a U.S. postage stamp by combining its wording, denomination or Forever mark, subject, color, dimensions, perforations or die cuts, format and gum condition. A picture alone is rarely enough for a confident identification.
Record what you can observe
- All printed words, initials and numbers
- Denomination or Forever designation
- Portrait, event, object or scene
- Overall size, orientation and dominant color
- Perforation, die-cut or imperforate edges
- Sheet, booklet, coil or souvenir-sheet format
- Used or unused condition and visible cancellation
Narrow the issue
Start with country and approximate period, then compare the subject and denomination with an authoritative catalog or museum collection. Check format carefully: the same design may appear with different tagging, perforations, booklet layouts or printings.
Identification is not valuation
An issue name is only the first step. Value can change with condition, centering, gum, cancellation, faults, rarity and expert certification. Do not clean, regum, flatten or separate a potentially valuable item before obtaining specialist advice.
When the evidence is incomplete
Photograph the front and back in neutral light beside a ruler. Record provenance and keep the stamp in an archival sleeve. If catalog comparisons conflict, describe it as a candidate identification rather than a confirmed variety.
Related guides and products
Sources and verification
Checked September 4, 2026. Postal prices and availability can change.
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