US 2-Cent Washington "First Bureau Issue"

Name: US 2-Cent Washington "First Bureau Issue"
Brand: turtle77
Availability: LimitedAvailability

US 2-cent red postage stamp featuring George Washington with a black wavy cancellation mark - view 1

1/3

Estimated value

$1 - $3

Rarity

Common(2/10)

US 2-CENT WASHINGTON "FIRST BUREAU ISSUE": IDENTIFICATION

A United States 2-cent carmine postage stamp featuring a left-facing profile of George Washington. The presence of triangular ornaments in the upper corners identifies this as a First Bureau Issue, printed between 1894 and 1898. The stamp bears a black wavy-line machine cancellation across the upper portion, indicating postal use.

Compare with other stamps in the archive: 10-Cent Pan-American Union Air Mail Stamp (Scott #C25), 1943 Amarillo, Texas Censored Military Cover, Belgian Congo, Queen Elisabeth Mask Issue (1928-1930) - 6 Francs.

POSTAL HERITAGE

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing took over US stamp production from the American Bank Note Company in 1894. To distinguish their work from previous contractors, the Bureau modified the existing 1890 dies by adding distinctive triangular ornaments to the upper corners of the design.

PHILATELIC NOTES

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing produced over 5 billion copies of the Type I watermarked 2-cent Washington (Scott #267) between 1895 and 1898.

Specialists use watermark fluid to detect the double-lined 'USPS' letters embedded in the paper of these issues, which separates the 1895 printings from the unwatermarked 1894 series.

SCARCITY

Common20-40%

CommonLegendary

Older mass-produced items still widely available. Easy to find on eBay, antique malls, and estate sales in large quantities.

Rarity 2/10. Curiosa currently catalogues 25 stamps items at rarity 2 or higher.

Typical Characteristics

Mass produced historically
High survival rate
Readily available everywhere

Confidence Factors

How does authenticity detection work?

PHILATELIST'S VERDICT

Philatelist

Stamp Specialist

While the series and era are easily identified by the design and corner triangles, the exact catalog number cannot be confirmed without watermark fluid testing and high-magnification review of the engraving lines.

KEY EVIDENCE

1Triangular ornaments in the upper corners confirm it is a First Bureau issue rather than the 1890 unornamented release.

CONDITION & GRADE

Good (Used)

Grading breakdown

Centering is shifted bottom right, and the cancellation is moderately heavy but does not completely obscure the central portrait.

Condition

The stamp is used with a black machine cancellation. Centering is shifted slightly to the bottom right, with perforations cutting close to the design on the lower edge. Margins are relatively narrow.

PHILATELIC VALUATION

$1 - $3

Updated: Aug 22, 2026

Market comparables from auctions & retail
Condition, completeness & craftsmanship
Current collector demand & trends
Low = quick sale, high = patient seller

For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.

YOUR INPUT VS. SCAN

How your provided context compares with Curiosa.com scanner findings.

What Aligned

User stated 'Original/Authentic' - visual characteristics match genuine intaglio-printed First Bureau issues.
User noted 'Minor wear' - consistent with the surviving condition of a postally used 19th-century stamp.