Description: 6 U.S. definitive postage stamps featuring a right-facing portrait of President Abraham Lincoln rendered in fine engraved line detail. The denomination “4¢” and text “U.S. POSTAGE” appear below the portrait, with “LINCOLN” inset at the right. Printed in a red violet hue on white wove paper with perforated edges.
Circa: 1954–1968
Condition: Used
Notes:
Part of the Liberty Issue definitive series introduced in 1954. One example has a unperforated right edge from being on booklet edge.
In 1961, a massive criminal ring successfully forged the 1954 4¢ Lincoln stamp to defraud the US Post Office. Because postal inspectors seized most of them, genuine 1961 postal counterfeits are rare and eagerly sought by specialists. They look slightly wider, have flat gum, and lack the fine crispness of the official Bureau of Engraving prints. The counterfeit is perforated gauge 12½, while the genuine stamp is perforated gauge 11 by 10½.