Description: This classic definitive postage stamp from the United States belongs to the highly collectible 1938 Presidential Series, featuring a detailed monochrome deep rose-pink engraving of William McKinley. The layout embraces the clean, minimalist formatting of this pre-war collection, removing traditional decorative frames to highlight a sharp right-facing profile bust modeled after a classical historical medal portrait. The text "UNITED STATES POSTAGE" is neatly arranged in three justified lines within the upper right quadrant. Positioned just below the profile, a fine inscription reads "WILLIAM McKINLEY 1897–1901," explicitly honoring his presidential terms of office. Centered cleanly along the bottom margin, the words "25 CENTS" are framed on both sides by a bold numeral "25". This used specimen exhibits multiple thick horizontal black machine lines from a wavy-line cancellation sweeping across the front, along with a partial vertical textual precancel overprint reading "STATION".
Circa: 1938-1950s
Condition: Used - Hinged
Notes:
This stamp occupies the twenty-fifth position in the numerical hierarchy of the landmark "Prexies" series, where the face value of each stamp perfectly aligns with the president's chronological order in office. William McKinley's 25¢ value was an essential utility denomination for special service fees during the World War II era, commonly used to pay for domestic registered mail, heavy parcel post packages, and specific combinations of international airmail rates.