United States 1857 3c Washington Type I

United States · 1857 · 3 Cents

This definitive stamp features a left-facing bust of George Washington, based on the sculpture by Jean-Antoine Houdon. The design is enclosed in an ornate frame with the denomination 'THREE CENTS' at the bottom and 'U.S. POSTAGE' at the top. This issue, known as Type I, is characterized by the outer frame lines being complete and unbroken on all four sides.

Issued in 1857, this stamp was part of the first series of perforated US postage stamps, a significant technological advancement that made separating stamps much easier. It paid the standard domestic letter rate at the time.