United States, Scott #2590, used(o), 1994, The Surrender of Burgoyne at Saratoga from a painting by John Trumbull executed in 1821 and which presently hangs in the Capitol Rotunda in Washington, D C.; the surrender was a tremendous victory for America, often considered the turning point of the war; it proved that American troops could battle a European army on their own terms and win; the battle also convinced France, Spain, and the Netherlands to fully support the American cause and declare war against England; interestingly, the design used in this stamp was intended for use in the 30¢ stamp of the 1865 Pictorial Issue, but the patriotic banners was themed instead as emblematic of America's rising place in the world, hence we have this dégà vue historic design for this stamp; the stamp was engraved by Czeslaw Slania (1921-2005), Polish-born postage stamp and banknote engraver; one of the most skilled and prolific of all stamp engravers with over 1,000 stamps to his credit; his work was of such recognized quality and detail that he is one of the very few readily named engravers among stamp collectors, with some who specialize in collecting his work; $1.00, perforations: 11½, printed by Stamp Venturers, blue; Scott 2025 Catalog Value: 50¢, off-centered (fine), large, light, half circular, red-inked, double-rimmed, quarter clockwise turned, socked-on-the-nose cancellation, over the lower half of the stamp and well into the main image, sound back, stamp picked up some red and black coloring marks on the back from its mailing envelope, but color does not show through to the front, good perforations. This is not a 'bait-and-switch;' the stamp you see will be the one you receive.
Please review my terms of sale. If you are not ordering from the United States, there is a $US1.55 additional postage expense that needs to be added to the price of the stamp. If you are ordering from the United States, there is only a $US0.68 added postage expense. Also, if you make additional purchases from my offerings, they can all go in one mailing at no extra shipping expense for the added purchases. I will send the purchase by US first class mail, since the relatively low value of the stamp does not warrant signature or tracking mail. Hence the buyer assumes risk of loss or non-delivery. I will keep a scan of my mailing to verify that the correct mailing address was used. If not satisfied, return the stamp to me at your own expense, and I will refund the cost, but not my postage to you. If the stamp is not as described, I will refund the cost and reimburse you for postage both ways.
By way of reference, I am an American Philatelic Society member (195176) and an American Stamp Dealers Association (ASDA) member. Thank you for looking, and I hope this is the perfect stamp to fill that gap in your collection.