About This Stamp
The likeness of William McKinley (1843–1901), the 25th president of the United States, appears on the 25-cent value of the 1938 Presidential. The image was taken from a medal produced by the U.S. Mint.
A career politician, McKinley was a six-term congressman and the governor of Ohio before beating William Jennings Bryan for two terms in the White House (1897–1901). He was assassinated early in his second term while attending the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo in 1901.
This red lilac stamp, printed only in sheet form, was issued on December 2, 1938, the same day as the 24-cent Presidential series value featuring Benjamin Harrison.
While this 25-cent stamp would pay a variety of rates in combination with other stamps, collectors looking for a solo usage have many rates from which to choose, including: 1) a domestic registered (20 cents) one ounce airmail (five cent) letter (in effect October 1, 1946, through December 31, 1948; and 2) a special delivery (20 cents) one ounce surface letter to foreign countries except South America and Spain (five cents) (in effect September 1, 1926, through October 31, 1953); and 3) a half-ounce airmail letter to Asia (except the USSR and Turkey), the Pacific Islands, and Africa except Mediterranean North Africa (in effect November 1, 1946, through June 30, 1971).