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American 1935 California Pacific International Exposition 3¢ Blue Commemorative Stamp Block (Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo)

By: Bureau of Engraving and Printing (Washington, D.C.)

Style: U.S. commemorative philately, 1930s

Origin: United States

Materials: Engraved ink on wove paper, gummed (used; cancellations present)

Age: Circa 1935

Condition: Fine to Very Fine (used block with heavy machine cancels, toning and album adhesion; not officially graded)

Value: $5–$20 (auction, for used block of 20 with cancels and toning)

Maker's Marks / Writing: Each stamp inscribed: “U.S. POSTAGE” and (at left, vertically) “CALIFORNIA PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITION • SAN DIEGO • 1935”; denomination “3” in lower corners and “THREE CENTS” in frame (partially visible depending on orientation). Multiple circular machine cancellations across the block (dates and town unreadable in the photo).

Date: 2025-08-10 14:01:23.805909

Description:

A used partial pane/block of 20 United States 3¢ blue commemorative stamps issued for the California Pacific International Exposition, San Diego, 1935. The design shows a standing armored figure of the explorer Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo with radiating background lines; denomination “3” in lower corners; inscription at left naming the exposition and city/date. Perforated with selvage on three sides; multiple overlapping circular date cancels.

Curator Questions

Curated by Jade

Assessment:

This is the 3¢ California Pacific International Exposition stamp (Scott #773), issued in 1935 and commonly printed in blue by the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Your example is a sizable used multiple (4×5 = 20 stamps) with selvage, which is appealing though the heavy cancels, toning, and album adhesion limit value. A word about fakes.. while stamps are often faked or altered (fake cancels, regumming, or facsimiles), this low-value 1930s U.S. commemorative is seldom counterfeited; the engraving quality, paper, and standard machine cancellations look consistent with genuine postal issues. Best kept as a decorative block or parted into smaller used blocks if desired.

Individual Images:

• The photo shows a 4×5 block (20 stamps) mounted on an album page with yellowed adhesive/hinge remnants. Selvage is visible on left
• top
• right
• and bottom edges; no plate number is visible in the margins shown. Several overlapping circular machine cancels run diagonally across the block
• typical of postally used sheets or favor cancels. Light toning is present along the margins and perfs
• particularly left and bottom edges. Some minor perf separation appears along the central vertical column. Corners show slight handling wear; no missing stamps in the block.

Provenance:

No provenance documents shown.

Condition:

Fine to Very Fine (used block with heavy machine cancels, toning and album adhesion; not officially graded)

Identification Score: 95%

Design, inscription, color, and format match the U.S. 3¢ California Pacific International Exposition (San Diego) issue of 1935, Scott #773. The block layout and cancels are consistent with period usage.

Authenticity Score: 92%

High likelihood of authenticity due to typical BEP engraving, period paper, and machine circular cancellations; issue is common and not worth forging. No signs of private reprint facsimiles. Score slightly reduced because examination of gum, watermark (none for this issue), and paper under UV is not possible from photos.

Image Memory Note

Object: A used block of twenty U.S. commemorative postage stamps (4 rows × 5 columns), blue, each depicting an armored standing figure (Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo) with radiating background lines. Text on each stamp includes “U.S. POSTAGE” and a vertical inscription reading “CALIFORNIA PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITION SAN DIEGO 1935”; denomination “3” in the lower corners. Printing method appears engraved; standard U.S. commemorative frame of the mid-1930s. The block retains selvage on left, top, right, and bottom margins; no plate numbers or corner markings are visible in the photographed margins. Condition details: multiple overlapping circular machine cancels sweep diagonally across the entire block; ink appears black. Paper shows toning/yellowing, especially along the left and bottom margins and into some perforation teeth. Evidence of album mounting with yellowed hinges/adhesive along edges; the block appears affixed to a backing page. Slight perf separation is visible along a central vertical perforation line; no complete tears detected. Minor corner rounding and handling wear at outer corners. No individual stamp appears missing or severely creased in the photo. No additional inscriptions, overprints, or plate markings legible.

Keywords

United States, 1935, California Pacific International Exposition, San Diego, Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, 3-cent blue stamp, Scott 773, commemorative, used block, Bureau of Engraving and Printing

Report ID:  : u4ukvm

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