Revenue One Half Penny Stamp Identification And Quality Opinion Needed

I have this Revenue stamp on an envelope that is not perfect. I've been trying to research its history, but have not found as much information as I would've liked. So, I wanted to ask the community if anyone could tell me more about it. Also, as far as quality, is it worth more on its own versus staying on envelope? Treina

Treina, it's a postage stamp of Great Britain SG197 by the look of it, one of the so-called "Jubilee" issues from 1887. It's not of high value ($1) off cover so probably assume about $5 on cover especially as the cover is a bit battered and the cancellation is grubby and illegible. I don't know what the postal rates were for Transatlantic post at the time. Someone else will no doubt pop up with this information.

Keep it on the cover!!

Tim
Thanks for the information. I will leave it as is. Stamps have so much history. That is part of why I like it so much.

The rate is the oddity, given that 1/2d wouldn't even have been sufficient for a letter within Great Britain.

Geoff, my thoughts too. I wondered if it were Baltimore in Ireland but the cover is clearly labelled U.S.A. and, as you say, the universal postal rate was 1d not 1/2d. No evidence of tax either. Very odd.

Treina, are there any markings on the rear of the cover?

Sirs,
I dont see any markings of any kind on the back of the cover.

Maybe a 'printed matter' rate?

The stamp is readily available for around 4p if in average used condition. Yours would be defective used so is space-filler quality and value.
As there are markings on the back to indicate dates of any kind then the envelope adds very little to the value.
This type of cover would be listed on ebay for 99p but I doubt it would sell.

NO markings on the back ...it should read.

As the envelope looks sealed it would not go at the printed paper rate... to anywhere.

my experience in england goes a while back and not very thorough, but the cancel doesn't look like the ones i've seen from the area.

my immediate guess would be that this is a forged envelope - but on the other hand I can't really imagine why anyone would?
but the cancel does look like something anyone could make.

in this periode matters of postal business were taken very serious, so I doubt a heavily underpaid letter wouldn't make it to america without some kind of markings nothing postage due, or similar.

a puzzling item, but besides that of no value.