1948 3¢ Fort Bliss Centennial Stamp – Scott 976 – Rocket & Mission – El Paso TX

This is a 1948 United States 3-cent commemorative postage stamp, Scott Catalog #976, issued to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. The red-orange stamp features a Spanish-style mission representing the fort’s 19th-century origins, alongside a stylized rocket—making it the first U.S. stamp to depict a space vehicle. The design reflects Fort Bliss’s evolution from the largest cavalry post in the country to a post-WWII hub for guided missile and anti-aircraft defense.
Features:
• Issue Year: 1948
• Denomination: 3 cents
• Color: Red-orange
• Scott Catalog #: 976
• Subject: Fort Bliss Centennial
• Design: Mission-style building and rocket imagery
• Location: El Paso, Texas
• Cancel Type: Black horizontal bars (varies by piece)
• Mounting: Lightly mounted with stamp hinge tape, removable without damage. No gum disturbance unless noted.
• Condition: Used