United States Stamps continued...

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A SCARCE LIGHTLY-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 10-CENT TYPE III.

The first perforated 10c stamps produced by Toppan Carpenter from sheets printed from Plate 1 are notorious among collectors for their poor centering. They are also very scarce in original-gum condition because, unlike 10c Plate 2 stamps (Scott 35), there were no supplies on hand in 1861 when the issue was demonetized due to the outbreak of the Civil War.

Ex McKinney. With 1999 and 2007 P.F. certificates, the former not mentioning the thin spot. (Image)

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 10-CENT PERFORATED TYPE IV. ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL CLASSIC ISSUES IN UNUSED CONDITION.

The 1857 10c Type IV stamps come from eight positions scattered throughout Plate 1 that have the top, bottom or both lines recut. Only 4% of all 10c Plate 1 stamps produced were Type IV's, and an even smaller percentage was issued with perforations.

With 2007 P.F. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE CENTERING. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE PERFORATED 1857 10-CENT TYPE IV.

We are offering this stamp as unused with full extension privileges, despite the accompanying 1985 P.F. certificate stating "faintly cancelled." As rare as unused examples of Scott 34 are, examples of any 10c 1857 which were used but escaped cancellation are even rarer. Other than tiny specks of soiling at the bottom, there is nothing that can be justifiably called a faint cancel on this stamp. Finally, unused singles and multiples of the 10 1857 from Plate 1 are frequently found with unpunched perforations, a characteristic of the large multiple from which most originated. We encourage bidders to pursue this rarity, and we'll even waive the "payment first" requirement on the extension. (Image)