The Pack Strip continued...

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. THIS INTACT PANE OF EIGHTEEN IS THE LARGEST UNUSED MULTIPLE OF THE 90-REIS BULL'S EYE ISSUE. NO OTHER UNUSED 90-REIS PANE IS RECORDED. ONE OF THE GREAT RARITIES OF BRAZIL AND OF WORLDWIDE CLASSIC PHILATELY.

The largest recorded unused blocks of the three Bull's Eye values are as follows: 30r, three blocks of four (one heavily creased and rebacked), none larger, 60r, a complete sheet of 60 from the Large Plate, followed by a block of 20 (Large Plate) and smaller blocks from the Composite Plates (there is no known complete unused pane of 18 of the 60r from the Composite Plate), and 90r, the unused pane of 18 offered here, followed by a block of 12 (these are the only recorded unused blocks of the 90r).

Photos of this pane in its original condition may be found in American Philatelic Society's 1943 Centenary Handbook (page 45) and the 1966 Harmer, Rooke & Co. catalogue of the de Souza collection (lot 591). They show the tears in the corners and interior scrapes, which have been sealed and touched up in places to great effect, but there are no paper additions.

Ex Dr. Hermes (according to A.P.S. 1943 Centenary Handbook, page 45), Mario de Souza (a key element of his Efimayo 1960 Grand Prix award-winning exhibit) and Angelo Lima (a key element of his exhibit, which won the International Grand Prix at Philexfrance 1989 and Grand Prix d'Honneur at Philanippon 1991). The pane was acquired by Islander in a private transaction when the Lima collection was dispersed through David Feldman S.A. in November 1993.

No catalogue can possibly measure the value of this unique item, but for the record the Meyer Brazilian Empire Stamp Catalogue prices an unused 90r block of four at Euros 46,000 and an unused pair at Euros 9,800, for a total of Euros 167,400. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE AND DESIRABLE EXAMPLE OF THE 90-REIS SEMI-XIPHOPAGUS.

Bull's Eye stamps from the composite plates that show the dividing line between panes are called Semi-Xiphopagus. Such stamps are especially desirable because they can be immediately recognized as examples from the composite plates without the need for plating (the two known Xiphopagus multiples are, of course, the se-tenant pair and strip of three). The 60r Semi-Xiphapagus stamps come from the top or bottom of the middle pane (twelve positions). The 30r and 90r are rarer, because they can only come from one row (30r bottom, 90r top, six stamps positions each). As a measure of rarity, the Meyer collection sold through Feldman in October 2007, which was said to contain a "record holding" of Semi-Xiphopagus stamps, had just one used single of the 90r.

Meyer Euros 4,000 (Image)

THESE ARE EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLES OF THE 60-REIS AND 90-REIS SEMI-XIPHOPAGUS STAMPS WITH PARTS OF THE ADJOINING PANES IN ADDITION TO THE DIVIDING LINES. THIS IS THE CLOSEST PHILATELISTS CAN COME TO A 60R/90R SE-TENANT MULTIPLE, OF WHICH NO EXAMPLE IS KNOWN.

Meyer Euros 7,500 for ordinary Semi-Xiphapagus stamps (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE 90-REIS BULL'S EYE USED MULTIPLE CONTAINING TWO SEMI-XIPHOPAGUS STAMPS AT TOP.

Bull's Eye stamps from the composite plates that show the diving line between panes are called Semi-Xiphopagus. Such stamps are especially desirable because they can be immediately recognized as examples from the composite plates without the need for plating (the two known Xiphopagus multiples are, of course, the se-tenant pair and strip of three). The 60r Semi-Xiphapagus stamps come from the top or bottom of the middle pane (twelve positions). The 30r and 90r are rarer, because they can only come from one row (30r bottom, 90r top, six stamps positions each). As a measure of rarity, the Meyer collection sold through Feldman in October 2007, which was said to contain a "record holding" of Semi-Xiphopagus stamps, had just one single 90r.

Ex Pack and Lima (as part of a reconstructed block of twelve). Meyer Euros 22,000 as a used block of four and two Semi-Xiphopagus singles. (Image)

VERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL USED BLOCK OF THE 90-REIS BULL'S EYE IN A STRIKING DEEP SHADE.

Meyer Euros 18,200 as a used block of four and pair (Image)

VERY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING LARGE USED BLOCK OF THE 90-REIS BULL'S EYE ISSUE. USED MULTIPLES ARE RARELY FOUND IN THIS CHOICE CONDITION.

Although a number of used blocks of the 90r Bull's Eye have survived, including a cancelled pane of 18, the condition of the large multiples is frequently unsatisfactory. This block, with only minor flaws, is certainly one of the most desirable in terms of quality.

Ex Lima. Meyer Euros 28,000 as two used blocks of four (Image)

VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE USE OF THE 90-REIS BULL'S EYE TO PAY THE 180-REIS SHIP RATE FROM MARANHAO PROVINCE. ONE OF TWO REPORTED BULL'S EYE COVERS WITH THE ALCANTARA DATESTAMP.

Ex Koester and Lima (Image)