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 1c Blue, Ty. IV (23). Positions 12-13/21-23L1L, block of five, four stamps recut at top and bottom, 21L recut once at top and twice at bottom, double transfers on Positions 12L, 13L and 21L,
each stamp perfectly centered, dark shade and fine impression, four neat strikes of "Philadelphia Pa. Sep. 28" (1857) circular datestamp, completely sound with perforations fully intactEXTREMELY FINE GEM CONDITION. THE LARGEST RECORDED BLOCK OF
THE ONE-CENT TYPE IV PERFORATED STAMP. TO THE BEST OF OUR KNOWLEDGE, NO UNUSED BLOCK EXISTS AND ONLY THREE OR FOUR USED BLOCKS ARE KNOWN. AN OUTSTANDING MULTIPLE, NOTEWORTHY FOR ITS SUPERB QUALITY AS WELL AS ITS EXTREME RARITY. An article by
Mortimer L. Neinken in the Collectors Club Philatelist (Vol. 49, No. 4, p. 210), illustrates this block and states: "Unused blocks of the perforated Type IV are unknown... Extensive investigation has revealed the existence of only two used
blocks [one ex Chase]... the beautiful block of five... could well be called superb for an item of such great rarity..." The Neinken book (pp. 135-136) repeats much of this information and describes a third block, on cover, that was reported at
publication time. These three used blocks are all that we record. The rarity of Type IV perforated stamps is explained by the fact that Plate 1 Late (containing the 199 recut positions) was not used to print stamps in mid-1857 when perforations
were introduced. Some left-over imperforate Plate 1L sheets were fed through the perforator, as were sheets from Plates 2 and 4, and these stamps were issued beginning in July 1857. The latter two plates remained in production, but Plate 1L produced
no additional stamps. Thus, only a small number of Type IV stamps were ever issued with perforations. Ex Bechtel and Zoellner. With 1969 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as block of four and single (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com |
26,000.00
SOLD for $17,000.00
Will close during Public Auction |
