$2.00 State, Specimen Ovpt. (O68S). Without gum as issued, bright color, tiny thin speck at bottom left

FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 STATE DEPARTMENT WITH "SPECIMEN" OVERPRINT. ONLY 32 WERE SOLD.

In March 1875 the Post Office Department initiated a program to make reproductions, reprints, re-issues and special printings of all past and present issues available for purchase at face value through the office of the Third Assistant Postmaster General in Washington, D.C. The official announcement stated in part "The official stamps cannot be used except for the official business of the particular Department for which provided... All of the specimens will be ungummed; and the official stamps will have printed across the face the word 'Specimen,' in small type."

Of the 32 sold, Markovits estimated that approximately 20 are known (Bennett sale). Ex Sheriff, Lietzow and Lewenthal. Illustrated in Combs.

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