90c Deep Blue (39). Block of four, deep rich color, tied by "Washington City D.C. Free Jul. 10, 1861" circular datestamp struck four times, tying block to full corner of cover with "Hong Kong C Au 3 61" backstamp, left and bottom perfs trimmed well clear of design, few pulled perfs at top right corner

THE ONLY RECORDED INTACT USED BLOCK OF THE 90-CENT 1860 ISSUE. ONE OF THE RAREST AND MOST IMPORTANT CLASSIC MULTIPLES IN UNITED STATES PHILATELY

The highest value of the 1851-60 series -- the 90c stamp with a portrait of the youthful George Washington in military uniform -- was issued in 1860 (earliest recorded use is September 11). Its use was limited by the high denomination and the stamp's relatively short life, due to the demonetization of all United States stamps in August 1861, a measure designed to preclude the sale of stamps originating in rebel states' post offices.

There are just six recorded complete covers with the 90c 1860: 1) Sep. 11, 1860, to Augustine Heard & Co., Shanghai, single franking for double rate, ex Gibson, Hindes and Kapiloff; 2) Nov. 3, 1860, to Barcelona, Spain, ex Caspary, Rust and Kapiloff; 3) Nov. 9, 1860, to Augustine Heard & Co., Shanghai, ex Needham, Paliafito, Ishikawa, Myers; 4) Jan. 8, 1861, single used on legal-size cover from Cincinnati, ex Filstrup, Grunin; 5) Jul. 16, 1861, to Edwin Howland, Cape of Good Hope, used with 1c pair, 3c, 10c and 30c for four-times 33c rate, ex Jacobs, Newbury, Ishikawa; and 6) Jan. 26, 1861, to Mackellop Stewart & Co., Calcutta, India, used with 12c and 30c, ex Armitage.

The total postage represented by this block is $3.60. It probably paid eight times the 45c British Mail rate to Hong Kong via Marseilles.

Ex Krug, Neinken and Bechtel. With 1961 and 1993 P.F. certificates

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