4c Orange Brown, Bluish (360). Block of four, lightly hinged, bright shade on nicely blued paper

FINE-VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE BLOCK OF FOUR -- THE LARGEST RECORDED MULTIPLE OF THE 4-CENT ON BLUISH PAPER. THIS IS THE FIRST BLOCK WE HAVE OFFERED IN DECADES. ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL 20TH CENTURY MULTIPLES.

During the early stages of production of the 1908-09 Washington-Franklin stamps, the Bureau tried to solve the problem of paper shrinkage that caused off-center perforations and resulted in a large number of unusable sheets. Armstrong notes that up to twenty percent of sheets had to be discarded. The first such experiments resulted in the Bluish Paper stamps (Scott 357-366). Rag cloth was added to the wood pulp mixture, but this did not have the desired effect and the experiment was discontinued.

According to Johl (Vol. 1, page 175), the only source of the 4c and 8c Bluish stamps was the archives of the Post Office Department. Approximately 80 of each were traded for rare stamps missing from the archives. Given the failed experimental nature of the paper mixture, it is no surprise that virtually all copies are off-center to some extent.

Our Levi records contain a half-dozen blocks of four (none larger), but several of these may have been broken up -- the Levi records on three are from the 1950's and 1960's.

Ex "Country Gentleman" (Siegel Sale 422, November 29, 1972) and offered to the market for the first time since that sale. With unfolded 1973 P.F. certificate.

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