8c Olive Green, Bluish (363). Block of four with wide top selvage, pretty shade on nicely blued paper, top stamps barest trace of hinging (if at all), centered to bottom as are almost all known blocks, perf separations between selvage and block, but the block is completely intact

FINE. AN EXTRAORDINARILY RARE BLOCK OF FOUR -- THE LARGEST RECORDED MULTIPLE OF THE 8-CENT ON BLUISH PAPER. ONE OF THE GREAT RARITIES OF 20TH CENTURY UNITED STATES PHILATELY.

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 five blocks of four, of which three have centering similar to the one offered here. We have no record of one after 1956 so we cannot confirm whether it is intact.

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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