10c Orange, Perf 10 at Top (562c). Horizontal pair, both stamps Perf 10 at top, rich color, bold strike of Chicago oval registry cancel

VERY FINE. THIS PAIR CONTAINS THE ONLY TWO RECORDED REGULARLY-CANCELLED COPIES OF THE 10-CENT MONROE PERFORATED 10 AT TOP OR BOTTOM. A PHENOMENAL RARITY.

At a certain point during production one of the perforating wheels became defective. In the course of repairs part of one perforation wheel was inadvertently changed from Perf 11 to Perf 10. Based on the physical evidence of surviving copies, this was the nineteenth row of pins on the wheel.

Many examples of the Perf 10 on One Side rarities show transitional perfs from 10 to 11 or from 11 to 10. This is because the out-of-gauge perforation pins would frequently cross the span of more than one stamp, depending on where the wheel contacted the sheet.

The Perf 10 on One Side varieties span both the 1917 Washington-Franklin and 1922-23 Issues. It is interesting to note that, apart from the 2c, there is no duplication of denomination between the issues. This would seem to indicate that the improperly repaired wheel was in use for only a short period of time, as there was little overlap in production of the issues. Based on dates of issue of the basic stamps, this probably occurred early in 1923.

Our census of Scott 562c, available at our website at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/562c/562c.pdf , contains two unused singles, eleven used singles, one single in a pair and two pairs, for a total of two unused and sixteen used. All other used copies have precancels. This pair contains the only two regularly-cancelled copies.

Census No. 562c-CAN-PR-13. Accompanied by typed note reading in part "Discovered last summer (1947) among bundled stamps sorting for shipment abroad." Note also has normal single with pre-printing paperfold. With 2001 P.S.E. and 2009 P.F. certificates.

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