1c Blue, Ty. IV, Printed "PAID" Precancel (9 var). Horizontal pair, left "PAID" stamp all capital letters, right stamp all lower case, large margins to just in including trace of adjoining stamp at left

FINE. A RARE AND DESIRABLE PAIR OF THE 1851 ONE-CENT TYPE IV, COMBINING TWO DIFFERENT STYLES OF THE "PAID" PRECANCEL. PERHAPS THREE OR FOUR SUCH PAIRS EXIST.

The Ashbrook 1c 1851-57 book illustrates several varieties of actual and supposed precancels. Ashbrook surmised that "the markings... were printed from newspaper type. In all probability the overprinting was done in a newspaper printing plant, and the stamps were used on wrappers enclosing newspapers or more than probable, on the newspapers themselves." His theory was borne out by the discovery of a newspaper wrapper containing a copy of The American Eagle newspaper of Cleveland, Ohio, dated February 2, 1857 (sold in our 2004 Rarities sale).

Ex Neinken and Wagshal. With 1953 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as singles

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