$5.00 Green & Black on Violet Paper, Proprietary (RB10a). Bright color and sharp vignette impression, neat 1879 manuscript cancel, tiny natural inclusion at upper right

VERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN EXTREMELY RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 PROPRIETARY ISSUE ON VIOLET PAPER.

According to Introduction to U.S. Revenue Stamps by Richard Friedberg, beginning with the 1871 revenue issues, the government provided for two classes of revenue stamps, one for documentary issues and one for proprietary articles, such as medicines, matches, perfumes, playing cards, canned foods etc.

Only 74 of the $5.00 Proprietary were issued on Violet paper. The vast majority of known examples have faults, due to the stamp's large size and the nature of its use. The example offered here, in sound condition is one of the finest extant.

Ex Chapin and Ballman. With 1977 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates

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