6c Orange on Blue entire, Die 3, Without Border, Error of Paper Color (UC6a; UPSS AM28). Size 13, knife 78, watermark 39, unused, distinctive blue paper color, a few very slight vertical creases (really inconsequential)

VERY FINE. AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE AIR MAIL POSTAL STATIONERY PAPER COLOR ERROR. ONLY A FEW EXAMPLES OF THE 6-CENT ORANGE ON BLUE PAPER ARE BELIEVED TO EXIST -- THIS IS THE DISCOVERY COPY.

This particular example of the rare 6c Air Post Color Error has never been sold in the philatelic marketplace. The current owner purchased this item for 7c from the Madison, New Jersey, post office in 1944 when he was 12 years old. This was the first example discovered, and it was certified by The Philatelic Foundation in 1947. The updated Philatelic Foundation certificate mentions "some light vertical creases" which the owner jokingly answers occurred by "putting the item in his rear pants pocket" while riding his bicycle home after purchasing it.

We have been unable to find another example sold at auction since our 1986 Rarities of the World Sale. This rarity has been missing from all of the prominent collections of Postal Stationery formed in recent memory, including Floyd, Saddleback, Wanamaker, Schiller and Scarsdale. The story of this item was featured in the January-February 2011 Postal Stationery journal.

With 1947 and 2013 P.F. certificates

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