5c Red Brown (1). Block of four, original gum, large margins to clear including part of adjoining stamps at left, somewhat heavily creased and defective, slightly oxidized

VERY FINE OVERALL APPEARANCE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE.

The 1847 Issue is much scarcer in unused condition than other issues, because the stamps were demonetized in 1851. They could be exchanged for the new issue, but once the exchange period ended, the stamps would have no postage value. Considering the purchasing power of five or ten cents in 1851, it is not surprising that the stamps were either used or exchanged, rather than left for future generations of collectors.

We have identified 17 unused blocks of the 5c 1847 Issue. Excluded from this tally is what might be an unused block in the Webster Knight collection at Brown University and a block of 30 which has been rumored to exist for years (if it does exist, then it becomes the largest recorded multiple).

With 1987 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail $50,000.00

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