City & Suburban Telegraph Co., 1c-3c Black, Se-Tenant Strip (6T1-6T3). Strip of four with 1c-1c-2c-3c denominations, without gum as issued, full to large margin except touching at right, crisp impression, a couple light creases (as always) and small tear at top of second 1c

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE SE-TENANT STRIP OF ALL THREE VALUES OF THE CITY & SUBURBAN TELEGRAPH COMPANY ISSUE.

The City & Suburban, organized in 1855, was the first private telegraph company in the world to issue stamps. It was not profitable and its line was leased to Henry Bentley (of Bentley's Dispatch). Bentley experimented with a system of message depositories, for which these stamps were intended. The concept quickly failed and the stamps went unused for the most part. The Economist Stamp Company acquired a complete sheet of 60 stamps and divided it into strips and singles. The rows comprise 2-1-1-1-2-3 cent denominations, creating se-tenant multiples, which are quite rare.

Ex Lilly (where acquired by the collector). With 1949 P.F. certificate submitted by Lilly himself. Scott Retail as 1c-2c-3c strip plus additional 1c

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