5c Brown (29). Positions 13-14/23-24R1, block of four, bottom left stamp Position 23R defective transfer flaw, appearing as a white cloud to the right of Jefferson's portrait, original gum, a few small hinge remnants, beautiful crisp shade and impression on fresh paper

FINE-VERY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1859 5-CENT BROWN TYPE I. ONLY THREE BLOCKS OF FOUR ARE RECORDED, WHICH IS THE LARGEST RECORDED MULTIPLE. THIS BLOCK AND ONE OTHER CONTAIN THE DEFECTIVE TRANSFER VARIETY, POSITION 23R1.

There are only three blocks of four of the 5c Brown, Type I, which was printed in 1859. Amazingly, all were owned by Walter C. Klein, and two of the blocks contain the defective transfer variety, Position 23R1. Details of the three recorded blocks are as follows: 1) Positions unknown, sound, each stamp well-centered, ex Worthington, Sinkler, Ward, Klein and Whitman (Siegel Sale 968, lot 39, realized $125,000 hammer); 2) Positions 12-13/22-23R1, block of four with bottom right stamp showing the transfer flaw, slight reinforcement, tiny nick in perf hole at top left, ex Caspary, Klein and Zoellner; and 3) Positions 13-14/23-24R1, the block offered here, ex Caspary, Lehman and Klein.

Ex Caspary, Lehman and Klein.

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