California State Telegraph Co., 1870, Blue & Black (5T1). Complete sheet of 12 comprising two panes of six with horizontal interpane gutter, original gum (brownish as always), handstamped serial no. 104 on all stamps (doubled at top center), slightly toned, creased along gutter between panes and crimped with small puncture at center (as usual since these were folded and stapled into booklets), top right corner slightly clipped

FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF TWO COMPLETE SHEETS OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE TELGRAPH COMPANY 1870 BLUE & BLACK "BUSINESS" FRANK WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO LOCATE.

The California Telegraph Company was the product of the 1861 consolidation of four companies responsible for the first transcontinental telegraph line. The 1870 Blue & Black typeset "Business" frank was the first issue. The black type was printed from a setting of six subjects repeated twice in a sheet of 12, with a blue background of ornaments also arranged in six subjects repeated twice in a sheet. Position 1 (top left in each pane of six) has an inverted ornament in the blue background at lower left (bottom row, second ornament), which breaks the pattern of diamond shapes. Position 3 has a repeating flaw in the "F" of "Free".

Booklets of 100 stamps were made by inserting 16 panes of 6 (96 stamps total) plus four additional stamps. The Kramer book speculates that stamps with red crayon serial numbers were added to the the booklets to make up the 100 count. The sheet offered here is one of two full sheets of 12 we have encountered. It is the largest possible multiple.

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