30c Orange (71). Block of four, original gum, top pair hinged and bottom pair very lightly hinged, near perfect centering, brilliant fresh color on bright white paper

EXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF THE 30-CENT 1861 ISSUE. A BLOCK OF FOUR IS THE LARGEST RECORDED UNUSED MULTIPLE, AND THIS IS ONE OF THE TWO FINEST BLOCKS.

As this block demonstrates, the 30c 1861 plate left very little space between the stamp subjects. Consequently, perforations usually cut into part of the design. This fact is acknowledged in both the Scott Catalogue and Stamp Market Quarterly, and the 30c 1861-68 Issue is one of the few for which which centering standards are adjusted accordingly.

This block is one of approximately eight different blocks we have located in past auctions. It was originally joined with the equally superb block of four in our sale of Alan B. Whitman collection (Siegel Sale 968). This block was originally positioned to the right of the ex-Whitman block. It is possible that these and a few other 30c 1861 blocks were part of a larger multiple, but this and the Whitman blocks have superior centering to any others.

Ex Lilly, Klein and Zoellner. With 1968 and 1998 P.F. certificates.

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