24c Blackish Violet (78c). Deep rich color in this distinctive shade on bright paper, light strike of target cancel

FINE. A RARE COMPLETELY SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT BLACKISH VIOLET, WHICH IS THE MOST DIFFICULT STAMP OF THE 1861-66 SERIES TO OBTAIN.

A thorough search through past auction catalogues will demonstrate how rare this stamp is in either used or unused condition. With regard to used stamps, this shade was lacking from the Ishikawa, Grunin, Klein, Caspary and Twigg-Smith collections. The Zoellner collection contained an original-gum single even though the rest of the series was obtained in used condition, because a suitable used stamp was never offered.

Our census of Scott 78c, available at our website at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/78c/78c.pdf , records a total of 44 used examples of this issue, not all of which have been certified as genuine by The Philatelic Foundation. We also record nine on cover plus three unused, for a total of 56 potential examples. Of the used off cover copies only approximately 10 are confirmed as sound

Census No. 78c-CAN-44. With 2001 P.S.E. and 2015 P.F. certificates

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