5c Buff (67). Original gum, choice centering, astounding color in a deep rich shade, bright paper

EXTREMELY FINE. THE BUFF AND BROWN YELLOW SHADES OF THE 5-CENT 1861 ISSUE ARE THE EARLIEST PRINTINGS AND THE MOST CHALLENGING TO OBTAIN IN SOUND, ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION. THIS STAMP, WHICH WAS CASPARY'S ONLY SOUND EXAMPLE, IS ARGUABLY THE FINEST COPY IN EXISTENCE. COLLECTORS WHO HAVE PURSUED THIS RARITY WITHOUT SUCCESS COULD WELL DRIVE THE REALIZATION INTO RECORD-SETTING TERRITORY.

The 5c Buff and its shade varieties (Brown Yellow and Olive Yellow) are recognized as being among the rarest of 1861-66 Issue stamps in sound original-gum condition. Perhaps the only shade varieties rarer than the 5c Buff are the 3c Pigeon Blood Pink and 24c Blackish Violet (Scott 64a and 78c), but Scott 67 is a major Scott listing and is, therefore, more significant to completion of the series.

A review using Power Search supports our claim. The last sound, original-gum example we offered was in our sale of the Alan B. Whitman collection, and that stamp realized $70,000 hammer. This example is better centered and fresher than the Whitman copy, and it has been sheltered from exposure to light and the elements since the European Connoisseur acquired it in the Caspary sale in 1956. He paid $1,250 in that auction, at a time when the stamp's Scott value was $350.

Ex Caspary. With 2015 P.F. certificate

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