2c Carmine, Booklet Pane of Six (301c). Position D with plate no. 1689 at top right, well-centered with wide margins, four bold strikes of New York registry oval cancellation, perf separations sensibly reinforced at top

VERY FINE CENTERING AND AN EXTREMELY RARE USED BOOKLET PANE -- OF EVEN GREATER RARITY WITH THE PLATE NUMBER SELVAGE.

According to Johl, the proofs of this stamp were considered masterpieces, but when the stamp was issued in red using the wet paper printing method it was widely criticized. Washington's nose was excessively red and the details of the design were lost. The New York Times wrote that "if not labelled Washington it could be taken for Adams, Madison or Monroe". Faced with such criticism the Post Office Department rushed a replacement stamp into use -- the 2c Shield issue (Scott 319 and 320) -- less than nine months later.

Our census of used Scott 301c, available at http://siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/301c/301c.pdf , includes six with full tabs and an additional three without tabs.

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