New York N.Y., 5c Black, Without Signature, Stitch Watermark (9X1e var). Large even margins, detailed impression on crisp paper, cancelled solely by strike of red "Paid" arc handstamp without pen cancel

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT NEW YORK POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL ISSUE WITHOUT SIGNATURE AND WITH A STITCH WATERMARK. THIS IS THE FINEST WE HAVE OFFERED SINCE KEEPING COMPUTERIZED RECORDS.

While stitch watermarks are occasionally seen on the U.S. 1847 Issue, they are extremely rare on the New York Postmaster's Provisional. Philip T. Wall discussed stitch watermarks on the New York provisionals in Chronicle 112 (p. 227), citing Philip H. Ward's 1926 article in Mekeel's Stamp News about a stitch watermark example that was the first Ward had ever encountered. Wall stated that this is the only reference he had ever read about the variety and had never encountered one himself.

With 2012 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; unpriced in SMQ). While P.S.E. does not publish a Population Report for Postmasters' Provisionals, their records show that this is the highest grade awarded for a normal 9X1e and the only example to achieve a 95 grade.

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