30c Ultramarine & Carmine (121). Original gum, rich colors on bright paper, unusually choice centering with wide and balanced margins

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION.

The rarity of centered original-gum examples of the 30c 1869 with grill is somewhat obscured by the availability of off-center copies of the 30c with and without grill. If the scope were narrowed to Scott 121 only, and only grades of Very Fine or Extremely Fine were considered, we estimate that fewer than 15 examples would be counted. Among the qualifying stamps, this is without a doubt one of the finest two or three.

With 2006 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95). Only two others share this grade in the P.F. on-line records. The P.S.E. Population Report lists two graded 95 and none higher.

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