Sale 1122 — The Hanover Collection of Superb-Quality U.S. Stamps-Part One
Sale Date — Thursday, 7 April, 2016
Category — 1875 Re-Issue of 1869 Pictorial Issue (Scott 123-133a)
3c Blue, Re-Issue (125). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich color and proof-like impression on bright paper, choice centering with well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE. AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT ISSUE TO OBTAIN IN SUCH PRISTINE CONDITION.
Original sales figures show that among the 1869 Pictorial Re-Issues, the 3c and 90c stamps accounted for the smallest number of units sold (1,406 and 1,356, respectively). Overall, the 1869's were popular with stamp collectors, far outselling the 1851-60 and 1861-66 Re-Issue sets. However, the 90c stamp's high denomination and the availability of ordinary 3c stamps limited demand. Today, both are rare, and handling over the years has not been kind to most of the surviving examples. The stamp offered here is one of the finest we have ever encountered.
With 1985, 2003 and 2007 P.F. certificates (XF 90)
