15c Post Office, "Sepcimen" Error (O53Sa). Without gum as issued, intense shade on bright paper, three wide margins, perfs clear at top

VERY FINE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT WITH THE "SEPCIMEN" SPELLING ERROR. ONE OF THE GREAT RARITIES OF THE ISSUE.

Only 82 copies of the 15c Post Office Special Printing were sold, but it is not known how the stamps were taken from the sheets or if full sheets were exhausted before breaking a subsequent sheet. If full sheets were used, then only one can possibly exist. The Combs book notes an example sold for $310 in a 1934 Sanabria sale, which must have been the stamp offered here. At the time, it was the second-highest price paid for any "Sepcimen" error -- the highest was for a 30c Agriculture at $330.

Ex Stone, Sheriff and Markovits. With 2004 P.F. certificate

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