$20.00 State, Specimen Ovpt. (O71S). Without gum as issued, fresh colors, detailed impressions, choice centering with perfs clear of the design on all sides

VERY FINE. THE $20.00 STATE DEPARTMENT IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL SPECIAL PRINTINGS. ONLY SEVEN WERE SOLD, AND PERHAPS FOUR ARE KNOWN. THIS IS THE KEY TO A COMPLETE SET OF OFFICIAL PRINTINGS.

Official records note that seven of the $20.00 State Department Special Printings were sold. The Combs book did not have any sale histories and noted that in February 1960 Philip Ward wrote in Mekeel's Weekly that he was aware of two copies each of the $10.00 and $20.00. We are aware of four examples of the $20.00 (in order of condition):

1) The example offered here, last sold in a June 1991 Christie's auction featuring the Governor Pierre S. duPont IV collection and property from the Frank G. Back stock, with other dollar-value State Department stamps. PFC 241742 stating "it is genuine"

2) The ex Lietzow, Lewenthal and Sheriff copy, centered to top left, single pulled perf at bottom

3) perfs clear all around, small stain spots, small thin and short perf, last offered in Siegel Sale 728 (Sept. 14, 1990), currently in the collection of a Southern gentleman

4) Ex Sinkler and Siegel Sale 623 (Sept. 21, 1983), centered to top left, PFC 437782 stating "faint horizontal thin at lower left".

With 1991 (copy) and 2016 P.F. certificates

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