Sale 1144 — Smithsonian National Postal Museum Benefit Auction
Sale Date — Tuesday, 13 December, 2016
Category — 3c 1851-56 Issue, Dull Red & Shades (Scott 11-11A)
Lot
Symbol
Photo/Description
Cat./Est. Value
Realized
86
3c Dull Red, Ty. II (11A). Position 60R3, huge margins all around including part of adjoining stamp at top and sheet margin with "ter, Casilear & Co. BANK NOTE EN" portion of imprint and "No. 3" plate number at right, deep rich color nicely complemented by unobtrusive strike of blue circular datestamp, two small thin spots to the right of the imprint of little consequenceEXTREMELY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 1851 3-CENT TYPE II, SHOWING A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE IMPRINT AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE PLATE NUMBER FROM PLATE 3. A PHENOMENAL POSITION PIECE.
The plate number was engraved by hand for each plate, and can vary in size and style of lettering. Plate number copies are rare from any plate. They are especially difficult to find from Plate 3, because the plate number falls mostly between two stamps. It is only the presence of such a wide margin at top that allows this stamp to exhibit the plate number. If the margin were cut any closer to the stamp's design, then the plate number would be incomplete or missing entirely.
Ex "Natalee Grace"
16
475
