4c Orange Brown, Bluish (360). Choice centering with balanced margins, deep rich color on strong Bluish Paper, hinge removal mark, exceptionally fresh

EXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF THE 4-CENT 1909 BLUISH PAPER ISSUE WITH A GRADE OF XF 90 FROM THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION.

The June 1910 Third Assistant Postmaster General's report states that 4,400 (eleven sheets) of the 4c were printed on Bluish Paper. It is believed that none of the 4c and 8c Bluish Paper stamps were distributed to post offices, and that all of the examples in collectors' hands reached the market through the Travers-Steinmetz exchange and the 1914 National Museum trades to H. F. Colman (12 copies) and Nassau Stamp Company (65 copies).

Of the many examples of this major 20th Century rarity we have offered, only a small number have centering that can be compared to this stamp. In our sale of the Odeneal collection (Sale 941, lot 1249), we offered a superb example graded XF 90 by P.S.E., which realized $82,500 hammer. That was the first and only 4c Bluish Paper to be certified XF 90 by P.S.E. (one other has been graded VF-XF 85). The Philatelic Foundation records list three graded XF 90, including the stamp offered here.

With 1969 and 2006 P.F. certificates (XF 90)

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