U.S. City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Green Unsurfaced (6LB4). Large margins to full, unused (no gum), detailed impression on distinctive colored-thru "Apple Green" paper

EXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE UNITED STATES CITY DESPATCH POST STAMP ON GREEN UNSURFACED COLORED-THRU PAPER. ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL CARRIER ISSUES.

The unsurfaced colored-thru papers used for the first U.S. City Despatch Post stamps were Rosy Buff (4LB2), Light Blue (4LB3) and Green (4LB4). Approximately ten Rosy Buff stamps are known, all unused and most thinned, which are regarded as trial impressions on paper that was not regularly issued. The Light Blue paper was regularly issued and is the most common of the three (it is known used). The elusive Green paper -- the true 6LB4 -- is evidently genuine, although the Scott Catalogue footnote alludes to "some authorities" claiming it is a color changeling (possibly based on Elliott Perry's negative commentary in his 100 Years Ago, p. 25). Only two examples are recorded, both unused without gum: the stamp offered here, ex Caspary and Lilly, and the Extremely Fine stamp offered in our sale of the Hall Collection (Sale 830, lot 137) which was acquired by the Halls from Nassau Stamp Company in 1932. These are probably trial-color impressions, similar in status to the Rosy Buff.

Ex Ferrary, Caspary and Lilly. With 1967 P.F. certificate issued to Raymond H. Weill after purchase in the Lilly sale

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