5c Brown, First Design (57). Unused (no gum), deep rich color, nice margins and centering, accompanying certificate notes a trace of a stain at left which is nothing more than two very faintly toned perfs

VERY FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE AND RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 5-CENT FIRST DESIGN. ONLY 36 EXAMPLES ARE KNOWN.

Our census of Scott 57, available at our website at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/57/57.pdf , contains a total of 36 copies of this rarity. Of these, one is in The New York Public Library collection. Of the 35 thought to be available to collectors, two are cancelled, 18 have no gum, five have part original gum and ten have full (or nearly full) original gum. Approximately half the full or part original gum stamps in private hands have faults.

Census No. 57-UNC-17. With 1973 P.F. certificate. From our 1978 Rarities Sale

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