5c Brown, Ty. II (30A). Original gum, with "Carpenter & Co. BANK NOTE E" of imprint captured at left, rich color, unusually wide and balanced margins

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THE 5-CENT BROWN TYPE II IN EXISTENCE. A REMARKABLE STAMP, ESPECIALLY WITH THE CAPTURED IMPRINT.

Unlike its Orange Brown counterpart, the 5c Type II in Brown was not on hand in post offices when the 1861 demonetization order took effect. Therefore, original-gum examples of Scott 30A are far scarcer than Scott 30. The narrow spacing between subjects on the plate, as well as Toppan Carpenter's imprecise perforating, leaves collectors with very few well-centered original-gum examples. This remarkable stamp, with the captured imprint at left, is among the finest we have located among auction sales of the past 65 years. It would make an excellent companion to the example we offered in our 2017 Rarities sale, with captured imprint at right, which was graded XF 90 by P.S.E.

With 2017 P.F. certificate (XF 90 XQ), the "XQ" designation is bestowed on stamps of Extraordinary Quality

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