1c Blue, Ty. Ib (5A). Position 5R1E, unused (no gum), large margins to in, rich color, small toned spot at bottom

FINE APPEARANCE. A SCARCE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1851 ONE-CENT TYPE Ib. THIS WAS ORIGINALLY PART OF A STRIP WITH SCOTT NUMBER 5, POSITION 7R1E.

A thorough search of past auctions and our own extensive records produced a result that surprised us. The unique block of eight from Plate 1E contains Position 7R1E (Scott 5) and five Type Ib stamps (with faults). The famous ex-Waterhouse copy of Position 7R1E is joined with a pair of Type Ib stamps (this unused unit is currently owned by William H. Gross). The multiples, containing a total of seven Type Ib stamps, really do not fit the needs of collectors who want a single unused example of Scott 5A. We located only four other unused singles, and we were surprised at the conspicuous absence of unused Scott 5A stamps in major name sales.

This was the left stamp in a strip of three with Scott No. 5 -- Census No. 5-CAN-006. The certificate notes the left stamp (offered here) is uncancelled. The strip was broken into singles some time after 1989, and this stamp was offered as a single in our 1991 Rarities sale, along with the barely cancelled Position 6R1E. Position 7R1E was sold in our 2008 auction of the Perry Hansen Collection.

With 1989 P.F. certificate for strip of three.

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