1863, 2c Black, Thick Blue Gray Paper (18 var). Plate 5-Bx, Type VII (Westerberg Position 7) with raised "I" of "INTER", full margins to in, cancelled by two neat penstrokes, sealed tear at right, light horizontal crease at top, some age bleach spotting

A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE SO-CALLED "GESVRET" 1863 2-CENT BLACK NUMERAL ON THICK BLUE GRAY PAPER FROM PLATE 5-Bx. ONLY SEVEN COPIES, UNUSED OR USED, HAVE BEEN REPORTED.

According to the Westerberg book, the existence of this Numeral printing first came to light in 1902. Three copies were discovered by Mr. E. Gesvret, who assigned it to a new plate. Both Gesvret and Westerberg agreed that this stamp has more in common typographically with Scott No. 17, the Dark Blue Numeral, than it does either of the Black Numerals -- Scott Nos. 18 or 20.

Ex Henry J. Crocker and Frank C. Atherton (acquired in 1930)

Image Magnifier / Download

Power Search for Comparables