1863, 2c Black, Thick Blue Gray Paper (18 var). Plate 5-Bx, Type VI (Westerberg Position 6), large to full margins, cancelled by pen strokes and 9-bar square grid, some staining, lightened blue manuscript ink at top left

VERY FINE APPEARING 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.

Apart from the example offered in the previous lot, we have offered only one other since keeping computerized records, in our 2011 auction of the David Golden collection (Siegel Sale 1009, lot 463). That example has detached corners.

With 2000 P.F. certificate

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