5c Blue, Local, "Death Mask" Variety (7 var). Horizontal pair, the left stamp the variety showing distorted mouth, nose and eyes, just in at right to large margins, small piece out at top of variety, tied by blue "Columbia S.C. Jan. 14" circular datestamp on large part of blue 1863 folded letter to Shelton P.O., S.C., few faint toned spots, otherwise Very Fine, the unique freak, accompanied by letter dated May 20, 1946 from August Dietz where he states "unquestionably it is the most outstanding freak yet encountered among Confederates...It's a real find, and one of the most interesting things I've yet come across.", ex Coombs, Murphy and Pegram, discussed in 2008 Confederate Philatelist article by John Kimbrough, featured in Kimbrough and Bush Collector's Guide to Confederate Philately (pp. 438-440)

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