2c Black, Re-Issue (103). Intense shade on bright paper, unobtrusive strike of New York duplex cancel, unusually choice centering for this difficult issue

EXTREMELY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING USED EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT BLACK JACK RE-ISSUE, GRADED XF 90 BY P.S.E., WHICH IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED. ONLY 26 USED EXAMPLES ARE CONTAINED IN OUR CENSUS AND THE EXAMPLE OFFERED HERE IS UNQUESTIONABLY ONE OF THE FINEST.

The 2c Re-Issue was printed from a new plate of 100 subjects, compared to the original plate of 200 in two panes. 10,000 stamps were printed (100 impressions). Only 979 of the 2c were sold; the remaining 9,021 were destroyed on July 16, 1884. The 2c plate can be easily identified by a spot on the cheek.

Our census of Scott 103 used, available at our website at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/103 , records 26 examples. It is known with a variety of cancels. However, of these only five or six have centering we would consider Very Fine, and perhaps a couple others could be considered Extremely Fine. Several of the possibly sound examples have not been examined in decades and may in fact not be sound. The example offered here, with wide balanced margins and a relatively light cancel, is a true condition rarity and clearly among the very finest examples known.

Census No. 103-CAN-22. Ex Merlin. With 2005 P.F. and 2011 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $50,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded and only two others shares this grade.

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