B. & H. D. Howard, 1c Blue, "Benoni Howard" Counterfeit (RO112a var). Pale color which is a hallmark of this counterfeit, an engraved production that is very similar to the issued stamp but with subtle differences including perforation, small faults

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE FAMOUS "BENONI HOWARD" COUNTERFEIT, WHICH WAS CREATED BY THE PROPRIETOR OF NEW YORK MATCH COMPANY AS A RESULT OF A FEUD WITH THE GOVERNMENT. A PHENOMENAL MATCH STAMP RARITY.

According to the Feb. 20, 1875 issue of The American Journal of Philately, in 1865 Benoni Howard became proprietor of New York Match Co. on 42nd Street, which was one of the largest such companies. Howard was known as a highly principled person, whose honesty was never questioned. He bought $700,000 worth of revenue stamps, with a contract that allowed him a certain percentage on these drawbacks. By his reckoning the government did not follow though on their part of the contract, and he vowed to get even. The government noted his purchases of stamps dropped precipitously, so they raided his establishment after seeing unstamped boxes in the marketplace. His business was broken up and his factory was shut.

About a year later, a fisherman in the East River found a printing plate covered with wax with Howard's name on it, and also the name of the plate's manufacturer. The police secured the plate, and the maker betrayed Howard and implicated him as the forger. He was sentenced to five years of hard labor.

Ex Bulkley. With 2008 P.F. certificate. Copy of article accompanies. Scott Catalogue lists this at $4,500.00

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