10c Blue, Special Delivery, Dots in Curved Frame Above Messenger (E5a). Mint N.H. with huge bottom selvage showing a bit of the imprint, exceptionally choice centering with wide margins, rich color and fresh paper

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1895 10-CENT WATERMARKED SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE WITH DOTS ABOVE THE MESSENGER VARIETY. A TRUE CONDITION RARITY WITH THE LOFTY GRADE OF SUPERB 98 -- THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.

The Dots in Curved Frame above Messenger variety (E5a) comes only from plate 882. It is priced in Scott at approximately double the normal E5.

With 2019 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 90). The normal Scott E5 has an SMQ value of $7,000.00 for Superb 98. Given the relative rarity of Scott E5a versus E5, the SMQ value for this stamp should be well in excess of that for E5. This is the highest grade awarded for Scott E5a and it is shared by no others. The normal E5 has two at Superb 98 with none higher

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