5c Red Brown (1). Full to large margins, beautiful rich First Printing shade and impression, red 7-bar grid precancel at upper right corner, clear strike of blue "PAID" straightline cancel, deep thin causing tiny pinpoint break in paper

EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A BEAUTIFUL LOOKING EXAMPLE OF THE RARE WHEELING RED GRID PRECANCELLATION ON THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE.

The post office in Wheeling, Virginia (later West Virginia), received its first supply of 1847 stamps on August 8, 1847--1,200 5c and 400 10c--and soon after applied a red 7-bar grid to the center of blocks of four before or at the time the stamps were sold. We do not know if the red grids were struck on all 25 blocks in a pane of 100 stamps, or if they were applied to smaller units, but all of the known examples have the red grid in one corner of the stamp. There are seven recorded covers with the Wheeling grid precancel, including three 5c and four 10c covers. In addition to the covers, a few off-cover 5c and 10c stamps are known with the red grid precancel.

Signed in pencil by Kelleher and Ashbrook. Scott value $6,350.00

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