ARGENTINA, CORRIENTES, 1856, 1r Black on Blue, Tete Beche (1 variety). Vertical pair, Positions 6/7 in tete-beche configuration with interpane gutter between impressions, unused (no gum as issued), large margins, characteristic coarse impression on rough sugar paper, creases as present in all known examples of this variety

EXTREMELY FINE DESPITE CREASING PRESENT IN ALL EXAMPLES FROM THE DISCOVERY TETE-BECHE BLOCK OF THE CORRIENTES ONE-REAL 1856 FIRST ISSUE, FROM WHICH THIS PAIR WAS REMOVED. A MAJOR SOUTH AMERICAN PHILATELIC RARITY, NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH THE LATER ISSUES, WHICH EXIST IN NUMEROUS MULTIPLES. ONLY THIS PAIR AND SIX OTHERS STILL CONTAINED IN THE INTACT "STICH" BLOCK ARE RECORDED.

This pair was cut from the block of 28 formerly in the collection formed by Louis Stich, who authored Corrientes: The Issues from 1856-1880. The original block is pictured on page 22 of the Stich pamphlet. This pair is from Positions 6/7, at the left of the block (the two outer stamps were defective and cut off). The remaining block of 24 was acquired by Dr. Arthur K. M. Woo and is illustrated in his privately published exhibition book on page 8, where it is described as "The undisputed 'crown jewel' of Corrientes philately." To avoid confusion, we should note that the block is pictured in the Dr. Woo book rotated 180 degrees from the photograph in the Stich pamphlet.

No other tete-beche multiples have been discovered. Therefore, this is the only available example of this printing variety, and in total there are no more than seven pairs known, including the six contained in the intact block.

Ex Stich and Dr. Hubbard. Offered from the "Islander" collection. Unlisted in the Scott Catalogue.

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