Sale 1227 — Outstanding United States Stamps and Gold Coins
Sale Date — Monday-Friday, 19-23 October, 2020
Category — 5c 1847 Issue (Scott 1)
5c Red Brown (1). Positions 1-2/11-12R, block of four, unused (no gum), three large margins including top left corner sheet margins, clear to just in at bottom, few creases, certificate notes discolored and stained which is a bit harsh in our opinionFINE APPEARANCE. A RARE UNUSED 5-CENT 1847 BLOCK OF FOUR WITH CORNER SHEET MARGINS.
The 1847 Issue is much scarcer in unused condition than other issues, because the stamps were demonetized in 1851. They could be exchanged for the new issue, but once the exchange period ended, the stamps would have no postage value. Considering the purchasing power of five or ten cents in 1851, it is not surprising that the stamps were either used or exchanged, rather than left for future generations of collectors.
We have identified 17 unused blocks of the 5c 1847 Issue. Excluded from this tally is what might be an unused block in the Webster Knight collection at Brown University and a block of 30 which has been rumored to exist for years (if it does exist, then it becomes the largest recorded multiple).
With 1967 P.F. certificate as a block of six
