10c Black, Diagonal Half Used as 5c (2a). Huge margins to clear including 5.5mm right sheet margin, tied across the cut by blue grid, matching "Concord N.H. Aug. 31" circular datestamp on cover to Miss Mary Stilphin in Manchester N.H.

EXTREMELY FINE. A PHENOMENAL SHEET MARGIN BISECT OF THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE, FROM THE STILPHIN CORRESPONDENCE. ONE OF THE MOST DRAMATIC BISECTS, BY VIRTUE OF THE SHEET MARGIN AND OVERALL FRESHNESS, THAT WE HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED.

The fascinating history of the discovery of the Stilphin correspondence is detailed in an article by Susan M. McDonald (Chronicle 115). An elderly lady in Syracuse N.Y., the last of her family, decided to destroy her family's correspondence, which was in several trunks in her attic. When all but one trunkful was destroyed, she stopped to rest and noticed an advertisement to buy old stamps in a magazine. She eventually sold the contents of the trunk to a collector, Wallace MacLaren, who had placed the ad. The correspondence included several stampless and 1851 Issue covers, and also seven 5c 1847 covers and five 10c bisects. She almost destroyed the bisects, fearing the torn stamps were valueless. She later discovered another four bisects, and three others have subsequently been found, for a total of twelve from the Stilphin correspondence. Most were sent to Mary Stilphin by her future husband, Rev. John B. Foote.

Ex Dr. Test ("Concord"). With 1990 P.F. certificate. Scott value $12,500.00

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