4c Yellow Brown, Perf 10 at Bottom (556b). Unused (no gum), rich color

FINE. THIS IS A NEW DISCOVERY OF THE EXTREMELY RARE 4-CENT MARTHA WASHINGTON PERFORATED 10 AT TOP OR BOTTOM. ONLY 11 ARE RECORDED IN THE SIEGEL CENSUS.

At a certain point during production one of the perforating wheels became defective. In the course of repairs part of one perforation wheel was inadvertently changed from Perf 11 to Perf 10. Based on the physical evidence of surviving copies, this was the nineteenth row of pins on the wheel.

The Perf 10 on One Side varieties span both the 1917 Washington-Franklin and 1922-23 Issues. It is interesting to note that, apart from the 2c, there is no duplication of denomination between the issues. This would seem to indicate that the improperly repaired wheel was in use for only a short period of time, as there was little overlap in production of the issues. Based on dates of issue of the basic stamps, this probably occurred early in 1923.

Our census of Scott 556b, available at our website at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/556b , contains four unused (one in a block of six with five normal stamps) and six used examples.

Census no. 556b-UNC-04. With 2019 P.S.E. certificate. The Scott values for this issue make little sense. Despite the used examples outnumbering the unused, Scott prices the used at $22,500.00 and the unused at $3,500.00. This is no doubt because no unused examples have sold in since 2000 (when an unused example realized $3,250.00).

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