$3.00 Vermilion, 1875 Special Printing (PR49). Without gum as issued, vibrant color, both certificates state reperfed at top and bottom, but we disagree for reasons explained below, small corner perf crease at top right

FINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE $3.00 1875 CONTINENTAL NEWSPAPER SPECIAL PRINTING. ONLY 20 WERE SOLD, AND ONLY SEVEN ARE CERTIFIED AS GENUINE.

According to sale records of the 1875 Newspaper Special Printings, 20 of the $3.00 were sold and delivered. On July 16, 1884, the Special Printings were withdrawn from sale, and the remaining supply was destroyed.

Our census of PR49, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/PR49 , contains seven examples.

Observing photos of the seven recorded examples, we are convinced the perforations on this stamp are genuine, including the top and bottom perfs. The seven stamps all have similar centering, which one would expect since they probably came from one sheet. In terms of spacing between the two horizontal rows of perfs, PR-UNC-05 is a precise match to the stamp offered here. We doubt the vertical height of any PR49 would allow for reperfing of both the top and bottom. On this stamp the perfs match perfectly -- they are parallel and the shape of holes are exactly correct. We think the P.F. got it wrong in 1971 and repeated the mistake in 2008, which opens up an opportunity for a collector willing to accept our opinion over the P.F.'s or, if one has the patience, to argue for an overturn.

Census no. PR49-UNC-03. With 1974 and 2008 P.F. certificates

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