12c Intense Black, First Design (59). Unused (no gum), outstanding centering with balanced margins, deep dark shade, few short perfs at upper left, a tiny tear between two perfs at top was mentioned in 1986 auction description, but is not evident and not mentioned on certificate

EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A BEAUTIFULLY CENTERED EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 12-CENT 1861 FIRST DESIGN. ONLY 15 OF THE 16 RECORDED EXAMPLES ARE AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS.

The 12c is the rarest of the 1861 First Designs and Colors, with a total of 16 examples recorded, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library. Our census of the 12c 1861 First Design is available at https://www.siegelauctions.com/census/US/Scott/59 .

Census no. 59-UNC-14. Ex Peyton ("Isleham"). With 2007 P.S.E. certificate stating "unused, no gum, with several shorter perfs".

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