3c Pigeon Blood Pink (64a). Original gum, lightly hinged, radiant color in the true Pigeon Blood Pink shade, choice centering for this difficult issue, tiny perf crease at bottom not noted on certificate

VERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT PIGEON BLOOD PINK. THIS IS THE FINEST OF ONLY FIVE ORIGINAL-GUM COPIES WE RECORD THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS. EACH OF THE OTHERS WE RECORD HAS EITHER MORE EXTENSIVE FAULTS, INFERIOR CENTERING, OR BOTH.

The 3c Pigeon Blood Pink is one of the rarest of all 1861-66 Issue shades in original-gum condition. We have offered only three since 1993, including the essentially sound example offered here (ex Whitman), a faulty stamp with a piece out in 1993, and one with a diagonal crease and pulled perf in 2018 (ex Drews). The Philatelic Foundation has certified two others, both with faults and off-center, bringing the total to four certified by the P.F. plus the uncertified stamp offered by us in 1993. The P.F. has also previously certified one other as genuine, but it was withdrawn when resubmitted and so needs to be reexamined. The New York Public Library's Benjamin K. Miller collection contains another, but it is not available to collectors.

Ex Whitman. With clear 2004 P.F. certificate

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