5c Brown, First Design (57). Original gum, deep rich color, well-centered, slightly nibbed perf at top, reperfed at right which is not mentioned on accompanying certificate, small crease at bottom is noted on certificate and is just a minor gum crease

VERY FINE APPEARING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 5-CENT 1861 FIRST DESIGN. ONLY 37 EXAMPLES ARE KNOWN.

Our census of Scott 57, available at our website at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/57 , contains a total of 37 copies of this rarity. Of these, one is in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library. Of the 36 thought to be available to collectors, two are cancelled, 19 have no gum, five have part original gum and ten, including the example offered here, have full (or nearly full) original gum. Only two of the full or part original-gum copies are confirmed as sound.

Census no. 57-OG-09. From our 1965 Rarities sale and ex Mielstrup (Siegel sale 431). P.F. certificate no. 19601 no longer accompanies. With 1989 P.F. certificate not noting the reperfing.

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