15c Brown & Blue, Re-Issue, Imperforate Horizontally (129a). Original gum, deep rich colors and proof-like impressions, unusually choice centering with wide margins

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS VARIETY IS EXTREMELY RARE WITH ORIGINAL GUM. THE EXAMPLE OFFERED HERE IS WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE.

Jonathan W. Rose, in his book United States Postage Stamps of 1869, states that only one sheet of 100 was issued. All were cut into singles by a clerk in the Third Assistant Postmaster General's office. It is not known how many were sold, but most seem to lack gum.

Looking at copies with original gum, we have sold only three other unduplicated examples since 2002. The last we sold was in our Sale 1150 in 2017, which brought $21,000 hammer and is in a private collection. One then has to go back to our 2010 Wagshal sale, where we offered one with perfs trimmed at left with the plate number and part imprint at top, which realized $17,500 hammer. The example offered here was last offered in our 2009 Whitman sale, where it realized $32,500 hammer.

Ex Whitman. With 1981, 2000 and 2009 P.F. certificates

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