1c Blue, Types II-II-Ib-Ib-Ib-Ib (7-7-5A-5A-5A-5A). Positions 1-6R1E, horizontal strip of six, left two stamps Type II, right four stamps Type Ib, five stamps have huge margins, just in at right of right stamp, includes sheet margin at top and interpane margin at left, beautiful deep Plate 1 Early shade, each stamp remarkably cancelled by between 15 and 25 neat penstrokes which form a detailed grid, light diagonal crease affects Positions 1-2 (both Type II stamps), small sealed tear at bottom of Position 2 described on accompanying certificate as small repair, Position 4 with vertical crease

VERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE. AN INCALCULABLY RARE STRIP OF SIX FROM THE TOP ROW OF THE RIGHT PANE OF PLATE ONE EARLY. THIS STRIP CONTAINS THE LARGEST NUMBER OF TYPE Ib STAMPS IN A SINGLE USED MULTIPLE, INCLUDING 6R1E, ONE OF THE TWO BEST EXAMPLES OF TYPE Ib. A WONDERFUL ARTIFACT FROM THE MOST IMPORTANT ROW OF ANY ONE-CENT 1851-57 PLATE.

The top row of the right pane of Plate 1 Early has long been recognized by philatelists as a subject of special interest relating to the production of classic United States stamps. This extraordinary strip, including four of the six positions that produced Type Ib stamps, is a rarity of the highest order. It was probably removed from a transcontinental cover prepaid at the 6c rate. The mail clerk certainly took his time cancelling the stamps. Only the original-gum block from Positions 4-9/14-15R1E (Wagshal census no. 5-UNC-002) contains a larger number of Type Ib positions (five) than are present in this strip, but the largest possible number of contiguous Type Ib positions is four, in Positions 3-4-5-6R (Position 7R is Type I).

The earliest sale record of this strip is a Daniel F. Kelleher sale on Apr. 23, 1926. Ex Jefferys, Dinsmore Alter (Sale 374) and Wingate. Scott value $32,285.00 as two pairs of Scott 5A and a pair of Scott 7. With 2002 P.F. certificate

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