1c Blue, Type I (5). Positions 7R1E, with top sheet margin, other sides full to slightly in at lower right, just barely into bottom plumes, bright Plate 1 Early color, tied by light red grid cancel on July 12, 1851 printed circular from Great Falls to Portsmouth N.H., a notice of the annual stockholders’ meeting of the Great Falls Manufacturing Co., docketed on back, pristine condition

VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL SOLO USE AND SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT TYPE I IMPERFORATE ON COVER. POSITION 7R1E IS THE ONLY ONE WITH THE COMPLETE DIE DESIGN ON ANY OF THE PLATES USED TO PRINT THE STAMPS ISSUED IMPERFORATE.

The published census compiled by Jerome S. Wagshal (available at our website at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/5 ), contains at least 98 unduplicated records of Scott 5. There are probably no more than ten examples existing outside of the Wagshal census population. Therefore, the 1c 1851 Type I is the rarest of all United States stamps issued regularly prior to the 1868 Grills. The census lists a total of 23 examples of Position 7R1E on cover, of which eleven are used to pay a circular rate or drop-letter rate, the purpose for which this denomination was created. This is the second earliest use recorded in the Wagshal census.

Wagshal census no. 5-COV-072. Submitted to Stanley B. Ashbrook by Spencer Anderson on June 13, 1940. Ex Benjamin D. Phillips (purchased October 1950), Isabelle Lessmann (Sale 638, lot 21) and William Kelley (Ivy sale, Mar. 16, 1989, lot 47), and from our 1969 Rarities sale.

With 1984 and 2004 P.F. certificates.

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