1c Blue, Type II, Plate 2 Crack (7 var). Positions 1-4/11-14/21-24L2, top left corner margin block of twelve, containing four of the Plate 2 crack positions (2, 12, 13 and 23), a late state of the crack showing widening thru Position 23, original gum, three large to immense margins including most of sheet margins, clear to just barely in on two stamps in bottom row, beautiful rich color and optimum state of freshness, small selvage tear barely into one stamp (Position 3), two faint creases not noticeable on face of block

EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. THE LARGEST RECORDED BLOCK CONTAINING THE PLATE 2 CRACK AND, IN ASHBROOK'S OWN WORDS, "THIS MAGNIFICENT MINT PIECE IS ONE OF THE FINEST ONE-CENT IMPERFORATE ITEMS KNOWN."

Unlike plate cracks resulting from stress fractures during the course of printing, the Plate 2 crack is believed to have been caused by a integral flaw in the steel plate. As Plate 2 was used, the crack widened and extended downward into the fourth row. Due to the nature of this unusually large crack, Ashbrook preferred to call it the "Plate 2 Flaw." This block shows the crack at a later, more well-developed stage.

This phenomenal block is described and illustrated in the Neinken book (pp. 176-181, cropped to show the lefthand block of nine), Brookman Vol. I (p. 119-120) and Rose's Classic United States Imperforate Stamps (pp. 48-49).

Ex Joe T. Lozier, Edward H. R. Green, William L. Moody III, Benjamin D. Phillips, Rudolf Wunderlich, Ryohei Ishikawa and Robert Zoellner, and from our 1969 Rarities sale.

With 1993 P.F. certificate

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