24c Brown Lilac (70a). Block of four, original gum, bit heavy h.r., radiant color on crisp paper, top left stamp 7mm tear at right center, few minor perf separations

FINE-VERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 24-CENT 1861 ISSUE IN THE BROWN LILAC SHADE. PERHAPS THREE OR FOUR EXIST.

We would have lost a bet if asked about the rarity of unused blocks of Scott 70 or 70a before a few years ago, when we tried to to answer the question of how many exist after we encountered a block of eight in the "European Connoisseur's" collection. The collections that are famous for blocks--Caspary, Lilly, Ishikawa and Klein--did not have any Red Lilac or Brown Lilac unused blocks. The large number of 24c Lilac and Gray Lilac (Scott 78) unused multiples tricks the memory. The rarity of the earlier printings in Red Lilac and Brown Lilac (on thinner paper) should not be confused with the later printings in the common shade on thicker paper.

Ex Drews. With 2004 P.S.E. certificate

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