1c Dark Blue, Ty. I (5). Position 7R1E, huge margins to in, but still showing the identifying characteristics of the type, large sheet margin at top, deep rich Dark Blue shade from a later printing from Plate 1 Early, bold strike of "New York" large slug dateless circle handstamp which was used exclusively on printed matter

A FINE AND SOUND EXAMPLE OF THIS MAJOR CLASSIC RARITY. POSITION 7R1E--THE SEVENTH STAMP IN THE RIGHT PANE OF PLATE ONE EARLY--IS THE ONLY ONE OF THE 1,000 POSITIONS USED TO PRINT IMPERFORATE ONE-CENT STAMPS THAT SHOWS THE COMPLETE DESIGN (TYPE I).

The census compiled by Jerome S. Wagshal, available 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 1c 1851 Types I and Ib Imperforate stamps (Scott 5 and 5A) come exclusively from Plate 1 Early. Examples in this Dark Blue shade are exceedingly rare, and were probably printed just prior to the plate alteration in the spring of 1852 (known as Plate 1 Late).

Stanley B. Ashbrook opined about the "New York" circle with large slug at center: "I believe it was used only on printed circulars as I have never seen its use on a drop letter." Ashbrook also states that the earliest recorded use of this cancel is November 5, 1851 (see Sale 994, lot 702), and the latest is January 1, 1852. This date range also fits with the Dark Blue shade of this stamp.

Wagshal census no. 5-CAN-090.

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