3c Blue, Re-Issue (125). Lightly hinged, deep rich color, exceptionally choice centering for this difficult issue with wide and balanced margins

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THE 3-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE WE HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED. THIS IS THE MOST DIFFICULT DENOMINATION TO OBTAIN IN SUCH SUPERB CONDITION.

Original sales figures show that among the 1869 Pictorial Re-Issues, the 3c and 90c stamps accounted for the smallest number of units sold (1,406 and 1,356, respectively). Overall, the 1869s were popular with stamp collectors, far outselling the 1851-60 and 1861-66 Re-Issue sets. However, the 90c stamp's high denomination and the availability of ordinary 3c stamps limited demand. Today, both are rare, and handling over the years has not been kind to most of the surviving examples. The stamp offered here is one of the finest we have ever encountered.

With 2016 P.F. certificate (XF 90). By way of comparison, only two stamps graded by P.S.E have been awarded a 90 grade, along with three at 95. We feel this is a very strong 90 and could have received a 95.

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