4c Orange Brown, Bluish (360). Original gum, beautiful rich color and sharp proof-like impression, spectacularly wide margins and choice centering

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE RARE 4-CENT BLUISH PAPER. AN EXCEPTIONALLY DIFFICULT RARITY TO FIND WITH SUCH OUTSTANDING CENTERING.

The June 1910 Third Assistant Postmaster General's report states that 4,400 (eleven sheets) of the 4c were printed on Bluish Paper. It is believed that none of the 4c and 8c Bluish Paper stamps were distributed to post offices, and that all of the examples in collectors' hands reached the market through the Travers-Steinmetz exchange and the 1914 National Museum trades to H. F. Colman (12 copies) and Nassau Stamp Company (65 copies).

Of the many examples of this major 20th Century rarity we have offered, only a small number have centering that can be compared to this stamp. The P.F. online records contain three examples graded XF 90 and the P.S.E. Population Report contains one example. There are no higher-graded certificates from either service. We have sold each of these stamps and they are as follows: 1) P.F. XF 90, 2000 Rarities sale and ex Minervino, the example offered here; 2) P.F. XF 90, ex Myerson, Sale 1321, lot 271; 3) P.F. XF 90, ex Schwartz, Sale 1148, lot 121; 4) P.S.E. XF 90, ex Odeneal, Sale 941, lot 1249. With due respect to the other three gem stamps, this example has the widest margins of this elite group and we therefore think it ranks at the top.

Ex Minervino and from our 2000 Rarities sale. Small H. F. Colman backstamp and lightly signed in pencil. With 2000, 2002 and 2009 P.F. certificates (XF 90).

Image Magnifier / Download

Power Search for Comparables