15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II, Center Inverted (119b). Extraordinarily bright and rich colors, sharp vignette impression with light cork cancel presents the error with remarkable clarity, trivial small thin spot and small corner crease at bottom left

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF THE MOST ATTRACTIVE USED EXAMPLES OF THE 15-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE IN EXISTENCE.

Our census of Scott 119b at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/119b , records three unused and 102 used copies (there are an additional three used examples of Scott 119c). Two of the used copies are in institutions -- the Tapling Collection at The British Library and the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library. We estimate that approximately fifteen used copies are sound, including copies with tiny corner creases. A large number -- more than half -- have serious faults or repairs.

The appearance of 15c 1869 Inverts is very frequently unsatisfactory, due to cancellations that obscure the vignette. This stamp is visually one of the best we have encountered, and the small thin and corner crease are truly insignificant, especially in comparison with severe flaws that affect the majority of other copies.

Census no. 119b-CAN-70. Ex Consul Klep and Price. With 1982 and 1997 P.F. certificates

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