3c Orange Brown, Ty. II/II/I/I (10A/10A/10/10). Positions 60/70/80/90R1i, vertical se-tenant Type I and II strip of four, top stamp recut at left (No. 10A), second stamp recut at right (No. 10A), bottom two stamps without any recutting (No. 10), original gum and possibly Mint N.H. (it is difficult to make an exact determination), mostly clear to large margins all around except just barely touching outer frame line in two small spots, wonderful rich color and proof-like impression, horizontal crease between each stamp mostly confined to margins between stamps and slight separation at right between top pair

FINE-VERY FINE. A SPECTACULAR ORIGINAL-GUM MULTIPLE OF THE 3-CENT 1851 ORANGE BROWN, WITH THE TOP STAMPS TYPE II (SCOTT 10A) AND THE BOTTOM STAMPS TYPE I (SCOTT 10) FORMING A SE-TENANT PAIR. THIS MAY WELL BE THE ONLY UNUSED MULTIPLE CONTAINING BOTH TYPES. ONE OF THE GREAT RARITIES OF THE ISSUE. SCOTT 10 IS EXCEEDINGLY RARE IN ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION -- THIS IS ONLY THE SECOND WE HAVE OFFERED SINCE 2009.

Dr. Carroll Chase, in his seminal book on the 3c stamps, (pp. 80-81), notes that Type I stamps are defined as having outer framelines on all sides. It is known in two different sub-types -- with no inner framelines (now Scott 10 or 11), and with inner framelines at either left or right sides or both (Scott 10A or 11A). The 3c Orange Brown stamps are only known from Plates 0, 1 Early, 1 Intermediate, 2 Early and 5 Early. However, Plate 0, 2 Early and 5 only contain stamps with the inner framelines, making se-tenant multiples impossible. Scott 10, with no inner lines, only comes from certain positions on Plate 1 Early and Plate 1 Intermediate.

Dr. Chase notes that on Plate 1 Early and Intermediate, 91 positions show two inner framelines, 12 positions show inner frameline at left and 33 show inner frameline at right (Scott 10A). 64 positions show no inner lines (Scott 10). Plate 1 Early was only used until early July 1851, when it was softened and reentered and recut in an attempt to deepen impressions on the plate (Plate 1 Intermediate). The plate was then used for approximately three more months before it was extensively recut and used to print shades classified as Scott 11 and 11A.

The 2008 Scott Catalogue started listing the two types of inner lines as separate major catalogue numbers, partly in order to distinguish between the rarity of the types, the same way they treat the types of the 1c and 10c stamps of the same series.

With 2006 P.S.E. certificate not noting the types. Scott prices an unused pair of Types I and II at $12,000.00, but we have never seen another. Scott value as se-tenant pair and two singles is $19,250.00.

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