24c Blackish Violet (78c). Two, rich color in the true Blackish Violet shade, used with

5c Brown (76), tied by Geometric fancy cancels, "red "N. York Br. Pkt. Paid Aug. 1" (1864) circular datestamp, magenta "48" credit on cover to Shanghai, China--carried on the Cunarder Europa, departing Boston Aug. 3, 1864, and arriving Queenstown Aug. 15--

5c tied by red "London Paid MM AU 16 64" circular datestamp, red crayon "1" British Colonial credit marking, Hong Kong (Oct. 4) and Shanghai (Oct. 10) backstamps, missing part of top flap

VERY FINE. THE 24-CENT BLACKISH VIOLET IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT SHADES TO OBTAIN IN ANY FORM. ONLY TEN COVERS ARE KNOWN, AND THIS IS THE ONLY ONE WITH MORE THAN ONE STAMP AND THE ONLY ONE TO CHINA. THIS IS THE FIRST WE HAVE OFFERED IN ALMOST A DECADE. ONE OF THE GREAT RARITIES OF THE ISSUE.

The 24c Blackish Violet, Scott 78c, is probably the rarest and most misunderstood of the various 24c shades. Our firm has offered almost all of the certified examples, including the finest original-gum and used off-cover copies. Our census, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/78c, records three unused, 50 used and ten covers. Of the ten recorded covers, eight are to England or Scotland and bear just the 24c stamp. One is to Italy and bears a 3c stamp to pay the 27c rate via French Mail. The cover offered here bears two Blackish Violet stamps plus a 5c stamp for the 53c rate via Marseilles. It is by far the most spectacular franking and use of the Blackish Violet.

Census no. 78c-COV-10. Ex Bolton. With 2021 P.F. certificate. Scott value for two off-cover stamps is $34,000.00, but anyone thinking about removing them from this cover to sell to stamp collectors should stop now.

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