3c Brown Red, Re-Issue (104). Deep rich color and sharp proof-like impression, choice centering with well-balanced margins, perfect strike of Baltimore "O" fancy cork cancel

EXTREMELY FINE. A RARE SOUND AND CENTERED USED EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT 1861 RE-ISSUE. ONLY 24 USED STAMPS ARE RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS AND THIS IS EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST.

The 3c Re-Issue was printed from one of the original plates, which contained 200 subjects in two panes. 10,000 were printed (50 impressions). Only 465 of the 3c were sold; the remaining 9,535 were destroyed on July 16, 1884.

Our census of Scott 104 used, at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/104, records 24 examples, plus one with a non-contemporary cancel (not shown). Only seven are confirmed as sound, and several of those are off-center. Only two other confirmed sound examples compare favorably to the stamp offered here: 104-CAN-21, ex Merlin, and 104-CAN-17, Sale 1254, and graded VF-XF 85.

The cancel on this stamp is known to have been used in Baltimore at the time the 1861 and 1869 Re-Issues were used for postage by stamp dealers. Our records contain a copy of a cover bearing Scott Nos. 126 and 133 used with Nos. 205, 206 and 210 to Holland, mailed in 1884.

Census no. 104-CAN-12. Ex Drucker and Dr. Hinrichs. With 1991 P.F. certificate.

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