3c Scarlet, Imperforate (74a). Horizontal pair, large to huge margins, left stamp manuscript "J.M. Jan. 31, 1868" in three lines, presumed to be in the hand of James Macdonough, right stamp neat parallel vertical pen strokes

EXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS THE UNIQUE PAIR OF THE IMPERFORATE 3-CENT SCARLET PRINTING WITH JAMES MACDONOUGH'S MANUSCRIPT INITIALS AND DATE. ONLY THREE IMPERFORATE AND ONE PERFORATED EXAMPLES WITH MANUSCRIPT INITIALS AND DATE ARE RECORDED. THIS IS ALSO THE ONLY RECORDED IMPERFORATE MULTIPLE.

All four initialed and dated 3c Scarlet items are without gum and are identical in shade. It is possible that they originate from an ungummed and partially perforated sheet or pane containing subjects that were individually initialed and dated by Macdonough. The sole perforated example was offered in our Sale 826, lot 235.

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