2c Black (73). Block of eight with "ENGRAVED BY THE NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY CITY OF NEW YORK" imprint and "No. 31 Plate." plate number at bottom, original gum, h.r. (certificate states "part o.g."), crisp impression, some perf separation rejoined, particularly in the left vertical row

FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF THE 1863 2-CENT BLACK JACK ISSUE.

Fourteen full plate blocks are recorded in the Chapin census, but very few have been offered on the market. Including the plate block offered in this sale, Power Search located only four others offered in our auctions since 1994 and all of our Rarities sales. Plate 31 is especially rare, as only three full plate blocks are recorded in the Chapin census.

Ex Simon, Chapin (census no. 269) and Gross

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