1c Blue, Type II, Plate 2 Crack (7 var). Positions 23-25L2, horizontal strip of three, left stamp (Position 23) showing bottom of crack in its early state, large margins to touched at top, right stamp with tiny tear and corner crease, tied by "New-York Jan. 14" (1856) circular datestamps on buff cover to St. Joseph Mich., slightly reduced at left, Very Fine and desirable strip with this Plate 2 flaw, unlike plate cracks resulting from stress fractures during the course of printing, the Plate 2 crack is believed to have been caused by a integral flaw in the steel plate, as Plate 2 was used, the crack widened and extended downward into the fourth row, due to the nature of this unusually large crack, Ashbrook preferred to call it the "Plate 2 Flaw.", signed Ashbrook on back with his description, a well as his small notes and initials on front, with 2021 P.F. certificate

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