5c Black, Trial Color Plate Proof on India (1TC3). Horizontal strip of four, Positions 4-7L1, large margins including top sheet margin, detailed impression, Position 6 small ink mark at upper right

VERY FINE. A RARE STRIP OF FOUR OF THE 5-CENT BLACK TRIAL COLOR PROOF ON INDIA.

According to specialists, only one sheet was printed in Black. The entire right pane received "Specimen" overprints. The left pane was broken prior to application of the overprint. A block of 50 from the fourth thru eighth horizontal rows received the "Specimen" overprint -- this exists as a block of 30 today (see our 2001 Rarities sale). Some singles and an irregular block of twelve are also known with the "Specimen" overprint. The top three rows and bottom two rows of the pane escaped the "Specimen" overprint. Only one copy from the bottom two rows has been identified, as have this strip of four, a block of eight (defective) a single and the block offered in the previous lot from the top three rows, for a total of 20 copies known without "Specimen" overprint.

Ex Earl of Crawford and Garrett. Scott value $2,500.00 as four singles.

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