Sale 1326 — 2024 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Thursday, 27 June, 2024
Category — Columbian Issue, including Complete Sheets
4c Blue, Columbian, Error of Color (233a). Original gum, exceptional centering with balanced margins, gorgeous deep color
EXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THE RARE 4-CENT COLUMBIAN ERROR OF COLOR, OFF THE MARKET SINCE OUR 1978 RARITIES SALE. IT IS GRADED XF 90 BY P.S.E.—THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
The 4c Columbian color error was caused by the use of a wrong batch of ink, and spectrographic analysis has shown that the blue inks of the 4c error and 1c Columbian have the same components. Stamps from at least two panes reached collectors, and the few cancelled examples indicate that stamps used by the public came from other panes. It is likely that a number of full sheets were printed using the wrong ink, and most of the stamps have simply been lost to philately.
This example has long been regarded as one of the few finest centered. It was last offered in our 1978 Rarities of the World sale, where it was purchased by the current consignor for double the Scott Catalogue value at the time.
Ex Brown, Engel and our 1978 Rarities sale. With 1960 P.F. and 2024 P.S.E. certificates (OGh, XF 90). This is the highest grade awarded to a 4c Blue Columbian error in any condition category and it is equaled by only one other. SCV $20,000.
