90c Carmine & Black (122). Original gum, rich colors and detailed impressions, exceptionally choice centering and wide margins

EXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE, GRADED VF-XF 85 BY P.S.E. ONLY FOUR GRADE HIGHER AND ONE OTHER SHARES THIS DESIRABLE GRADE.

The 90c 1869 Pictorial is widely admired for its beautiful engraving and dignified portrait of Abraham Lincoln. However, collectors have been frustrated in their efforts to acquire choice examples of this issue. Used 90c stamps are typically heavily cancelled, because the high denomination was cause for postal clerks to thoroughly obliterate any chance for re-use. Naturally, the significant monetary value of 90c in 1869 limited the number of unused stamps that would be saved for future collectors. Therefore, the collector ideals of "well-centered with original gum" or "lightly cancelled" are seldom obtainable in the available supply of 90c 1869s. The stamp offered here, with lightly hinged original gum and choice centering, is one of the finest surviving 90c 1869s in unused or original-gum state.

With 1992 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, VF-XF 85). Only four grade higher: one at 90J sold by us in 2024 and three at 95 (we last sold one for $47,500 hammer in 2017). One other shares this grade (we have never offered it).

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