90c Carmine & Black (122). Brilliant colors, unusually choice centering with wide margins, neatly struck square quartered cork cancel

EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE, GRADED XF 90 JUMBO BY P.S.E.

While numerical grading has helped collectors differentiate between one quality category and another—making it more difficult for sellers to pitch Fine stamps as Extremely Fine—there are instances when the number actually serves to downgrade the quality of a stamp. This is one of those instances. The 90c 1869 Pictorial Issue is notoriously challenging, because the stamps are generally poorly centered and the cancels are heavy, if not disfiguring. The P.S.E. assigned the Jumbo appellation to the stamp offered here, but somehow decided that the measurements only qualified it for a 90 grade, probably due to the slight skewing of horizontal perfs at an upward angle from left to right. In our opinion, the 90J grade fails to capture the exceptionally wide margins, brilliant color and unusually light cancellation. Discerning collectors who collect stamps, not certificate grades, will appreciate this stamp, and we hope other less experienced collectors will read and concur with our opinion.

Ex Newbury. With 2004 P.F. and 2001 and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90 Jumbo). Only twelve grade higher and only one other shares this grade.

Image Magnifier / Download

PSE Population Report

Market data

Power Search for Comparables