5c Red Brown (28). Block of four, original gum, 1856 shade, perfs scissors-separated, a few trimmed perfs at bottom right

FINE AND RARE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 5-CENT RED BROWN 1857 ISSUE. THIS IS PROBABLY THE FINEST BLOCK IN EXISTENCE.

Most blocks of this issue are without gum. The block of nine with no gum illustrated in the Hill book was later split into two blocks of four. Caspary owned a block of six with original gum, also with perfs scissors-trimmed, but its whereabouts are unknown. The Zoellner collection contained a block of Scott 29, but none of the Red Brown shade. This is the 1856 Red Brown, making this block the equivalent to a block of Scott 23 or 25 (perforated stamps from earlier imperforate sheets).

Ex Hind and Klein. With 1988 P.F. certificate

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