1c Green, Rotary Perf 11 (544). Mint N.H., fresh and bright color, remarkably choice centering with wide and nicely proportioned margins

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST OF THE FEW EXTANT MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLES OF THIS MAJOR RARITY. PROBABLY FEWER THAN 20 ARE KNOWN UNUSED.

A small quantity of 1c Rotary Press stamps was perforated 11 at the end of 1922, using remainder sheets from the earlier printings that were normally perforated in 10 gauge or 11/10 compound gauge. Its existence as a Perf 11 variety was discovered in 1936, and the stamp received its Scott catalogue listing in 1938.

Most of the recorded copies of Scott 544 are off-center or have been damaged -- the result of poor production standards and mis-handling. The finest copies known come from a block of four, of which this stamp was originally the bottom right stamp. The Zoellner copy, subsequently offered in our 2000 Rarities sale where it realized $62,500, also comes from this block.

Ex Drucker (Siegel Sale 851, lot 441, realized $60,000 hammer). With 1987 and 2002 P.F. certificates.

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