90c Carmine & Black, Re-Issue (132). Original gum in Mint N.H. state, incredibly deep rich colors and wonderful detailed impressions on brilliant white paper, beautifully centered with nicely balanced margins all around

EXTREMELY FINE. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE IN POST-OFFICE FRESH CONDITION. PROBABLY ONLY TWO OR THREE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLES OF THIS RE-ISSUE EXIST. THIS IS THE ONLY EXAMPLE WE HAVE EVER OFFERED SINCE KEEPING COMPUTERIZED RECORDS.

As beautiful as this 90c 1869 Re-issue is on the face, it is the back that is most remarkable. The gum is pristine, with a totally undisturbed pattern of crackles, which are characteristic of 1869 Re-issue original gum. Gum on high-value Re-issues is almost always hinged, for the simple reason that the stamps were sold by the Post Office Department to philatelists, who usually hinged them in 19th Century stamp albums, long before anyone imagined that the gum would one day be a significant aspect of condition. Very few blocks of the high-denomination Re-issues have ever been available, which limits the supply of Mint N.H. stamps out of broken blocks. In the case of the 90c 1869 Re-issue, the famous plate block is the only recorded block, and its existence suggests that other stamps may have been attached at one time and removed. Therefore, this stamp and the plate block may have the same provenance.

Ex Silver Lake and Cohen. P.S.E. encapsulated (XF 90). This is the only example graded by P.S.E. in Mint N.H. condition. Unpriced in SMQ or Scott as Mint N.H. This stamp realized $42,500 plus 10% in our Sale 866.

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