3c Blue, Re-Issue (125). Original gum, choice centering, beautiful shade and proof-like impression, bright and fresh, almost perfectly centered

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A RARE STAMP IN ANY CONDITION -- THIS 3-CENT 1869 RE-ISSUE RANKS AMONG THE VERY FINEST IN TERMS OF COLOR, CENTERING, FRESHNESS AND GUM.

Original sales figures show that among the 1869 Pictorial Re-Issues, the 3c and 90c stamps accounted for the smallest number of units sold (1,406 and 1,356, respectively). Overall, the 1869's were popular with stamp collectors, far outselling the 1851-60 and 1861-66 Re-Issue sets. However, the 90c stamp's high denomination and the availability of ordinary 3c stamps limited demand. Today, both are rare, and handling over the years has not been kind to most of the surviving examples. This 3c is remarkable not only for its centering (an unusual example of near-perfect centering), but its overall freshness, both on the face and back.

With 1992 and 2007 P.F. certificates

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