1c Blue, Ty. II, Plate 3 (7 var). Position 92L3, unused (no gum), large margins to barely touched incl. part of adjoining stamp at top, bright color

VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE TYPE II ONE-CENT 1851 IMPERFORATE FROM PLATE 3.

According to Ashbrook and Neinken, Plate 3 is believed to have been made in March or April 1856, possibly to replace the defective Plate 2 and/or to meet the increased demand for stamps concurrent with the April 1855 change in postal regulations requiring prepayment of postage. For an unknown reason -- possibly a severe defect that arose in the plate -- very few stamps were printed from the new Plate 3 before it was retired, and surviving examples are rare.

With 1992 P.F. certificate

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