4c Pan-American, Center Inverted, Specimen Ovpt. (296a-S). Full original gum (far better gum condition than most), rich colors and fine impressions, centered to lower left but perfs are clear of design and wide right margin shows clear strike of purple "Specimen" overprint

VERY FINE FOR THIS RARE 4-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT WITH SPECIMEN OVERPRINT.

If the reported numbers are correct, a total of 203 4c Inverts was released, both with and without the overprint. An unknown quantity of the 4c Pan-American invert was overprinted with a small "Specimen" overprint. Some examples, both with and without the overprint, were given away by Third Asst. Postmaster General Edwin C. Madden. When postal authorities learned of the practice, they destroyed 194 copies and put one pane of 100 into the official archives. At a later date, 97 of these were traded for rarities missing from the archives.

With 1974 and 1995 P.F. certificates

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