1c Blue, Ty. Ia (6). Position 92R4, unused (traces of original gum), large margin at right, other sides in, deep rich Plate 4 color, completely sound

FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT TYPE IA IMPERFORATE STAMP -- ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT STAMPS TO OBTAIN IN UNUSED CONDITION.

Stamps printed from Plate 4 were issued in April, May and briefly in June 1857 before perforations were introduced. The relatively small number of imperforate Plate 4 stamps issued during this period explains the rarity and desirability of any of the imperforate stamp types produced from this plate (Ia, Ic, II, III and IIIa). The extremely rare Type Ia, showing the full design at bottom, was furnished only by 18 of the 200 subjects on Plate 4 (the remaining two bottom-row positions were sub-type Ic).

As an indication of rarity, the last unused example of Scott 6 we offered was in our 2001 Rarities sale. Prior to that our 1999 auction of the Golin Collection contained an example which was creased and thinned -- a stamp with faults in a collection whose owner focused on condition.

With 1997 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail with original gum is $40,000.00. Scott Retail as no gum

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