1c Indigo, First Design (55). Unused (no gum), choice centering for this stamp with well-balanced margins, top perfs slightly into oval as they are on virtually all known copies, intense shade and impression, single pulled perforation at upper left

VERY FINE CENTERING. A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE RARE ONE-CENT 1861 FIRST DESIGN. ONLY 23 ARE AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS.

Our census published in the Zoellner catalogue (and available at our website at: http://www.siegelauctions.com/enc/census/55/55.htm) contains a total of 24 examples of this stamp. Of these 24, one is in the New York Public Library collection and two are cancelled. Of the remaining 21 copies, approximately half are defective to some extent. The example offered here, with a minor pulled perforation at upper left, is a most desirable example of this rarity.

Census No. 55-UNC-19. With 1969 and 2001 P.F. certificates, the former not mentioning the perforation flaw.

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