5c Brown, First Design (57). Original gum, lightly hinged, intense shade and sharp impression, small closed tear at top right center

FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF ONLY SIXTEEN RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE 5-CENT 1861 FIRST DESIGN WITH ORIGINAL GUM, AND ONE OF ONLY NINE WITH FULL ORIGINAL GUM AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS.

Our census published in the Zoellner catalogue (and available at our website at: http://www.siegelauctions.com/enc/census/57/57.htm) lists a total of 35 copies of Scott 55, including two cancelled and one sound original-gum copy in the New York Public Library collection. Of the sixteen original-gum copies available to collectors, seven have only part original gum. Of the nine copies available with full original gum, none are completely sound. Four have small perf defects, one is reperfed at right, one is repaired, one has unspecified faults (ex Caspary), and two have small closed tears.

Census No. 57-OG-20. With copy of 1948 and with 1969 P.F. certificates describing the stamp as sound. With 2001 P.F. certificate describing a small closed tear at top right center.

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