24c Dark Violet, First Color (60). Original gum, lightly hinged, perfectly centered, distinctive dark First Color shade, proof-like impression

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 24-CENT DARK VIOLET EARLY TRIAL PRINTING. ONE OF THE RAREST OF THE 24-CENT 1861-63 ISSUE SHADES.

The Dark Violet trial printing and Violet regular issue shades are often confused, and the Scott Catalogue adds to the confusion by putting the Dark Violet (the old Scott 60) in the Trial Color Proofs section as 70TCe, while the Violet gets a front seat as Scott 70c. In our opinion, there is no good reason to relegate the Dark Violet to the Trial Color Proof section. As a result, the stamp offered here is undercatalogued in relation to other 24c stamps of equal rarity. For example, Scott 70c has a value of $35,000.00 versus Scott 70TCe at $8,000.00.

Ex Zoellner and Silver Lake. With 1975 and 1998 P.F. certificates. Scott Retail as 70TCe

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