1c Blue, Ty. I/IIIA/II (5/8A/7). Positions 7/17/27R1E, top stamp Type I, center stamp Type IIIA, bottom stamp Type II, tied by red grids, matching "Louisville & Cincinnati Mail Line, March 8" route agent's circular datestamp on blue folded cover to Philadelphia, top stamp (Type I) with 5mm tear in margin and just into design, part of bottom stamp (Type II) restored

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE STRIP OF THREE ON COVER CONTAINING THE DESIRABLE TYPE I IMPERFORATE ONE-CENT 1851 ISSUE -- POSITION 7 FROM THE RIGHT PANE OF PLATE ONE EARLY. ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES ON COVER IN A VERTICAL STRIP OF THREE AND THE ONLY EXAMPLE WITH THE LOUISVILLE & CINCINNATI MAIL LINE ROUTE AGENT'S MARKING.

The published census compiled by Jerome S. Wagshal contains 90 unduplicated records of Scott 5. There are probably no more than ten examples existing outside of the Wagshal census population. Therefore, the 1c 1851 Type I is the rarest of all United States stamps issued regularly prior to the 1868 Grills.

Only 22 covers bearing Scott No. 5 are recorded in the Wagshal census. Of these, some may have been soaked off of their covers to satisfy collector demand for singles. When discovered, the bottom stamp on this cover had a large scraped-away area at lower left. It was expertly repaired and has since been a significant piece in several important collections.

Wagshal Census No. 5-COV-087. Ex Chase, Michaels, Ishikawa and Kapiloff

Image Magnifier / Download

Power Search for Comparables