1c Blue, Ty. II (7). Positions 81-83/91-93R2, block of six with bottom left corner margins showing surface plate cracks at bottom, clearly apparent beneath 92R, ample to large other two sides, "patchy" disturbed original gum, excellent impression, few minor thin spots and wrinkles affect a few, others sound

EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A MAGNIFICENT EXHIBITION-QUALITY MULTIPLE OF THE IMPERFORATE 1851 ONE-CENT TYPE II WITH HUGE SHEET MARGINS SHOWING THE CRACKS AROUND THE PERIMETER OF PLATE 2.

The Neinken book illustrates Positions 92-96R2 from the Newbury block of 18 with bottom margin showing the cracks, with the following comment: "This block shows the finest collection of small surface cracks I have ever seen on any Toppan, Carpenter plates. The largest group seems to have existed on the plate under 92R, and several of these run into this stamp, but not for any great distance." Neinken concludes that the Newbury block is from an early printing since, in all likelihood, the cracks wore down fairly quickly, as he had seen many singles, pairs and strips from the bottom row of plate 2R with sizeable sheet margins and none of them showed any surface cracks. Based on this information, the block offered here is most likely an early impression.

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