5c Dark Brown (1a). Mint N.H., huge margins all around including enormous left sheet margin, gorgeous Dark Brown shade and razor-sharp impression from a very early printing, the paper and gum are fresh and pristine

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS CERTAINLY THE FINEST MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE IN EXISTENCE. A MAGNIFICENT POST-OFFICE FRESH STAMP FROM THE UNITED STATES FIRST GENERAL ISSUE -- GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 JUMBO BY P.S.E.

The Act of March 3, 1847, signed by President Polk, specified that Postmaster General Cave Johnson "be authorized to prepare postage stamps, which when attached to any letter or packet, shall be evidence of the payment of the postage..." The law's effective date was July 1, and the Post Office acted immediately to secure a contract with Rawdon, Wright, Hatch and (the new partner) Edson, so that stamps could be distributed by that date. The Franklin vignette is reported to have been based on a portrait by John B. Longacre, and it also closely resembles a painting by Joseph S. Duplessis.

A careful review of auction records, including a Power Search of our auction database, produced only one other 5c 1847 described as Mint Never-Hinged. It is the top stamp in a vertical pair, which is ex Caspary and Drucker (Siegel Sale 851, lot 2), but the margins are not comparable to the margins of this stamp. There are two previously hinged examples (both Scott 1a) graded 98J in the P.S.E. Population Report, one of which is the corner-margin copy from our 2002 Rarities sale.

With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo). Scott Retail value for hinged has little relevance to the value of the Mint N.H. stamp.

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