Sale 968 — The Alan B. Whitman Collection of Outstanding United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 27-28 January, 2009
Category — 1875 Re-Issue of 1869 Pictorial Issue (Scott 123-133a)
Lot
Symbol
Photo/Description
Cat./Est. Value
Realized
168
15c Brown & Blue, Re-Issue, Imperforate Horizontally (129a). Full original gum, deep rich colors and proof-like impressions, unusually choice centering with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS VARIETY IS EXTREMELY RARE WITH ORIGINAL GUM. THE EXAMPLE OFFERED HERE IS WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE.
Jonathan W. Rose, in his book United States Postage Stamps of 1869, estimates that no more than five to ten copies of this error exist (our own estimate is 20-30; two are known used). Only one sheet of 100 was issued, and all were cut into singles by a clerk in the Third Assistant Postmaster General's office. It is not known how many were sold. The last example with original gum we located with Power Search was sold in 2003. Many seem to lack gum.
With 1981 and 2000 P.F. certificates
6,250
32,500