5c Red Brown (1). Block of four, original gum, full to large margins all around, gorgeous bright shade with very strong hue, exceptionally fresh, accompanying certificate notes light vertical creases, these are caused by the naturally crackly gum that is typical of Rawdon, Wright, Hatch & Edson's work

EXTREMELY FINE FOR AN ORIGINAL-GUM MULTIPLE OF THE 1847 ISSUE. IN FACT, THIS BEAUTIFUL BLOCK OF FOUR, WITH ITS RICH COLOR AND SOUNDNESS, IS ONE OF THE FINEST OF THE RECORDED 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE MULTIPLES.

It is surprising that so little reliable information has been published about the precise number of 5c 1847 Issue blocks in existence. Philip H. Ward, Jr., in his article on classic unused blocks ("Early Unused Blocks 1847-1869", 1960 Congress Book), simply said that the 5c was "not difficult to obtain in block form for some few exist in blocks of four and larger." Lester G. Brookman estimated "about a dozen blocks are known" in unused condition.

To bring the record further along and to give better perspective to the block offered here, we conducted our own review of auction records. We identified 17 unused blocks of the 5c 1847 Issue. Excluded from this tally is what might be an unused block in the Webster Knight collection at Brown University and a block of 30 which has been rumored to exist for years (if it does exist, then it becomes the largest recorded multiple). The list of 17 confirmed unused 5c 1847 multiples follows (some ownership information is provided).

1) block of 16 (4 x 4; Pos. 21-24/51-54R), OG, ex Earl of Crawford, Ackerman, Ward, Ishikawa, currently in the W. H. Gross collection; 2) block of 10 (5 x 2; Pos. 1-5/11-15L with sheet margin at top), POG, crease, small repairs, ex Kapiloff, Siegel 2002 Rarities sale; 3) block of 8 (4 x 2), 3rd and 7th stamp with dot in "S", OG, slight creases, ex Caspary, Lilly, Grunin; 4) block of 8 (3 x 3 less TR stamp), Dark Brown shade, OG, ex Slater, Caspary, Lehman, Klein; 5) block of 6 (3 x 2), OG, BL stamp NH, light creasing from gum shrinkage, Siegel 2001 Rarities sale; 6) block of 4, OG, light vertical creases, ex Sevenoaks as a block of six, since reduced to a block of four and offered here; 7) block of 6 (3 x 2), traces of gum, toned, repaired tear, Siegel 1993 Rarities sale; 8) block of 6 (2 x 3 with sheet margin at top), no gum, creased, Siegel 1992 Rarities sale; 9) block of 4, OG, offset on back, ex Hind and Hansen, realized $42,500 hammer in Siegel Sale 963; 10) block of 4, OG, described as "pale reddish-brown, 1849 impression" in Crocker sale and "Orange Brown" in E. B. Martin and later sales, possibly the same shade as block #9; 11) block of 4, bottom sheet margin, Dark Brown shade, OG, creases, Siegel Sale 902, lot 1002; 12) block of 4, no gum, right stamps vertical creases, lightened stains; 13) block of 4, OG, creases, small tear BR, Siegel 1992 Rarities sale; 14) block of 4, OG, creased and defective, Siegel 1988 Rarities sale; 15) block of 4, OG, creases, minor faults, ex Hessel, possibly ex Worthington; 16) block of 4, OG, Dark Brown shade, faults and small repair TL, ex Picher, Siegel 1993 Rarities sale; and 17) block of 4 (Pos. 89-90/99-100R incl. DT Pos. 90R), OG, vertical crease, ex West.

Among the larger blocks, only #1, 4 and 5 are essentially sound. Of the ten blocks of four, only two are free of faults: #9 offered recently in our Hansen sale and #10, which has not been examined in years (its present location is unknown). The example offered here (#6 on list), with light vertical creases but with four large margins, is a rare opportunity for the collector who wishes to own one of the finest multiples of the United States First Issue.

Ex Sevenoaks as a block of six. With 2002 P.F. certificate.

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