10c Black (2). Original gum, large to huge margins all around, intense shade and proof-like impression clearly showing every detail of the engraving

EXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE. ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT STAMPS TO OBTAIN IN SOUND, ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION WITH FOUR LARGE MARGINS. A MAGNIFICENT EXAMPLE OF THE FIRST UNITED STATES GENERAL ISSUE.

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 Washington vignette is based on the iconic image painted by Gilbert Stuart.

The early imperforate issues are often found with margins close or cutting into the design, because of the difficulty in manually cutting along the narrow gap between stamps. This stamp, with its original gum, large margins and beautiful impression, surely ranks among the finest known original-gum examples of the first United States postage issue.

With 1982 P.F. certificate

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