3c Rose, Printed on Both Sides (65e). Horizontal pair, original gum which is only barely hinged (if at all), face of stamps are well-centered, back shows strong impressions inverted relative to the face, long and full perforations all around

EXTREMELY FINE. THIS PAIR OF THE 3-CENT 1861 PRINTED ON BOTH SIDES IS A UNIQUE MULTIPLE, CONTAINING TWO OF THE THREE RECORDED ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THIS DRAMATIC VARIETY. THIS IS ALSO ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED MULTIPLES FOR ANY PRINTED ON BOTH SIDES VARIETY. A RARITY OF THE HIGHEST ORDER.

Jim Zollweg's census of Scott 65e records three unused stamps (the pair and single in this sale) and eleven used copies. The unused single and pair were originally joined together in the strip of three offered in the Lilly sale. Viewed from the face, the single was joined to the right of the pair.

The only other multiple of a printed on both sides variety is the unused plate block of six of Scott 94d, offered as lot 118 in this sale. A used pair of Scott 158k was offered in our 1967 Rarities sale, but it is believed to have been broken.

Ex Lilly as a strip of three. With 2005 P.F. certificate

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