1c Blue, Ty. Ia (6). Position 100L4 from the bottom right corner of the left pane, huge margins including sheet margin at bottom and huge straddle-pane margin at right, original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich Plate 4 color and proof-like impression which shows every detail of the engraving, this was once part of a pair which had toned spots, the pair was divided into singles and the toning was expertly removed (the single from Position 99L4 is part of the William H. Gross collection)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. WITHOUT QUESTION THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THE 1851 ONE-CENT TYPE IA IN EXISTENCE. A FANTASTIC STAMP IN TERMS OF MARGINS, GUM, FRESHNESS OF PAPER, COLOR AND IMPRESSION. THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM FOUR-MARGINED EXAMPLES OF THIS RARITY WE HAVE OFFERED DURING 78 YEARS OF AUCTIONS.

The extremely rare Type Ia, showing the full design at bottom, was furnished only by 18 of the 200 subjects on Plate 4 (the remaining two bottom-row positions were sub-type Ic). This stamp is particularly desirable, because it shows the sheet margin at bottom and at right, so that the characteristics of the type are clearly evident.

A Power Search review shows how rare this stamp is with four margins, in sound condition, and with original gum. We have only offered ten original-gum singles and a pair as part of a block of four in all of our Rarities sales and during the past 15 years of auctions. Of these, only two singles and the multiple have margins completely clear of the design. The singles have small toned specks, and the multiple has a faint horizontal crease.

Ex Caspary and Lilly (as a pair). With 1989 and 2000 P.F. certificates

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