4c Columbian, Error of Color (233a). Original gum, deep rich color on fresh paper, choice centering with wide even margins

EXTREMELY FINE. A MAGNIFICENT EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 4-CENT COLUMBIAN ERROR OF COLOR.

The 4c Columbian color error was caused by the use of a wrong batch of ink, and spectrographic analysis has shown that the blue inks of the 4c error and 1c Columbian have the same components.

Stamps from at least two panes reached collectors, and the few cancelled examples indicate that stamps used by the public came from additional panes. It is likely that a number of full sheets were printed using the wrong ink, and most of the stamps have simply been lost to philately.

With 2005 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, VF-XF 85; SMQ $23,200.00). Only two examples have graded higher to date. No other stamps share this grade.

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