$1.00 Candle Holder, Intaglio Brown Color Inverted (1610c). Mint N.H., position 24 from the original discovery part sheet of 86, fresh colors and well-centered

VERY FINE. A PRISTINE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THIS POPULAR MODERN ERROR -- THE C.I.A. INVERT.

Popularly called the "C.I.A. Invert", a single pane of 100 stamps was purchased at the McLean Va. Post Office by employees of the C.I.A., for use on mail from the agency. They noticed the error, pooled together funds to buy a replacement sheet and kept the pane for themselves. When it was discovered who had purchased the stamps, a scandal ensued over who actually owned the stamps.

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