1c Blue, Ty. II-IV (7-9). Positions 4-5R1L, Position 4R1L is the only one on Plate 1L which was not recut, thus this pair is a combination of Types II and IV, unused (no gum), margins mostly clear to ample with a large top sheet margin showing the characteristic burr above Position 4R, the Type IV is recut at bottom, negligible small thin spots

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE UNUSED MULTIPLE FROM THE TOP ROW OF PLATE 1 LATE, CONTAINING POSITION 4R1L, THE ONLY TYPE II ON THE REWORKED PLATE.

The two positions in this pair, 4R and 5R, were Type Ib positions on Plate 1 Early. When Plate 1 was reworked by re-entering subjects from the transfer roll and strengthening the tops and bottoms of 199 of the 200 positions, only 4R1L was left without any form of recut. 5R was recut, and impressions are classified as Type IV. 4R became Type II because some of the design at the bottom was burnished away. However, both 4R and 5R on Plate 1 Late still show the complete design at top, and both have strong double transfers from re-entries made when the plate was reworked.

Examples of 4R1L are very scarce, and unused copies are rare. This unused multiple containing 4R1L is an important rarity for the 1851 Issue specialist. A review of our auction records with Power Search produced a small number of used examples, but not one other unused 4R1L turned up. There must be others outside the present scope of our database, but clearly this is an extremely rare item.

Ex Hansen. With 1985 and 1999 P.F. certificates

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