30c Greenish Black (165 var). Original gum, lightly hinged, soft charcoal gray shade with a greenish cast that is unique to the Continental printing, crisp impression on fresh paper

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. ONE OF THE MOST OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THE 30-CENT 1873 CONTINENTAL WE HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE IN THE GREENISH BLACK SHADE.

The 30c Continental is extremely rare in any original-gum condition that approaches this example. Blocks have always been rare -- for example, Caspary did not have one; Lilly had one well-centered block of four and an off-center block of six -- which means that singles could not be harvested from multiples.

With 1983 and 1990 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $15,600.00). This is the highest grade awarded to date and only one other shares this grade. As another indicator of rarity of this issue in higher grades, SMQ does not even bother to price this as a 98.

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