5c Brown, Double Transfer Ty. E (1-E). Showing clear double transfer of "U", "Post Office" and left numeral "5", large even margins, deep rich color, bold strike of red New York square grid cancel

EXTREMELY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 5-CENT 1847 "MOWER SHIFT" -- DOUBLE TRANSFER TYPE E -- OF WHICH PROBABLY NO MORE THAN A DOZEN COPIES ARE KNOWN. THE PLACEMENT OF THE CANCELLATION LEAVES ALL OF THE RE-ENTRY LINES VISIBLE.

The so-called "Mower Shift" is named after its discoverer, the San Francisco dealer R. H. Mower. In an article discussing this rare position in the November 1976 Chronicle, Duane Garrett quotes a letter from Stanley B. Ashbrook, which states "this 'E' variety is quite scarce, much more than either the 'A' or 'B', probably due to the fact that the extra lines were not cut very deep on the plate and soon wore away. I believe that we can only find the 'E' among the very earliest prints from the plate."

Undercatalogued in Scott at $1,600.00 -- the last example we sold, ten years ago, brought $6,500 hammer.

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