Lot
1432 (
)
1857, 1¢ blue, type IIIa, Block of Twelve, Positions 34-37/44-47/54-57R4, rich color, choice centering for this difficult issue with every position clearly showing a break in the outer frameline at top, no gum, perf separations in top row sensibly reinforced, top stamps with faint horizontal crease, Very Fine appearance, ex-Celler; with 2022 P.F. certificate. Scott No. 22 $35,700 as o.g.
AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE BLOCK OF TWELVE OF THE 1857 1¢ TYPE IIIA FROM AN EARLY IMPRESSION OF PLATE 4, THE LARGEST TYPE IIIA MULTIPLE RECORDED.
Type IIIa stamps are defined as having the outer line broken at either top or bottom, but not both. As the plate wore away, several positions that started out as Type IIIa became Type III with breaks at both top and bottom. Position 45 in this multiple is one such a position, indicating this block is from an early impression. From the early impressions of plate 4, there is the possibility of a block of 15 if the three Type IIIa stamps from next column are included, but no Type IIIa only block of fifteen exists. This is a remarkable all type IIIa multiple of incalculable rarity.
Certificate:
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Realized: $6,500