Lot 1723
1909, 4¢ orange brown, bluish paper, o.g., lightly hinged, attractively centered, bright color and full intact perforations, fresh and Fine; with 2000 P.F. certificate.Scott Nos. 360 $27,500.
AN HANDSOME EXAMPLE OF THE OF THE 1909 4¢ BLUISH PAPER RARITY.
According to Johl (Vol. 1, page 175), the only source of the 4¢ and 8¢ Bluish stamps was the archives of the Post Office Department. Approximately 80 of each were traded for rare stamps missing from the archives. Given the failed experimental nature of the paper mixture, it is no surprise that virtually all copies are off-center to some extent.
Realized: $16,000