Lot 2210 o
1857, 1¢ blue, type III, position 99R2, light unobtrusive town cancellation, exceptionally well centered within large margins clearly showing design characteristics at top and bottom, rich bold color, tiny ½mm tear at top right, still an Extremely Fine gem; with 2010 P.S.E. & 2010, 2021 P.F. certificates.Scott No. 21 $7,250.
IN OUR OPINION, THIS IS THE FINEST APPEARING EXAMPLE WITH SUPERB CENTERING OF ONLY APPROXIMATELY 15 KNOWN 1857 1¢ TYPE III PERFORATED STAMPS FROM POSITION 99R2.
Plate 2 was made in late 1855, and consists of 198 stamps that are Type II, one position that is Type III (99R2) and one that is Type IIIA (100R2). Plate 2 stamps are rarer perforated than in imperforate form. Most perforated examples of position 99R2 have perforations cutting into the design on at least one side. The example offered here remarkably shows all design characteristics perfectly.
Type III is defined by breaks in the outer lines at both top and bottom. Many Type III stamps have breaks that were created or enlarged by plate wear. Since the wear occurred over a period of time, the majority of stamps of this type (both unused and used) has small breaks in at least one line. The most notable exception is Position 99R2. According to the Neinken book, "The 99R2 stamp is a fresh entry, that was short transferred both at top and bottom, over an original entry that had been erased… The reason that 99R2 is the finest example of Type III is because of its very short transfer at top and at bottom, giving us the wide breaks in these lines." (proof. 184).
According to the Siegel Census, there are 13 known used singles of the 1857 1¢ Type III Position 99R2. Of these, this is by far the finest centered example.