Lot
1806 
1861, 1¢ blue, bottom left corner margin imprint and plate no. 27 block of 20, natural s.e. at right, three stamps paper h.r., other 17 stamps Mint N.H., deep rich color, remarkably fresh and intact, tiny toned spot in margin under Position 99 (clear of plate block), deep rich color, Fine, ex-Curtis. Scott No. 63 $11,000.
A RARE PLATE BLOCK OF THE 1¢ 1861 ISSUE. ONE OF ONLY 5 RECORDED FULL IMPRINT AND PLATE NO. MULTIPLES. A WONDERFUL RARITY.
The Chapin census, updated by Don Evans in his book "The United States 1c Franklin, 1861-67", records only eight full plate number and imprint multiples from Plates 9, 10 and 27: two from Plate 9 (a block of 20 and a block of 98), and three from Plate 27 (a complete pane of 100, one block of 12, and the block of 20 offered here). The Frelinghuysen sale had a block of 35 with full bottom imprint and plate no. 10 selvage.
Illustrated in the Evans book on p. 30. Scott Retail as a plate number and imprint block of eight, two hinged blocks of four and four hinged singles.