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Sale 95: Gems of Philately

Table of Contents

1918-1956 Issues

Lot 4231    

1979, $1 Lamp, brown (candle flame) inverted, o.g., never hinged, fresh and pristine, Very Fine, rare with only about 95 examples accounted for from the only known pane issued.
Scott No. 1610c    $17,000.

A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF THIS MODERN RARITY.

Known as the "CIA" invert, the known pane of 100 was sold by the McLean, Virginia post office in the spring of 1986 to an employee of the CIA who had been sent to the post office to buy stamps for the agency. The inverted error was discovered shortly thereafter and nine CIA employees decided to switch the errors for newly purchased normal issues. The story of what happened was eventually leaked and a scandal ensued with four employees being fired.

Realized: $10,500

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