Lot 1331
15¢ Brown & blue, type II, center inverted (119b), incredibly fresh and deep color on crisp white paper, rather well centered. Virtually full o.g., negligible margin gum soaks. Very Fine.
Scott $275,000
THIS 15¢ INVERT IS THE FINEST OF THE THREE KNOWN UNUSED SINGLES AND THE ONLY ONE WITH ORIGINAL GUM; A SIMPLY MAGNIFICENT EXAMPLE OF THIS GREAT RARITY.
Expertization: Photocopy of 1960 P.F. Certificate, signed W.H. C. (Colson).
Provenance: Lichtenstein, Worthington, Hind, Brigham, "Penn" Collection, Lilly, Texas collector, Ishikawa
The story of the discovery of the 15¢ invert was first told in a George Sloane column in February 1946. As the tale has been subsequently retold several times, a brief summary should serve.
The father of the renowned philatelist Alfred F. Lichtenstein was sent to the post office by his employer, where he purchased a quarter sheet of the 15¢ 1869 issue. He soon noticed the sheet had the centers inverted. As an avid collector, he chose to forego lunch that day (19¢ being his daily allotment) and spend 15¢ to purchase one of these stamps for himself. After some time, and over the strong objections of the young Alfred, the stamp was sold to a friend for $285.
While the 15¢ is the most common of the 1869 inverts (if one can use that term for a stamp with less than 100 known), it is the most uncommon in mint condition. The
only three inverts recorded are:
1. A nicely centered unused single ex Phillips
2. A somewhat off centered unused single with slight soiling ex Hindes
3. A well centered single with original gum ex Lichtenstein
The 15¢ invert we offer here is the Lichtenstein example and, therefore the finest of the three known. This mint invert, along with the two inverts following afford today's collector a singular opportunity to obtain one, or more, of the finest of these most coveted stamps.
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| Realized $375,000 |
