Lot 15
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St. Louis, Mo., 1846, 5¢ black on gray lilac (11X4), type III, position 5, huge balanced margins, lightened manuscript cancel affecting paper color slightly from the center toward the upper right, otherwise a choice, Extremely Fine example of this this rare stamp.
Scott $55,000
AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF THE EXCEEDINGLY RARE FIVE-CENT BEAR ON GRAY LILAC PAPER.
Expertization: 2004 PF Certificate.
The St Louis Bear stamps were printed from a single plate of six subjects that was modified twice to change the denominations of two positions. The rarity of the 5¢ on gray lilac paper derives from the use of gray lilac paper in only a portion of the printing from the second state of the plate. The first state of the plate contained three 5¢ and three 10¢ stamps. In the second state, two of the 5¢ positions were replaced with the new 20¢ value, leaving only one position to produce a 5¢ stamp. Therefore, at least in terms of the number produced, the 5¢ on gray lilac is twice as rare as the 20¢.
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| Realized $10,000 |
