United States Stamps continued...

EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. AN OUTSTANDING AND RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1851 ONE-CENT WITH TRIPLE TRANSFER, ONE INVERTED, FROM PLATE 1 EARLY.

The three inverted transfers occurred during the making of Plate 1 Early. Positions 71L, 81L and 91L were entered from the three-subject transfer roll in the spaces where the first three entries had been made and erased (but not fully erased). The three entries that were erased were made in the upper corner left corner of the plate (which would produce 10R, 20R and 30R). The plate was turned 180 degrees before starting fresh entries from the transfer roll. Why this was done is not known. Position 91L was re-entered a third time on Plate 1 Early, creating the triple transfer (two upright, one inverted) evident on this stamp. When Toppan, Carpenter re-worked the worn plate, many of the subjects were re-entered, and all but one were recut at top and/or bottom, creating Scott 9, Type IV, from what we call Plate 1 Late (the same piece of steel in its modified state). Positions 71L and 81L were re-entered, thus becoming triple transfer (one inverted) positions, but 91L was not re-entered.

Please refer to Neinken book (pp. 166-170) for an extensive discussion of the Triple Transfer, One Inverted varieties. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB AND RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE IMPERFORATE ONE-CENT TYPE IIIA FROM PLATE 4.

Stamps printed from Plate 4 were issued in April-June 1857 before perforations were introduced. The relatively small number of imperforate Plate 4 stamps issued during this period explains the rarity and desirability of any of the imperforate stamp types produced from this plate.

With 2000 P.F. certificate (Image)

VERY FINE AND CHOICE APPEARANCE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF THE IMPERFORATE ONE-CENT TYPE IV 1851 ISSUE.

Scott Retail with no premium for the plate crack or double transfer. (Image)