15c-90c 1869 Pictorial
Inverts, Plate Proofs on Card (120aP4, 121aP4, 122aP4, 129aP4).
Complete set in sheet margin blocks of four, large margins all
aroundEXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE FEW SURVIVING INTACT SETS OF BLOCKS OF THE 1869 PICTORIAL INVERT PLATE PROOFS, OF WHICH ONE SHEET OF EACH WAS RELEASED.
Scott Retail as blocks. (Image)
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II,
Center Inverted (119b). Fine impressions on bright paper, cork cancel,
vignette shows clearly, centered slightly to lower right but perfs are well
clear all aroundVERY FINE. ONE OF THE FINEST USED EXAMPLES OF THE 90 RECORDED 15-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL INVERT ERRORS. A STAMP OF REMARKABLE BEAUTY AND GREAT RARITY.
Our census of 1869 Inverts, published in the February 1999 Chronicle and updated with one new example, contains 90 of the 15c Invert, including three unused and 87 used (one in the British Library's Tapling collection and three No. 119c varieties). We estimate that no more than fifteen used copies are sound, including copies with tiny corner creases. A large number -- more than half -- have serious faults or repairs.
Census No. 119b-CAN-SE11. With 1988 P.F. certificate. A similar stamp in our recent Sale 814 realized $31,500 hammer. (Image)
24c Green & Violet, Center
Inverted (120b). Cancelled by blue cork, light diagonal creases
at bottom right, small repaired tear at rightFINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF TWO RECORDED 24-CENT 1869 INVERTS CANCELLED IN BLUE.
Our published 1869 Invert census (with unpublished updates) contains 88 copies of the perforated 24c Invert, including four unused stamps and multiples. Of the used stamps, only two stamps are cancelled in blue, this being by far the better centered.
Census No. 120b-CAN-NE02. With 1994 P.F. certificate. (Image)