24c Dark Lilac (78).
Original gum, well-centered, incredibly deep shade and sharp impression on
bright fresh paperEXTREMELY FINE AND CHOICE. THE 24-CENT 1861-66 IS EXTREMELY RARE IN WELL-CENTERED ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION. THE SHADE AND IMPRESSION OF THIS STAMP ARE VERY RARELY ENCOUNTERED.
This stamp and the stamp in the previous lot are Dark Lilac shades, but the impression is better defined in this example, and the shade is more intense. Every background line and detail of the lathework is printed with perfect clarity. The paper of this stamp is whiter, slightly thicker and more opaque -- it is similar to the paper on which the Blackish Violet (Scott 78c) is found -- and we suspect that the printings in this Dark Lilac shade and Blackish Violet shade occurred in close proximity, probably on similar paper stock.
The Scott value is based on a typical 24c stamp and does not begin to reflect the rarity of this stamp, in terms of its condition and depth of color.
With 1997 P.F. certificate (Image)