3c Deep Violet, Bluish
(359). Lightly hinged, perfectly centered with wide margins all around,
deep rich color and sharp impressionEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT BLUISH WITH THE FINEST CENTERING ATTAINABLE.
With 2000 P.F. certificate (Image)
4c Orange Brown, Bluish
(360). Lightly hinged, beautiful rich color and sharp proof-like
impression, spectacularly wide margins all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. ONE OF THE FINEST RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE RARE 4-CENT BLUISH PAPER -- ARGUABLY THE MOST DIFFICULT OF THE BLUISH PAPER ISSUE TO FIND IN SUCH PRISTINE CONDITION.
A review of our Levi records of the Bluish Paper stamps shows that the 4c is much rarer than the 8c in well-centered condition. This stamp, with margins that would be impressive on a normal 4c, easily ranks among the two or three finest known.
Small red backstamp. With 2000 P.F. certificate. (Image)
5c Blue, Bluish (361).
Lightly hinged, bright and fresh, well-centered for this difficult stamp,
wide marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT -- THE RAREST OF THE REGULARLY-ISSUED BLUISH PAPERS.
The 4c and 8c Bluish Paper stamps were released by postal officials and not sold through the post office. The 5c is the third rarest of the set and the rarest of the regularly-issued Bluish Paper stamps.
With 2000 P.F. certificate (Image)
8c Olive Green, Bluish
(363). Barest trace of previous hinge, well-centered for this difficult
and rare stamp, intense color on deeply blued paperVERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 8-CENT BLUISH PAPER.
The 4c and 8c denominations were never intended to be released, and neither denomination is known used. The 8c Bluish is very rare in this fresh, lightly hinged and well-centered condition.
Signed lightly in pencil by Edward Stern on back. (Image)
10c Yellow, Bluish (364).
Almost imperceptible trace of previous hinge, incredibly bright color, wide
margins, long full perforations all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT BLUISH PAPER. RARELY SEEN IN THIS OUTSTANDING CONDITION.
With 1986 and 1998 P.F. certificates (Image)
13c Bluish Green, Bluish
(365). Lightly, incredibly well-centered for this notoriously difficult
stamp, rich color, sharp proof-like impressionEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERBLY CENTERED AND UNBELIEVABLY FRESH EXAMPLE OF THE 13-CENT BLUISH PAPER.
The Bluish papers were affected by the problem of paper shrinkage during production, and so are very difficult to locate in well-centered condition.
With 1998 P.F. certificate (Image)
15c Pale Ultramarine, Bluish
(366). Mint Never Hinged, from the top right corner of the sheet with
full 23mm selvage, the stamp itself is perfectly centered with long full
perforations all around, rich color, remarkably freshEXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN EXTRAORDINARY STAMP -- POST-OFFICE FRESH, PERFECTLY CENTERED, MINT NEVER HINGED AND WITH FULL CORNER SHEET MARGINS. IN OUR EXPERIENCE, THIS IS QUITE POSSIBLY THE FINEST-QUALITY BLUISH PAPER STAMP IN EXISTENCE.
The 4c and 8c stamps are correctly recognized as the rarest of the Bluish Paper issue, but they were never sold over the post office counter and used by the public. Of the values that were regularly issued, the 5c is the rarest, followed by the 13c, and then by the 15c, 10c, 6c and 3c (the 1c and 2c are common). If Mint Never Hinged stamps are isolated from the supply available to collectors, the rarity factors increase significantly for all of the values. The 15c is extremely rare in well-centered Mint N.H. condition, and the Scott premium for N.H. condition is significantly understated ($2,100 versus $1,350 for hinged).
This Mint Never Hinged stamp, with full corner sheet margins and perfect centering, is not just the finest 15c Bluish Paper example we can locate in our extensive records -- it is, in our opinion, the finest single example of any of the higher-denomination Bluish Paper stamps. There is simply nothing that compares to it.
With 2000 P.F. certificate. (Image)