90c Blue (39). Unused (no
gum), dark shade, well-centered, Very Fine
(Image)
90c Blue (39). Large part
redistributed original gum, well-centered, small thin spot at top,
otherwise Extremely Fine, with 1998 P.F. certificate
(Image) 
90c Blue (39). Original
gum, lightly hinged, deep rich color, fresh and Very Fine, with 2000 P.F.
certificate (Image) 
90c Blue (39). Unused (no
gum), rich color, trivial natural inclusion at top left, Very Fine, with
1986 P.F. certificate (Image) 
90c Blue (39). Unused (no
gum), deep shade, two short perfs at top right, Fine
(Image) 
90c Blue (39). Large part
original gum, thin spot and light creases, appears Fine
(Image) 
90c Blue (39). Unused (no
gum), rich color, faults including tear and nibbed perf at right, tiny thin
spot and light corner crease, still Fine appearance
(Image)
90c Blue (39). Deep rich
color, light strike of black grid, extra wide margins at sides and top,
fresh paperA VERY FINE AND EXTREMELY RARE SOUND USED EXAMPLE OF THE SHORT-LIVED 90-CENT 1860 ISSUE.
The basic 24c and 30c rates to England, France and Germany created a large volume of mail franked with those values of the 1857-61 series. However, the 90c saw much more limited use, partly due to the rates in effect, but more because of the American Civil War. When supplies of current postage stamps were declared invalid in the South and ultimately demonetized by the Federal government, the 90c had been in use for only one year. For this reason, genuinely cancelled copies and covers bearing the 90c are extremely rare. Approximately 180 used examples have been certified by The Philatelic Foundation, of which only one-quarter are sound. The cancel most often seen on genuine used examples of the 90c is the New York red grid. The stamp offered here, with a lightly-struck black grid, is a remarkable rarity.
With 1983 P.F. certificate. (Image)