90c Blue (39). Original
gum, rich color, Very Fine and choice, with 2001 P.F. certificate (Image) 
90c Blue (39). Original
gum, rich color, small thin spot at bottom right, Fine, a challenging stamp
to find in original gum condition, with 2001 P.F. certificate (Image) 
90c Blue (39). Large part
original gum, rich color, small thin spot at bottom right, Extremely Fine
appearance (Image) 
90c Blue (39). Part
disturbed original gum, rich color, short perfs at right, Very Fine
appearance (Image)
90c Blue (39). Unused (no
gum), rich color, 3mm tear at bottom and central gum soak, otherwise Very
Fine (Image) 
90c Blue (39). Unused (no
gum), rich color, few creases, otherwise Very Fine
(Image) 
90c Blue (39). Unused (no
gum), rich color, fresh and Fine (Image)
90c Blue (39). Perfectly
centered with wide margins all around, deep rich color and sharp
impression, clear strike of black grid cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE SHORT-LIVED 90-CENT 1860 -- THE FIRST UNITED STATES 90-CENT ISSUE.
The 90c stamp was issued in 1860, along with the 24c and 30c values, all of which were needed to prepay high international letter rates established by various postal treaties. The basic 24c and 30c rates to England, France and Germany created a large volume of mail franked with those values. 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 as genuine by the Philatelic Foundation, of which approximately one-quarter are sound. Of these sound examples, many are off-center.
Last sold in Siegel Sale 338 (Aug. 13-16, 1968). With 2001 P.F. certificate (Image)