D. O. Blood & Co.,
Philadelphia Pa., (3c) Black on Grayish, "D.O.B. & Cos." Initials
(15L4). Full to large margins, detailed impression with all of
background lines showing clearly, cancelled by ms., blue "Philadelphia Pa.
Aug. 8" circular datestamp with matching "5" in double-circle handstamp on
1845 folded letter to New York CityEXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF THE RARE BLOOD'S FIRST ISSUE WITH MANUSCRIPT CONTROL MARK.
Ex Hollowbush and Schwartz. (Image)
D. O. Blood & Co.,
Philadelphia Pa., (2c) Black (15L5). Four blocks of 12 (each a
so-called pane), unused (no gum), forming a reconstruction of two-thirds of
the original multiple of 72 from which five of the seven recorded blocks
were cut (see notes below), margins generally large but just touching on
two blocks, faint stains, some minor creases and small faultsVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A BREATHTAKING COMPILATION OF RARE MULTIPLES. WITH THE ADDITION OF TWO MORE PANES OF TWELVE, IT IS POSSIBLE TO PRESENT THE ORIGINAL BLOCK OF 72, WHICH IS BELIEVED TO BE THE SIZE OF A COMPLETE SHEET AS PRINTED FOR D. O. BLOOD & CO.
Our records contain five intact panes of twelve, one pane of twelve severed in half and rejoined, and one block of eleven (bottom right stamp removed). We have determined that six of the seven panes come from different clusters of positions on the lithographic stone, each showing distinctive subject alignment and plate flaws. The seventh multiple (the severed pane) is an exact duplicate of one of the six clusters. Blood advertised stamps for sale at the rate of 25c per dozen, therefore, it follows that printed sheets comprised 72 subjects, which could be divided into six units of a dozen stamps for convenient sale.
The four blocks offered here were acquired individually. They are shown as separate units and in the composite photo joined together in their original positions in the larger multiple. Assuming the sheet comprised six blocks of twelve (Blood's sale units), the letters A thru F may be used to identify the six distinctive pane arrangements. We offer A, D, E and F in this lot. If a serious philatelist were so inclined, he could acquire units B and C (C was last offered in Shreves Wampler sale) and reconstruct the complete printed sheet of one of the world's first stamps. Few philatelic artifacts would rival such an item.
As identified in the composite photo, the features and pedigrees of the blocks are: Position A) plate flaw at lower right of second stamp/third row, ex Schwartz, Position D) ex Hall, Position E) squeezed cliche and missing imprint on second stamp/third row, ex Gibson and Golden, and Position F) plate flaw at left of first stamp/second row, with 1998 P.F. certificate.
Regarding the other three recorded panes and their relationship to the 72-stamp multiple, one pane is intact and comes from Position C, its bottom margin aligns with the top of Position F in this lot. The severed pane is a duplicate of Position A and therefore could not have been part of the larger multiple reconstructed here. The pane with one stamp cut out from lower right does not match Positions A, C, D, E or F, and so logically becomes Position B, but its margins do not align with the multiples offered here, and therefore it must come from another sheet. Because all are creased horizontally between the second and third rows, we believe that the seven panes (possibly more and definitely from two sheets) were divided and folded when they were stored and discovered. The staining in the same relative positions on the panes also indicates that they were stacked together when the staining occured. There is no written record of their discovery to confirm our speculations.
Scott Retail $22,000.00 (Image)
D. O. Blood & Co.,
Philadelphia Pa., (2c) Black (15L5). Two, one with original gum
(slightly toned), other unused (no gum), full to large margins, tiny flaws,
Very Fine appearance (Image) 
D. O. Blood & Co.,
Philadelphia Pa., (2c) Black (15L5). Horizontal pair, unused (no gum),
small faults, Very Fine appearance, scarce
(Image) 
D. O. Blood & Co.,
Philadelphia Pa., (2c) Black (15L5). Large margins, ms. "X" cancel,
used on Jan. 26, 1847 folded letter to local street address, contents
mentions using Blood's Despatch, Very Fine, ex Hollowbush and Schwartz (Image) 
D. O. Blood & Co.,
Philadelphia Pa., (2c) Black (15L5). Large margins, cancelled by red
"Paid", impression ties thru paper, on Feb. 25, 1846 folded letter to
local street address, a bit worn but could easily be improved, Very Fine,
ex Hollowbush and Schwartz (Image)
D. O. Blood & Co.,
Philadelphia Pa., (2c) Black (15L6). Original gum, large margins except
clear in two places at right, intense shade and impression, Very Fine,
original-gum examples of the Striding Messenger 15L6 issue are extremely
rare and unpriced in Scott, ex Schwartz
(Image)
D. O. Blood & Co.,
Philadelphia Pa., (2c) Black (15L6). Two, different cancels, one has
clear margins and small thin, other slightly in at one side but shows an
unusual lithographic plate flaw at upper right, Fine and scarce, ex
Schwartz (Image) 
D. O. Blood & Co.,
Philadelphia Pa., (2c) Black (15L6). Full margins to slightly in, faint
gum toning, cancelled by small black "X" handstamp, not tied as usual, used
on lady's small cover to local street address, Fine, the third Striding
Messenger issue is rare on cover, ex Schwartz
(Image)