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MAURITIUS, 1848, 2p Indigo Blue on Bluish Paper, Earliest Impression (4; SG 4). Position 11, full to large margins, deep rich color in the intense Indigo shade, prooflike impression, tied by lightly struck grid cancel on folded cover to Port Louis, two-line "FLACQ/JUY 10 1849" framed datestamp, "INLAND" framed handstamp, backstamped "Mauritius Post Office 10(?) Jy 1849" circular datestamp

EXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF TWO KNOWN COVERS WITH THE RARE INDIGO-BLUE SHADE OF THE 2-PENCE "POST PAID" EARLIEST IMPRESSION.

Although experts now accept two different shades and print qualities in classifying the earliest impressions of the 1848 2p "Post Paid" stamp, the Indigo-Blue shade, with its intense depth of impression, is the longstanding and unmatched earliest printing. The Blue shade, with its characteristic "dry" or "sticky" impression, is represented by a group of covers from one correspondence (approximately four or five; see Caspary and David Feldman Mauritius sales). These dry prints are considerably less intense than the Indigo-Blue stamps, a result of the ink failing to adhere to, or flaking off of, the insufficiently moistened grainy paper. While experts have adopted new parameters of print quality in classifying the earliest impressions, there can be no debate over the Indigo-Blue stamps - they are striking examples of the engraver's best and earliest product.

The other recorded cover with the Indigo-Blue earliest impression was in the Dale-Lichtenstein sale (October 21, 1968, lot 7, realized $18,000). It has an uncancelled stamp tied by a manuscript transit marking.

Ex Caspary, Dr. Chan and Gray; it was the highlight of the Stevens collection (illustrated on front cover of 1964 sale catalogue) and ex Kanai. With 1958 B.P.A. certificate

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