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1858, 4p ("Cuato Ps") Chestnut Brown, Error of Color (4 unlisted variety). Position 15, unused with traces of gum which may be original, ample to large margins except touched at bottom left, rich unadulterated color in the distinct Chestnut Brown shade

VERY FINE. ONE OF THREE RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE 4-PESO CHESTNUT BROWN COLOR ERROR. A MAJOR RARITY OF SOUTH AMERICAN PHILATELY.

There are two unused and one used examples of the "Cuato Ps" (4-pesos) Barquitos in Chestnut Brown, a color that clearly differs from any of the normal Red/Vermilion shades of the April 1858 Issue. The color is also totally dissimilar to the Brown shades of the later printings of the "In Ps" (One-peso) and "Cuato rs" (4-reales) stamps from the modified plates. Furthermore, the plate positions of the three recorded 4p Chestnut Brown errors do not correspond with the "Ps" positions on the "Cuato rs" plate (5, 28, 33, 41), so we can be certain that the distinctive Chestnut Brown ink was used in conjunction with the 4-peso plate before it was modified. It probably resulted from an error in mixing inks between printing different denominations (the color is closer to some of the 5p shades than any others).

Until the discovery of the used 4p Chestnut Brown, usage of the color error could not be verified. The used stamp offered in the following lot is evidence that the errors reached the post office. Due to its extreme rarity, the 4p Chestnut Brown color error has remained in relative obscurity, compared with color errors of other countries. We are confident that this sale will draw deserved attention to these important classic error stamps.

With copy of 1985 Solari-Mautalen photo certificate for the unused and used copies offered in this sale.

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