30c Ultramarine & Carmine, Flags Inverted (121b). Perfect centering, incredibly rich and bright colors, proof-like impressions on fresh white paper, clear strike of New York City circle of V's (or Leaf) cancel

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL INVERT WITH REMARKABLY RICH COLORS. ONLY THREE OF THE 37 RECORDED USED COPIES ARE PERFECTLY CENTERED AND SOUND.

Our census of 30c 1869 Inverts, available at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/121b/121b.pdf , contains a total of 47 stamps, including 7 unused and 40 used (one in the Miller Collection at The New York Public Library). Of the ten used "Centered" copies, only three are sound.

The circle of V's cancel on this stamp is known on covers from the Davis correspondence, mailed to Peru from New York City in August 1869 (see Chronicle 138, p. 124).

Census No. 121b-CAN-13. Ex Newbury, Engel, Back, "Concord" and Twigg-Smith. With 1961 and 1991 P.F. certificates.

The Scott U.S. Specialized Graded value for a stamp graded Extremely Fine 90 -- in our opinion, this is at least an XF 90 -- is $142,500.00

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