DESCRIPTION

50¢ Violet (421), full top plate number 7049 block of six, five stamps Mint N.H., only the top center stamp hinged, deep rich color, truly outstanding centering with wide margins

PROVENANCE

Paul Cheyney (collection sold privately to Mr. Gross)

CONDITION NOTES

Extremely Fine Gem

SCOTT CATALOGUE VALUE (2019)

$10,000.00

HISTORY AND COMMENTARY

50¢ Perf 12 Single-Line and Double-Line Watermarks

There is a simple way to differentiate between the two 50¢ Violet Perf 12 1914 Issues, Scott 421 (single-line watermark) and Scott 422 (double-line watermark), without even looking at the watermark. Scott 421 almost always has printing ink offset on the gum (unless it is regummed), and Scott 422 never does.

As a measure of rarity, the Wampler collection had a hinged top plate block of Scott 421, and the Fogelson collection did not have a plate block (both sales were held by Shreves Philatelic Galleries). Our sale of the vast "MLG" collection also did not contain one. The only other top plate block we have offered with full or nearly full selvage was in our 2015 Curtis sale. Lewis Kaufman records only five full top plate blocks available to collectors (excluding the top position in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library).

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