EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT TYPE II 1855 ISSUE. A BEAUTIFUL STAMP IN TERMS OF WIDTH OF MARGINS, COLOR AND GUM -- GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION.
The prepaid transcontinental rate was raised from 6c to 10c in April 1855, which prompted the Post Office Department to add a 10c value to the current series. Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Company produced one plate of 200 subjects for the imperforate issue, which was also used when perforations were introduced in 1857. Although the wider spacing on the 10c plate provided more room for separation, this stamp has unusually huge margins all around.
With 1987 and 2008 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95).