Sale 1034 — The Merlin Collection of Superb United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 28-29 November, 2012
Category — 1c 1851-56 Issue (Scott 5-9)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE IMPERFORATE 1851 ONE-CENT TYPE Ia. A BEAUTIFUL STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT -- IT HAS BRIGHT PAPER, DEEP RICH COLOR, A PROOF-LIKE IMPRESSION AND A LIGHT CANCELLATION WHICH ALLOWS THE TYPE CHARACTERISTICS TO BE CLEARLY SEEN.
Stamps printed from Plate 4 were issued in April, May and briefly in June 1857 before perforations were introduced. The relatively small number of imperforate Plate 4 stamps issued during this period explains the rarity and desirability of any of the imperforate stamp types produced from this plate (Ia, Ic, II, III and IIIa). The extremely rare Type Ia, showing the full design at bottom, was furnished only by 18 of the 200 subjects on Plate 4 (the remaining two bottom-row positions were sub-type Ic).
Ex Vogel. With 2011 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $25,000.00)