EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SPECTACULAR EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT WITH LIGHTLY-HINGED ORIGINAL GUM, FRESH COLOR AND BRIGHT PAPER. ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF THIS ICONIC INVERT EXTANT.
The 1c Pan-American Inverts were found in at least four different post offices around the country, soon after release of the issue in May 1901. Of the 600 to 700 known, many have disturbed gum or are off-center. The stamp offered here is remarkably fresh and certainly one of the best-centered examples known. It was the bottom right stamp in a superb block of four that was offered in the Sotheby Parke Bernet sale on April 29, 1980 (lot 545). The PFC 91985 issued to Andrew Levitt Inc. on October 24, 1980, indicates that the block was broken soon after the auction.
With 1980 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF 90; SMQ $35,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded and only four others share it.