15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II, Center Inverted (119b). Deep rich colors, unusually choice centering for this difficult invert, target cancel leaves vignette visible

VERY FINE. THIS IS EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST USED EXAMPLES OF THE 15-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE INVERT. IT IS SOUND, THE COLORS ARE RICH AND DEEP, THE CENTERING IS BETTER THAN ALMOST ALL OTHERS, AND THE TARGET CANCEL LEAVES THE VIGNETTE CLEARLY VISIBLE. ONLY 12 USED COPIES ARE CONFIRMED AS SOUND, BUT MANY ARE POORLY CENTERED. TRULY ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE.

Our census of Scott 119b, available at our website, records three unused and 102 used copies (there are an additional three used examples of Scott 119c). Two of the used copies are in institutions -- the Tapling Collection at The British Library and the Miller Collection at The New York Public Library. Only 12 are confirmed as sound. An additional nine have not been seen in many years and are known only from old black and white photos so their condition is unknown, but most have poor centering. Of the 12 sound copies, almost all have perfs touching the design on at least one side. The 15c is at least as difficult to find in sound condition as the more expensive 24c and 30c inverts.

Ex De Verymont, Seymour, Ishikawa and Dr. Dauer. Census no. 119b-CAN-29. With 2012 P.S.E. certificate (F 70; SMQ $50,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded. We feel this should grade higher by virtue of the three wide and balanced margins with perfs well clear of the design at top.

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