4c Blue, Columbian, Error of Color (233a). Mint N.H. with part imprint selvage at right, deep rich color on bright paper, unusually choice centering for this difficult issue

EXTREMELY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED AND WELL-CENTERED EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT COLUMBIAN COLOR ERROR. THIS STAMP IS GRADED VF-XF 85 BY P.S.E., WHICH IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO A NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE. ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE.

The 4c Columbian color error was caused by the use of a wrong batch of ink, and spectrographic analysis has shown that the blue inks of the 4c error and 1c Columbian have the same components. Stamps from at least two panes reached collectors, and the few cancelled examples indicate that stamps used by the public came from other panes. It is likely that a number of full sheets were printed using the wrong ink, and most of the stamps have simply been lost to philately.

This issue is difficult to obtain in higher grades, regardless of gum condition. For Mint N.H., P.S.E. has graded this example and one other, at 50. The P.F. graded one at 85J (Sale 1244, lot 323, after the sale) and no others. For hinged, P.S.E. has graded one each at 80, 85 and 85J and two at 90 with none higher. The P.F. has issued only one graded certificate for a hinged copy, at 85.

This was the only item illustrated on the front cover of the first Shreves Philatelic Galleries sale in 1994, featuring the collections of Eydie Gorme and Wade Saadi. With 1977 P.F. certificate as part of a block of four (the bottom right stamp was recently offered in our 2021 Myerson sale). With 1986 and 1995 P.F. certificates as a single. With 2024 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85).

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