90c Blue (39). Original gum, lightly hinged, exceptional balanced margins and precise centering, deep rich color and proof-like impression

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. EASILY ONE OF THE FEW FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THE 90-CENT 1860 ISSUE WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED. THIS ISSUE IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN IN ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION AND IS VERY RARELY SEEN IN THAT STATE WITH SUCH PRECISE CENTERING — GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.

The 90c stamp was issued in 1860, along with the 24c and 30c values, all of which were needed to prepay high international letter rates established by various postal treaties. When supplies of current postage stamps were declared invalid in the South and ultimately demonetized by the Federal government, the 90c had been in use for only one year. Most unused examples come from supplies recovered from Southern post offices. The vast majority have no gum or poor centering — this is an extraordinary exception to the rule. This stamp's centering and margin width are virtually unimprovable, and if anything this XF-Superb 95 grade may be one level too low.

From the Nathanael Greene collection. With 2021 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF-Superb 95). Only five other original-gum stamps have achieved a 95 grade in the P.S.E. Population Report — the highest awarded.

PSE Population Report

Market data

Power Search for Comparables