90c Blue (39). Perfectly centered, intense shade and impression on bright fresh paper, deep red grid cancel struck at lower left almost entirely clear of face

EXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE SHORT-LIVED 90-CENT 1860—THE FIRST UNITED STATES 90-CENT ISSUE—GRADED VF-XF 85 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. The basic 24c and 30c rates to England, France and Germany created a volume of mail franked with those values. However, the 90c saw much more limited use, partly due to the rates in effect, but more because of the American Civil War. 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. For this reason, genuinely cancelled copies are scarce, and covers bearing the 90c are extremely rare.

The P.S.E. Population report for Scott 39 used has a total of eight in grades of 85 (six) or 90 (two), the highest grades reported. The P.F. has five in 85 or 90 with potential overlap. Power Search located eight different in 85 or 90 grades, including the stamp offered here. Suffice to say that this rare used classic issue has an extremely low population of high-grade examples.

Ex Dr. Morris and "Natalee Grace". With 1988, 1994 and 2009 P.F. certificates. With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85). SCV $10,500.

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