10c Black (2). Original gum, lightly hinged at top, huge to large margins, detailed impression clearly showing every detail of the engraving, fresh deeply blued paper

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE IN EXISTENCE. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING STAMPS TO OBTAIN IN COMPLETELY SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION WITH FOUR LARGE MARGINS. THIS SUPERB STAMP IS A TRUE CONDITION RARITY AND A MARVELOUS EXAMPLE OF THE FIRST UNITED STATES GENERAL ISSUE.

The Act of March 3, 1847, signed by President Polk, specified that Postmaster General Cave Johnson "be authorized to prepare postage stamps, which when attached to any letter or packet, shall be evidence of the payment of the postage..." The law's effective date was July 1, and the Post Office acted immediately to secure a contract with Rawdon, Wright, Hatch and (the new partner) Edson, so that stamps could be distributed by that date. The Washington vignette is based on the iconic image painted by Gilbert Stuart.

The 1847 Issue is much scarcer in unused condition than other issues, because the stamps were demonetized in 1851. They could be exchanged for the new issue, but once the exchange period ended, the stamps would have no postage value. Considering the purchasing power of ten cents in 1851, it is not surprising that the stamps were either used or exchanged, rather than left for future generations of collectors in a hobby that did not yet exist.

With 2011 P.F. and P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF 90). This is the highest grade awarded by P.S.E. and this stamp is the only example to achieve it.

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