1c Blue, Ty. III (21). Plate 4, original gum, lightly hinged, exceptional margins and centering clearly showing the breaks at both top and bottom, beautiful fresh color and detailed impression

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN OUTSTANDING LIGHTLY HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE PERFORATED 1857 ONE-CENT TYPE III, GRADED XF 90 BY P.S.E. THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO AN UNUSED SCOTT 21 IN ANY GUM CATEGORY AND IT IS EQUALED BY ONLY ONE OTHER.

The 1c Franklin stamps printed from Plate 4 were issued in April, May and briefly in June 1857, shortly before perforations were introduced into the stamp production process. With the exception of a couple of positions on other plates, Plate 4 is the only plate that produced Type III stamps (Scott 8 or 21). Type III has discernible breaks in the outer lines at top and bottom. When perforations were introduced in 1857, the often imprecise nature of their application resulted in stamps that show impingement of the design elements. Therefore, examples of Scott 21 that clearly show the type-defining breaks at both top and bottom are highly prized by collectors. When side-to-side centering, unused condition and lightly hinged gum are added to the equation, the rarity of this stamp becomes very apparent. This XF 90 is the highest grade awarded by P.S.E. to any unused stamp (with or without gum) and only one other original-gum example has equaled this superb stamp.

With 1990 P.F. certificate. With 1990 and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF 90). SCV $17,500.

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