Position 44L4, original gum, lightly hinged, large margins at top and bottom, ample to clear at sides, deep rich Plate 4 color and sharp impression from a late state of the plate with unusually wide breaks in top and bottom outer lines

EXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1851 ONE-CENT IMPERFORATE TYPE III EXTANT. THE BREAKS IN OUTER LINES AT TOP AND BOTTOM -- THE DEFINING CHARACTERISTIC OF TYPE III -- ARE ESPECIALLY WIDE IN THIS LATE IMPRESSION.

Type III is defined by breaks in the outer lines at both top and bottom. Many Type III stamps have breaks that were created or enlarged by plate wear. Since the wear occurred over a period of time, a majority of stamps of this type (both unused and used) have small breaks in at least one line. The most notable exception is Position 99R2, which has the widest breaks of any Type III position, due to the short transfer during plate entry.

The stamp offered here should be considered significant for several reasons. The breaks at top and bottom are so wide that it actually approaches those of Position 99R2. This E Relief position (44L) had breaks in both lines when originally entered on the plate; however, later impressions show widened breaks, and, in this example, the breaks are extremely wide. The large margins at top and bottom also allow for easy identification of the type. All factors considered -- design, impression, margins and gum -- this stamp is easily one of the finest original-gum examples of the imperforate Type III.

A review of past auction catalogues demonstrates how rare this stamp is in original-gum condition. None were offered in the Newbury, Zoellner, Golin, Weisman, Lyons or Floyd collections. Caspary had an unused 99R2 in a strip of three, and the Ishikawa collection contained the famous block of nine with one Type III stamp (Position 99R2).

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Unusually choice centering and wide margins for this Invert error, barest trace of hinging, deep rich colors on bright paper, remarkable state of freshness

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. NO DOUBT ONE OF THE FINEST LIGHTLY-HINGED EXAMPLES OF THE ONE-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT.

The 1c Pan-American Inverts were found in at least four different post offices around the country. Of the 600 to 700 known, most have disturbed gum and are off-center. The stamp offered here is remarkably fresh and certainly one of the best-centered examples known.

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