The David Mace Collection of United States

1851 1c dark blue, type I, Position 7R1E, used, large margins showing complete design, with portion of adjoining stamp at right, bright early shade and impression, attractive town cancel, signed and plated by Stanley Ashbrook, with clear 1957 PFC and 2007 PSE certificate ("genuine used, with a corner crease at the upper left, a small tear at the bottom center and a thin in the lower left corner"), fresh and very fine appearance of position 7R1E (the seventh stamp in the right pane of Plate I), showing complete design, as such a great rarity, in fact the rarest of all United States stamps issued regularly prior to the 1868 Grills, with a copy of the Ashbrook article, showing this example; Wagshaw census #40, illustrated on page 358 of the National Philatelic Museum handbook, ex-Connoisseur collection. Listed (only one example of No. 5 in dark blue shade is recorded) but as yet unpriced in Scott's (catalogue value for blue shade with minor faults). An unusual opportunity obtain this unique and major rarity (previously sold at 2007 H.R. Harmer sale for $82,500 including commission)
Cat. Val. $ 67,500
Estimate: $25000