Auction # 72 - Gems of Philately

1861, 1¢ blue. Bottom imprint and plate no. 9 block of 12, each stamp dot in "U" variety, well centered with deep rich color, fresh and intact, o.g., never hinged, Very Fine, ex-Lilly, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate.
Scott No. 63; Estimate $15,000 - 20,000.

AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK OF THE 1861 ISSUE.

THIS IS LIKELY THE ONLY 1¢ 1861 ISSUE MINT NEVER-HINGED FULL IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER MULTIPLE OUT OF THE 9 RECORDED.

Don Evans in his book "The United States 1c Franklin, 1861-67", records only eight full plate number and imprint multiples from Plates 9, 10 and 27. The Frelinghuysen sale had a block of 35 with full bottom imprint and plate no. 10 selvage not listed by Evans. For plate 9, there are only two recorded plate blocks of twelve, both are likely taken from one of the Chapin-listed larger multiples including the block offered here that comes from the ex-Lilly sheet of 98.