Census of 1c Blue, Type I (Scott 5)

Notes:

This irregular block of eight consists of a standard block of four (Positions 4-5/14-15R1E), with a strip of four (Positions 6-9R1E) attached to the upper right of the block. This is the largest multiple, unused or used, containing Position 7R1E. Even with the disfiguring crease in 7R1E, it is one of the most important 7R1E pieces extant.
Original gum. Sharp vertical crease through the right ornaments of 7R1E breaks the paper, ending in a tear through the bottom right plume and in the top sheet margin. The crease is so strong it almost separates the pair of 8 and 9R1E from the main part of the multiple. A light diagonal crease is also present in the bottom half of the 7R1E. Vertical creases also affect Positions 4, 6, 9 and 14R1E. There is a tear in the top of Position 4 along the crease. There is also a small tear in the sheet margin above 8R1E. A small piece of foreign black matter, like an inclusion in appearance and in the shape of a reverse C, is stuck on the gum of the 8R1E.

Provenance:

Known as the Lapham block after Henry G. Lapham and his son, Raymond. Lapham may have acquired the block when he purchased the Armitage collection of United States.
Owned by Dr. Leonard Kapiloff in the 1980’s and offered to me in trade for two items from the Neinken Collection, which I declined.
8/1/1937, SBA notes state that one Michaels wrote him on, stating that he was in the Honolulu office of an individual named Reid who claimed to own the Lapham block and that he had paid $8,000 for it.
10/12/1989, Christie’s, Lot 27, (Weill Stock). This block was in the Weill Stock sale, but it belonged to Dr. Kapiloff. It did not meet reserve and passed at $110,000, but was sold for $105,000 after the sale to a collector, who was then unable to pay for it.
3/9/1992, Christie’s, Lot 170, offered on behalf of defaulting buyer in previous Christie’s sale. Realized $80,000 vs. $252,350 Scott value. Purchased by a collector who still owns it as of 2001.

Certificates:

PF 214585 (1989) Previously hinged with vertical creasing, rust spots, the right pair (8-9R1E) mostly separated, and with tears in Positions 4 and 7
PF 512281 IT IS GENUINE, PREVIOUSLY HINGED, WITH VERTICAL CREASING AND A FEW TONED SPOTS; POS. 4 (SCOTT 5A) WITH A VERTICAL TEAR AT TOP LEFT; POS. 7 (SCOTT 5) WITH A REINFORCED VERTICAL CREASE ALONG THE EDGE OF THE DESIGN AT RIGHT, ENDING IN TEARS AT TOP AND BOTTOM.