1c Green, Louisiana Purchase (323). Mint N.H., deep rich color, essentially perfect centering with Jumbo margins

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT LOUISIANA PURCHASE ISSUE, GRADED SUPERB 98 JUMBO BY P.S.E.

With 2026 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; unpriced in this grade, SMQ $1,700 as 98 and $8,500 as 100). Only one grades higher (at 100, realized $8,500 in Sale 1150) and none share this lofty grade.

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2c Louisiana Purchase, Vertical Pair, Imperforate Horizontally (324a). The unique bottom right corner selvage pair, Positions 45/50, original gum, lightly hinged, radiant color, insignificant tiny tear in outer selvage at right is of no consequence, bottom stamp with a small thin noted on certificate which to us looks like the watermark

FINE. THIS BOTTOM RIGHT CORNER-MARGIN PAIR COMES FROM THE ONLY PANE EVER DISCOVERED OF THE 2-CENT LOUISIANA PURCHASE IMPERFORATE HORIZONTALLY. IT IS THE ONLY CORNER-MARGIN MULTIPLE WITH SELVAGE THAT EXISTS.

It is well-established that only one pane of 50 of this commemorative error was discovered. It was purchased as a new issue at the post office in Cleveland, Ohio, by A. W. Weigel of the Ohio Stamp Company. Very shortly thereafter, the pane, or at least a large part of it, became part of the George H. Worthington collection. The pane had been divided prior to the Worthington sale, to allow multiple collectors to obtain an example of the variety. In the Worthington auction, 26 of the 50 stamps were offered; the remaining 24 stamps were sold privately.

Our reconstruction of the pane of 50 includes six blocks of four, twelve pairs proven by photos and a pair from Positions 3/8 that we have not been able to verify with a photo. Among the blocks, the right arrow block is in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, and the unique plate block was sold in the Gross collection. The block in the Lilly collection (Positions 31-32/36-37) has not been seen in years and might have been divided into pairs.

Ex Francis Stern (Sale 309). With Ward handstamp in selvage.

Digital reconstruction of the pane is available at: https://siegelauctions.com/legacy/324a-digitalreconstruction.jpg

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1c Green, Jamestown (328). Original gum, lightly hinged, rich color, perfectly centered, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2026 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, Gem 100), this is the highest grade awarded in any category and the only example in any category to achieve this grade, unpriced in SMQ, SMQ $450 as 98

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