Lot
3039 
1851, 1¢ blue, type III, position 99R2, large to huge margins including part of bottom sheet margin, just barely in at left, intense color and sharp impression, tied by grid cancel on June 1, 1856 light blue Philadelphia printed circular handsomely addressed to Washington Pa., endorsed "Circular" at top, fresh and Very Fine, ex-Gross. Scott No. 8 $15,000.
A CHOICE 1¢ 1851 IMPERFORATE TYPE III FROM POSITION 99R2 USED ON A BEAUTIFUL GEM CIRCULAR.
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, the majority of stamps of this type (both unused and used) has small breaks in at least one line. The most notable exception is Position 99R2. According to the Neinken book, "The 99R2 stamp is a fresh entry, that was short transferred both at top and bottom, over an original entry that had been erased… The reason that 99R2 is the finest example of Type III is because of its very short transfer at top and at bottom, giving us the wide breaks in these lines." (p. 184).
Realized: $7,000