Lot
161 
1856, 5¢ red brown, block of five originally a block of six but top right stamp was removed, ample margins to slightly in at right, rich color on brilliant paper, tied by five strikes of open grid cancel, matching bold "Pekin Ills. Jan 20" cds on circa 1857 cover to Berlin, Prussia, red "N.York Br. Pkt. '7 Paid' Jan 27" credit cds for Prussian Closed Mail, red "Aachen 13/2 Franco" framed transit, German (2.14) arrival backstamps; one stamp in block has small pinhole, a few other trivial faults, Fine appearance, ex-Gibson, Rohloff, Mayer, Hansen. Scott No. 12; $45,000 as used off-cover block Estimate $10,000 - 15,000.
THE SECOND LARGEST RECORDED MULTIPLE OF THE 5¢ 1856 ISSUE AND AN ICONIC ITEM OF UNITED STATES CLASSIC PHILATELY.
There are 11 recorded blocks of the 5¢ 1856 stamp, including two original-gum blocks (one in the Knight museum collection), five off-cover used blocks, and four blocks on cover. An intact block of six on cover is the largest recorded multiple, followed by the block of five offered here. When someone cut off the top right stamp of this block, it was a true act of philatelic vandalism.
Realized: $11,500