Lot
29 
Great Britain, 1841, 1d red brown, imperforate, the rare plate 177, die I, alphabet II, plate 177, lettered CK, o.g., large to huge margins, rich color, some light horizontal creases, Extremely Fine appearance; with 1992 R.P.S.L. certificate. S.G. Spec. No. B2(1).Scott No. 3 var. Estimate $4,000 - 6,000.
A REMARKABLY RARE MINT ORIGINAL GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1841 1D RED IMPERFORATE FROM PLATE 177 - ONE OF GREAT BRITAIN'S RAREST IMPERFORATES.
In 1841 when the color of the 1d black was changed to red, some of the black plates were used for the new color but demand for the stamp was so great that very soon more plates were needed and so it was that, over the next 12 years, a total of 177 plate were prepared. In 1850 the perforation machine was put into use and at this time the run of 1d plates was up to 155 in number. As the months carried on more and more of the plates were perforated until the final few plates were laid down. Plate 174 and 175 are both very scarce in imperf condition. While Plate 176 is rarely seen imperf as 95% of all stamps were perforated. The left and last Plate 177, around 99% of all stamps were perforated. Stanley Gibbons catalog of this stamp in used condition is £1,500 and no price for mint as so few example are known. The key collections of Maximus, Daisy, Pichai & Phillips all have this space vacant and until the 1970's no imperf copies had come to light. This example originates from a block of 4 that was discovered in 1974 with the whereabouts of the other three examples are unknown.
Realized: $5,750