Lot
2443 
1901, 4¢ Pan-American, center inverted, disturbed part o.g., rich bold colors, some gum redistributed covering a few tiny thins, Fine appearance; with 2014 P.F. certificate.Scott No. 296a $80,000.
A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 4¢ PAN-AMERICAN WITH CENTER INVERTED.
The 4¢ invert was printed deliberately as the result of a misunderstanding. After the discovery of the 1¢ and 2¢ inverts in mid-1901, the Third Assistant Postmaster, Edwin C. Madden, decided to track down any additional errors. He had his assistant instruct the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to send any inverted Pan-American stamps to Madden's office. No inverted stamps in fact remained on hand, and interpreting Madden's communique as an unconditional demand for inverts, the Bureau produced four sheets of them from the 4 cent plates and sent 400 copies on to Madden. About about half were marked "Specimen" and between 1901 and 1904 Madden distributed 172 examples.