Census of 1c Blue, Type I (Scott 5)

Notes:

Corner crease at upper left. SBA wrote, “small tear or more likely a small scissors cut at right side... I failed to discover any evidence of repair with the exception that someone may have added the black smudge marks to cover up the cut. I failed to discover anything wrong with the copy under my Hanovia lamp... The copy is a very pale blue shade, hence does not show up to advantage but the cancelation [sic] is very light and in my opinion this is quite a fine copy.”

Provenance:

Referred to by SBA as “Maj. Harris copy”.
Offered in June 1995 by Richard Champagne for, Realized $29,000
5/23/1950, Harmer Rooke, Lot 15, realized $225 vs. $1,000 Scott value.
3/23/1977, Siegel Auction Galleries, 1977 Rarities of the World, Sale 510, Lot 34, Realized $13,000, 3/23/1977, realized $13,000 vs. $8,750 Scott value, described “negligible crease entirely in sheet margin, tiny cut almost clear of design at bottom right corner”.
5/2/1995, Kelleher, Lot 386, realized $18,000 vs. $15,500 Scott value.
12/10/2004, McCree Collection, Shreves Philatelic Galleries, Lot 14, Realized $52,500
4/28-30/2015, Hall Collection, Siegel Auction Galleries, The Robert R. Hall Collection of Outstanding United States Stamps, Sale 1096, Lot 9, Realized $45,000

Certificates:

PF 2499 (1950) no mention of defects.
PF 89920 (1980) with “Caution” handstamp, stating “genuine with small faults and a repaired lower right [sic].” Submitted by Sotheby Parke Bernet.
PF 294769 (1995) stating genuine with a small corner crease entirely in the margin. No mention of the “small faults” or of “repair” at lower right.