DESCRIPTION

8¢ Trans-Mississippi, Vertical Pair, Imperforate Horizontally (289a), bottom margin block of four with “BUREAU, ENGRAVING & PRINTING” imprint and plate number 609, block containing two error pairs, original gum, deep rich color, detailed impression, choice centering

PROVENANCE

Pane of 50 (as discovered):

* Robert Watts (discoverer), sold privately to Herman Lewis for $8

* Sold privately to William S. F. Pierce (Pierce divided the pane into three units--he kept block of 20 with top and bottom plate blocks)

Block of 20 with plate blocks: Sold by Pierce to New England Stamp Co.

Bottom plate number block (offered in this sale):

* Col. Edward H. R. Green, Part 26, Harmer, Rooke sale, 3/25-29/1946, lot 236, to Eno

* Amos Eno, Harmer, Rooke sale, 5/18/1954, lot 125

* H. R. Harmer 1000th Sale, 4/11/1956, lot 589, to Cole

* Arthur Hetherington, “Quality” collection, H. R. Harmer sale, 10/27/1983, lot 22, to Weills for Kobacker

* Arthur J. Kobacker, Christie’s Robson Lowe sale, 9/25/1991, lot 531, to Hagendorf/Columbian (sold privately to William H. Gross)

CENSUS, LITERATURE AND EXHIBITION REFERENCES

* Donna O’Keefe, Linn’s Philatelic Gems 4, p. 144

* World Stamp Show 2016 Court of Honor (Gross)

CERTIFICATION

* The Philatelic Foundation (1957 and 1983)

CONDITION NOTES

* Very Fine; a few natural gum wrinkles as usual

VIEW PDF OF HISTORY AND COMMENTARY at https://siegelauctions.com/2018/1188/95.pdf

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