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US$
248289
Scott #26 COLOR PROOF Gray and Ultramarine [1875 4 øre Bicolor, Normal Frame]. VF centering and wonderful quality, with full margins as printed. Color proof on stamp-like paper, but imperforate and without watermark or gum (all these color proofs were ungummed). Accompanied by a Lasse Nielsen (the acknowledged premier expert on the Bicolors) 1987 color photo certificate which translates to "Proof print of 4 øre ultramarine / gray with normal frame, in same color shade as was used for the first printing of the 4 øre. Without watermark. Imperforate and without gum. Genuine and without repairs. A very good example." This is not a "plate" proof because the top and bottom margins are huge, demonstrating that this was not printed as part of a normal sheet. AFA Specialized Catalog 2016 [most recent edition] #P23Aa/b [AFA does not explain their intended difference between a and b]. P23A proofs were printed in a horizontal strip of 10; the left-most stamp with Frame Type 2 with Matrix Flaw 2B, and the other nine stamps with Frame Type 3. Frame Types 2 and 3 can be hard to distinguish (depending upon the impression strength); Nielsen did not state which this is. This does not have Matrix Flaw 2B, thus is Frame Type 3. The AFA Specialized 2016 [most recent] value is DKK 3000 (4/2024 about $450). These early proofs are much scarcer than even that catalog value suggests. An outstanding example that would be an important addition to a collection of the early øre Bicolors. From the J.A. Farrington collection.
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