Lot# 6163 - Auction 257-264

Gauthier Frères & Cie. 1856c.: (-) blue, the used example of this legendary stamp, margins touched to good on all sides, thinned and defective at top cancelled by italic monogram "G. F. & C." in blue. Despite faults this stamp represents 50% of the recorded examples - just one other is known - the famous example on large piece of cover (collection Berkinshaw-Smith, Corinphila sale 145, April 2006, lot 3156), this example found by John D. Bowman a collector of Carrier and Private Post stamps, too recently to be included in the Williams census. A rarity of the highest order. Cert. Philatelic Foundation (2003).