Lagos SG#1 1d Pale Slate Lilac 5th Printing Crown CC Watermark Perf. 12.5 Lagos CDS VG-64 Used

A well centered, very good used example of the 1d pale slate lilac Queen Victoria De La Rue Keyplate stamp from the 1874-1876 Perf. 12.5 Crown CC issue. According to J.F Ince in his definitive work, there were a total of 19,800 stamps issued accross 6 different printings between May 12, 1874 and May 13, 1875. This example is from the scarce fifth printing, from February 3, 1875, of which only 3,000 stamps were printed. It is postmarked with a nice, clear strike of a July 16, 1875 Proud type D6 Lagos CDS cancel. Vertical wove paper showing fine vertical mesh and watermarked crown CC. Stanley Gibbons values a VF-75 used example of the more common sixth printing at 50 pounds = $100. However, only 15% of all stamps in existence are from the fifth printing, and consequently, in our opinion, they are worth at least 25-50% more than the Gibbons price. So a very good example should be worth approximately $31-$38. The stamp offered here grades VG-64 used as follows: Margins/centering: 40/60 Paper freshness: 3/5 Colour: 3/5 Impression: 5/5 Absence of visible paper flaws: 0/5 (natural aeration hole on second "N" of "Penny") Perforations: 10/10 Cancellation: 8/10 Adjustment for small corner wrinkle: -5 points