Lot 184 Lagos SG#2 2d Deep Dull Blue & Steel Blue 3rd Printing Crown CC Watermark Perf. 12.5 VF-80 Used, 2022 Scott Classic Cat. $45 USD For Most Common Printing

A very well centered and very fine example of the 2d deep dull blue & steel blue 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 14,160 stamps issued across 4 different printings between May 12, 1874 and May 13, 1875. This example is from the scarce third printing, from February 3, 1875, of which only 3,120 stamps were printed. Vertical wove paper with fine vertical mesh and watermarked crown CC. It is postmarked with a nice clear strike of an October 11, 1875 Proud type D6 Lagos CDS postmark.

2022 Scott Classic values a VF-75 used example of the more common fourth printing with type D6 or D7 cancel at 42 pounds = $84. However as only 22% of the stamps in existence are from the third printing, examples should be worth approximately 25% more than this price. Accordingly, the value of this stamp should be worth $105 in this condition. The stamp offered here grades VF-80 used as follows:

Margins/centering: 40/60

Paper freshness: 5/5

Colour: 5/5

Impression: 5/5

Absence of visible paper flaws: 5/5

Perforations: 10/10

Cancellation: 10/10