Sierra Leone #20 (SG#22) 1/- Green, Queen Victoria, 1876-1880 Keyplate Issue, Comb Perf. 14, Watermarked Crown CC, a VF Appearing, But VG Mint OG Example

A well centered and very fine appearing, but alas VG mint OG example of the 1/- green Queen Victoria keyplate issue of 1876-1880 with upright crown CC watermark and perf. 14 comb. There is a light horizontal crease and shallow thin that reduce the grade from 82 to 62.

On these early keyplates and throughout the crown CC period (i.e. before 1880) the centering of De La Rue issues tends to be very poor, much like the Canadian 1859-67 Cents issue. Therefore grading takes this into account, so that fine centered stamps will appear balanced, but may have the perfs touching the design on 2 sides, or just lightly cutting in. VG stamps will be notably off centre, and cutting into the design heavily. Perforations on the perf. 12.5 issues tend to be somewhat rough, due to the paper used and many mint Crown CC issues have no gum, so the value without gum should be about 50% of an OG example.

Gibbons lists this stamp in fine for 90 pounds for OG. So the value of this example should about 22.5 pounds (approx. $45). The stamp offered here grades 62 as follows:

Centering/Margins 54/70

Paper freshness: 3/5

Colour: 5/5

Impression: 5/5

Absence of visible paper flaws: 5/5

Perforations: 10/10

Adjustment for shallow thin and crease: -20 points