Lagos SG#1 1d Bright Reddish Violet First Printing Crown CC Watermark Perf. 12.5 F-65 Used

A fine and attractive used example of the 1d bright reddish violet 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 across 6 different printings between May 12, 1874 and May 13, 1875. This example is from the very scarce first printing, of which only 1,980 stamps were printed. It is postmarked with a nice clear partial strike of July 27, 1874 Proud type D6 Lagos CDS with timecode B. Vertical wove paper showing no visible 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 10% of all stamps in existence are from the first printing, and consequently, they are worth at least double the Gibbons price. Consequently, a fine example should be worth approximately $100. The stamp offered here grades F-65 used as follows: Margins/centering: 30/60 Paper freshness: 5/5 Colour: 5/5 Impression: 5/5 Absence of visible paper flaws: 5/5 Perforations: 5/10 Cancellation: 10/10