Lagos SG#1 1d Reddish Lilac & Pale Dull Claret 6th Printing Crown CC Watermark Perf.12.5 VF-77 OG

A well centered and very fine mint OG example of the 1d reddish lilac and very pale dull claret 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 sixth printing from May 13, 1875, of which only 6,180 stamps were printed. Vertical wove paper showing no visible mesh and watermarked crown CC. Full original gum which has been heavily hinged and is affected by a small amount of rust. Stanley Gibbons values a VF-75 mint example at 80 pounds = $160. The stamp offered here grades VF-77 OG HR as follows: Margins/centering: 54/70 Paper freshness: 0/5 ( a couole of rust spots on back) Colour: 5/5 Impression: 5/5 Absence of visible paper flaws: 5/5 Perforations: 8/10