Lagos SG#1 1d Reddish Lilac & Dull Purple 2nd Printing Crown CC Watermark Perf. 12.5 VF-77 UN

A well centered, and attractive unused example of the 1d reddish lilac & dull purple 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 scarce second printing from September 14, 1874, of which only 2,400 stamps were printed. Vertical wove paper showing no visible mesh and watermarked crown CC. No gum, which does not detract significantly as crown CC issues are seldom found with full original gum. Stanley Gibbons values a VF-75 mint example of the more common sixth printing at 80 pounds = $160. However, only 12% of all stamps in existence are from the second printing, and consequently in our opinion, they are worth at least double the Gibbons price. However an unused stamp is only worth about 50% of a copy with gum, so the actual value of this stamp should be $160. The stamp offered here grades VF-77 unused as follows: Margins/centering: 54/70 Paper freshness: 2/5 Colour: 5/5 Impression: 5/5 Absence of visible paper flaws: 5/5 Perforations: 6/10