Lot 175 Lagos SG#1 1d Slate Lilac 5th Printing Crown CC Watermark Perf.12.5 VF-78 OG, 2022 Scott Classic Cat. $80 USD For Most Common Printing

A well centered and very fine mint OG example of the 1d slate lilac 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 fifth printing from February 3, 1875, of which only 3,000 stamps were printed. Vertical wove paper showing fine vertical mesh and watermarked crown CC. Full original gum, which has been heavily hinged, but is intact. Original gum is not often found on crown CC issues. 2022 Scott Classic values a VF-75 mint example of the more common sixth printing at $80 USD. However, only 15% of all stamps in existence are from the third printing, and consequently in our opinion, they are worth at least 25-50% more than the Gibbons price. A very fine mint OG example should be worth between $200-$240.

The stamp offered here grades VF-78 OG as follows:

Margins/centering: 50/70

Paper freshness: 5/5

Colour: 5/5

Impression: 5/5

Absence of visible paper flaws: 5/5

Perforations: 8/10