Lot 178 Lagos SG#2 2d Deep Blue 1st Printing Crown CC Watermark Perf.12.5 F-69 Unused, 2022 Scott Classic Cat. $80 USD For Most Common Printing

A well centered and fine unused example of the 2d deep blue 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 14,160 stamps issued across 4 different printings between May 12, 1874 and May 13, 1875. This example is from the very scarce first printing from May 12, 1874, of which only 1,980 stamps were printed. Vertical wove paper showing no visible mesh and watermarked crown CC. No gum, which is not unusual, as crown CC issues often do not have gum.

2022 Scott Classic values a VF-75 mint example of the more common fourth printing at $80 USD. As only 14% of all the 2d's printed were first printings, we are of the opinion that they should be worth at least double this amount, but since this is unused, it should be worth about the same amount as a regular printing with OG88. The stamp offered here grades F-69 unused as follows:

Margins/centering: 50/70

Paper freshness: 4/5 (one toned perf at base)

Colour: 5/5

Impression: 4/5

Absence of visible paper flaws: 5/5

Perforations: 5/10