Lot 182 Lagos SG#2 2d Deep Blue 2nd Printing Crown CC Watermark Perf. 12.5 VF-80 Used Strip of Three, 2022 Scott Classic Cat. $135 For 3 Singles, Much More For a Strip

A very well centered and very fine used strip of three 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 scarce second printing, from September 14, 1874, of which only 2,520 stamps were printed. It is postmarked with a nice light strike of an October 27, 1874 Proud type D7 Lagos CDS postmark.

2022 Scott Classic values three VF-75 used examples of the more common fourth printing with type D6 or D7 cancel at $135 USD. However as only 18% of the stamps in existence are from the second printing, examples should be worth approximately 50% more than the this amount. In addition, multiples of this issue are exceedingly rare, with this being the only one we have seen. Accordingly, the value of this strip should be worth at least two to three times the value of singles, or $405-$610. A beautiful and important item of early Lagos philately for the specialist.

The strip offered here grades VF-80 used as follows:

Margins/centering: 44/60

Paper freshness: 5/5

Colour: 5/5

Impression: 5/5

Absence of visible paper flaws: 5/5

Perforations: 6/10

Cancellation: 10/10