Lot 69 United States SC#U331var 5c Blue, 1887-1894 2nd Plimpton Issue, A Very Fine MInt Commercial Envelope, Rare Plimpton-Purcell Production Crossover Anomaly, Die 2 Plimpton Contract Indica, Wmk 12, Size 3.

A very fine mint commercial envelope of the 5c blue from the 1887-1894 2nd Plimpton Issue, rare Plimpton-Purcell production crossover anomaly, die 2 Plimpton contract indica, wmk 12, size 3.

Bears the die 2 Plimpton contract indicta, rather than the smaller Purcell die, but on stock being the US POD 94 watermark (wmk 12), which is associated with the Purcell contract. This must have occurred during the transition when the dies were still in use from the Plimton issue, but after the new paper had arrived. The knife 32 is based on an illustration in the 1900 Scott Catalogue because the 5c denomination was for international mail and printed in far smaller quantities. A variety like this is rare.

Scott doesn't list this variety, so we estimate it at $900. The envelope offered here grades VF.