Siegel's rare stamps sale offers near-unique block of a great American classic

As it is inclined to do, Siegel's has planned a whole series of major sales in quick succession. Following on from the Eubanks's collection next month are not only the City Despatch Post auction but also the final part of Jerry Wagshal's collection: the Perforated One-Cent 1857-60 Issue.

Jerry Wagshal had firmly-held and publicly argued opinions about the first 1¢ plates designed for perforated stamps - but we'll cover his scholarly opinions another time.

For now, here's a look at just one of the highlights of the sale:

A block of five of the blue, Type IV 1c stamps displays positions 12-13/21-23L1L, with four stamps recut at top and bottom, 21L recut once at the top and twice at the bottom, double transfers on Positions 12L, 13L and 21L, with each stamp perfectly centred, and overall dark shade and fine impression.

Sporting four neat strikes of "Philadelphia Pa. Sep. 28" (1857) with a circular datestamp, it is completely sound with perforations fully intact. This makes it a strong investment.

In extremely fine gem condition, this is the largest recorded block of the one-cent Type IV perforated stamp. No unused block is known to exist and only three or four used blocks are known.

 An outstanding multiple, it is noteworthy for its superb quality as well as its extreme rarity.

An article by Mortimer L. Neinken in the Collectors Club Philatelist (Vol. 49, No. 4, p. 210), illustrates this block and states: "Unused blocks of the perforated Type IV are unknown..."

Previously part of the collections of Bechtel and Zoellner, Siegel have listed the block at $26,000 in their auction, which takes place on March 2-3.