 A Vertical Strip of Four of First Issue Postage Currency. 50¢. Fr.1310a. Milton 1R50.3d. Perforated edges with ''ABC'' monogram. Special variety with 14 perforations per 20mm of length. Collected with the Fractional Currency series since the turn of the last century, despite being considered a private production of dealer Harlan Smith. Listed by Valentine, Limpert and Rothert as a proper variety. Because of that acceptance it has been extremely collectible. Research, always an evolving process, seems to indicate that only two sheets (thirty two impressions) were prepared in this manner by Smith around 1890. The sheets used were face plate 23 (as shown on the selvage of the Gengerke example auctioned in January, 1995 and the left end strip included here in the Ford-Boyd collection) and back plate ''14th''.
First Issue multiples are known and generally much much rarer in perforated styles. However, this has to be the finest and most significant multiple on the First Issue. This left end margin strip with plate '23' at the left selvage is Crisp Uncirculated and has claims to Choice. Each note well centered and crisp. There is some selvage handling visible and the bottom selvage has been oddly trimmed. A small black ink smudge on the lower right back does not detract much from this epic ''showpiece''. Kravitz indicates there is only about 15 or so single notes known, not including this heretofore unknown strip.
Ex. F.C.C. Boyd Estate; Wayte Raymond.
This likely came from the sheet Raymond bought from Chapman that we discussed in the Ford III Catalogue (see lot 864 of that sale). The Smithsonian has an uncut pair which came from the Crofoot bequest. Milton Friedberg owned at least three of these at one time.
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