Lot 40533 – THE RAREST STAMP OF RUSSIAN PHILATELY 1879, 7k grey with inverted centre

THE UNIQUE 1879 7 KOPEK INVERTED CENTRE

THE RAREST STAMP OF RUSSIAN PHILATELY

1879, 7k grey on carmine, horizontal laid paper, Centre Inverted, slightly centred to bottom left and preserving its design exhibited complete, with no perforations entering the external frame line, showing indistinct cds which was lightly struck, thus enabling to clearly bear the space occupied by the variety, which is virtually not cancelled, very fresh enhancing the colours, with good embossing and intact perforations all around. Certificates Pascal Scheller (2025), Roger Calves (2008), and RPS (2012). Yvert 500.000 EUR.

It is quite possible that this is the only genuine example known of this rarity. One of the great philatelic rarities of Russia, in addition to being one of the most important inverted centre stamps of the world, with all the fascination that this variety implies in classic philately.

Note: This example was mentioned by the A.I.E.P. experts Zbigniew S. Mikulski and Ortwin Greis to be “the only known copy of the 7 kopek stamp with an inverted centre” (“Fakes Forgeries Experts” n. 5, May 2002). This example was highlighted in that article in contrast to others with this variety which surfaced in the United States and were proved to be fakes.

Provenance: Discovered in 1936 by the famous Italian dealer Renato Mondolfo in Triest, who sold it to Théodore Champion. This example re-emerged at the end of the 20th century in a rarity sale of the renowned dealer Behr of Paris.

Price on request.