Lot 70129 – THE FIVE TÊTE-BÊCHE PAIRS OF THE 1875 1 REAL third « Contraseña » overprint, horizontal block of 15 (5×3),

THE FIVE TÊTE-BÊCHE PAIRS OF THE 1875 1 REAL

1875, 1r vermilion, third « Contraseña » overprint, horizontal block of 15 (5×3), including the five tête-bêche pairs produced in the sheet, and originating from the lower left corner, positions 256-260 / 271-275 / 286-290, including three lower complete horizontal rows in the pane of 25 (the marginal separation at right was due to the wider space left between panes), with original gum and five pen cancellations including one stroke per each vertical row, excellent margins all around enabling to virtually see the external frame lines of the clichés all around, very slight vertical crease which is in no way visible on front, one of only two multiples recorded including all existing tête-bêche pairs

Note: In the lower left corner of the sheet, the pane of 25 (5×5) exhibits the bottom row, the fifth, exceptionally made up of the top five transfers of the block, from 1 to 5, instead of from 21 to 25. These abnormal transfers are the only ones which are arranged in inverted positions on the sheet, thus producing an exceptional variety comprising five vertical tête-bêche pairs

Provenance: Dr. Heister