Lot 70863 – THE UNIQUE UNUSED EXAMPLE: 1850-51 8 cents black on blue-green

THE UNIQUE UNUSED « COTTON REEL » 8 CENTSTHE RAREST UNUSED STAMP OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE1850-51, 8 cents black on blue-green, Townsend Type C, faint initials « JBS », thin frame, uncancelled, cut round showing most of the frame, stained from sealing wax and mild vertical crease of absolutely no significance for a rarity of this worldwide calibre; (unpriced in SG).Only four « Cotton Reels » in unused condition are recorded, of which three represent the 12 cents denomination, this example being clearly the most important as it is the only recorded for the 8 cents denomination. THE RAREST UNUSED STAMP OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE AND ONE OF THE GREAT GEMS OF WORLDWIDE PHILATELY. Its importance may be compared to the unused « Missionary » 2 cents of Hawaii (sold in 2018 by Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries for $525’000 plus buyer’s premium).Expertise: Cert. Brandon (2014)