mint strip of seven, original gum and bright color, full frame lines on all sides except at extreme right, two light vertical creases and two negligible thin spots, extraneous black ink on four stamps (believed to be cancellation ink from the fingers of a Confederate postmaster), very fine, an extraordinary Confederate States multiple, one of two mint strips of seven of the Frameline issue which are the largest known multiples of the issue (Scott $47,500)
The Frameline issue is the rarest Confederate issue in unused condition (particularly with original gum). A small handful of strips of four, plus a single block of four, are the only other large multiples recorded. The other strip of seven (ex-Lilly and Kilbourne) shows full frame lines at top and left, but is very slightly in at bottom and right. The strip offered here has been widely recognized as one of the greatest Confederate States rarities since its appearance in the Ferrary Collection over a century ago.
Provenance: Count Philipp von Ferrary (Gilbert, 1922)