1849 (OCTOBER 17), 40 c. carmine-vermilion, the famous unused corner block of four from the lower left of the sheet, positions 81-82 / 91-92, on the sheet of 200 stamps, on thin paper with watermark 'LL' in frame and sheet marginal watermark (PO)STES at left, large even margins all around and stamps of fabulous rich colour, trivial corner bend in margin only and slight closed nick in margin at base mentioned for full accuracy, minor wrinkling on large part original gum with lower pair unmounted o.g. A wonderful multiple of outstanding freshness and the sole recorded mint multiple in this resonant shade. Unique. Signed Grubben, Balasse and Williame. Certificate Pierre Kaiser AIEP (2013) (COB 5)
Provenance: Collection General Robert Gill (RL / Kaufmann, Basel, 21 October 1965, lot 1483), Collection Lars Amundsen (Stanley Gibbons, London, February 1969, lot 154), Collection Georges Marquet (Balasse sale 1324, 1987), Exhibited in Monte Carlo, December 2015 and in the Court of Honour in New York, 2016
