1869 15-cent inverted center stamp

Philip Weiss Auctions: The Newport Collection, February 9, 2008

In second place, behind the 1869 24-cent stamp, was an 1869 15-cent inverted center stamp, # 119b, unused. It hammered for $757,100. The 1869 15-cent invert (# 119b, unused, no gum) was expected to be the day’s top lot, since it was one of only three in existence – and one of those was recently offered for sale, with an asking price of $2.5 million. The one sold by Philip Weiss had a Fine Certification, but it exhibited some faint soiling in the left and right margins. That may have driven the price down some.