Lesher 2A
1868
$225.00
A very scarce stamp, unused, punched remainder
Engraved and printed at the Treasury Department. Black on white paper, red serial number. It is thought that this is a very early example of this stamp, as serial numbers on later examples began with a letter and ended with a closed parenthesis character.
This stamp, and other denominations in the series, were of double paper construction — one of the earliest attempts at manufacturing stamps that would thwart illegal reuse. The stamps were made made by die cutting a large hole in the stamp paper and gluing a square of thin paper on the back to cover the hole. Then the stamp itself was printed. They were supplied ungummed. By law, these stamps had to be affixed to barrels or casks with varnish. If attempt was made to remove the stamp, the thin backing paper would tear. (The item linked to below is an example of a used stamp from this series (40 gallons) which exhibits both the varnishing and the tearing of the backing paper.)
Old-time mounting remnants on the back. In remarkable condition.