U.S. and Worldwide Stamps & Postal History
March 17-18, 2015
| Images | Description | Current Bid |
 | Lot #70 United States 1930-80 Issues 1979 $1.00 Rush Lamp & Candle Holder, intaglio brown color inverted, n.h., v.f., with 2014 PFC (graded XF 90). The so-called CIA invert is one of the best known inverted color errors in United States philately. These stamps were discovered by an on-duty CIA employee who teamed up with some colleagues to purchase the pane from a post office. Saving a copy each, the group later sold the bulk of the sheet to a prominent stamp dealer. News of the error reached CIA officials who sought to claim ownership and US Postal authorities who tried to recover the stamps. Official queries, threats, and even job losses followed the group until the sale of the pane was ruled legal, ** Catalog #1610c Catalog Value $17,500 | Price Realized $16,000.00 |
