Great Britain 1840 2d blue Plate 1, SG5.
A very fine used close to large four margin horizontal strip of five lettered 'KF-KJ' showing double letter "I" variety on KI, neatly cancelled by orange-red Maltese Crosses.
Despite a vertical crease between impressions of 'KG-KH' it is a truly spectacular and scarce multiple of the two penny blue stamp, which was issued at the same time as the penny black on 6th May 1840.
The example with double letter "I" variety only appeared on stamps with the initials AL, BL, CD, DF, EK, FB, FC, JL, KI and LC.
GB Specialised Catalogue No: DS5/j.
Accompanied with a 1990 British Philatelic Association (BPA) Certificate of Authenticity.
The Stanley Gibbons Queen Victoria Specialised Catalogue does not list the value of a strip of 5. A used block of 4 is, however, listed at a value of £22,000.
Because the 2d blue was issued contemporary with the 1d black, it shares the distinction of being one of the world's first two postage stamps. The die for these first 2d stamps was taken indirectly from the original die of the 1d stamps.
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