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Auction: SW1002 - Latin America, including the Tito Collection - Part I
Lot: 1420

1890, 90r. bright violet, the "Bull"s Eyes" reprint on vertically laid paper in its characteristic vivid shade featuring a proof like impression, a magnificent example from the bottom left margin of the sheet of six units. A couple of small thins, which are, considering its rarity, of no importance. There is no record of the production of proofs and essays for the "Bull"s Eyes", but only this reprint, which was not known to Brazilian collectors, according to Mário de Sanctis, until 1919, when the "Sociedade Philatélica Paulista" received a magazine of the "Sociedad Filatélica Argentina" in which one article, written by Charles J. Phillips, mentioned the existence of this reprint. In 1890, the Director of the Brazilian Mint, Ennes de Souza, authorized the reprint of the "Bull"s Eye" 90 reis by using a special bright violet ink developed by Luís Adolfo Corrêa da Costa. Another reprint was made in 1891, but on this occasion a slightly different ink was used, in a pale violet shade. It is accepted that the reprint was reproduced from the original matrix or directly from the original die. Only very few complete sheets of six units each were printed, with just one sheet, affixed to a cardboard, having survived and been preserved by the Brazilian Mint. Just two further single examples have survived, which are the only ones in existence in private hands, each representing a different shade. The other examples which might have left were then submitted to chemical-bleaching experiments and subsequently destroyed. One of only two examples recorded in private hands. Of considerable significance as being the only testimony known of the production of either an essay, proof or reprint in the "Bull"s Eyes". RHM RE-O. Ex Napier and Santos. Starting Price US$ 2,500

Sold for
$6,000