U.S. & Worldwide Stamps & Postal History

1970 $1.00 Rush Lamp & Candle Holder, intaglio brown color inverted, n.h., v.f. The 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 tried to recover the stamps. Official queries, threats, and even job losses followed the group until the sale of the pane was ruled legal. Only about 80-85 copies are accounted for,
Cat. Val. $17,000
Estimate: $15000