Most expensive stamp ever in Big Blue?

Tuscany 1851-52 Scott 1 1q black

"Lion Of Tuscany"

Into the Big Blue
$2,500 used!

That is the catalogue value for the Tuscany 1852 1 Quattrini black "Lion of Tuscany" stamp cut image shown above.

Actually, because of the 1851 date, BB might be referring to the 1851 Scott 1a black/bluish @ $2,750. But I went here with the major number.

There is an 1857 1q black/white paper for "only" $1,325, but I consider the issue date too late for BB's intent.

This expensive stamp cut turned up as I was reviewing the BB Italian States coverage, which will be included in the next post.

Although I am less than half way through the country analysis of Big Blue, I suspect this is the most expensive stamp space ever to appear in the album.

True, there are other stamps in the issue that are less expensive.

1851-52 Scott 5a 2 Crazie greenish blue

60 Quatrinni = 20 Soldi = 12 Crazie = 1 Lira

The 2 Crazie stamp (Yes, that's the denomination!) above is "only" CV $200 used. Perhaps no one will notice if one substituted?  ;-)

I was aware that the '69 editors had added the U.S. Scott 2 10c black/bluish "Washington" @ CV $1,200 used/ $600 pen cancel. The Scott 1 5c red brown/bluish "Franklin" @ CV $525 used /$200 pen cancel is also in all editions. But many BB collectors have a separate collection for U.S., so a bit of a moot point. Nevertheless, the U.S. Scott 2 was the most expensive stamp space in BB that I knew of....

Until now.

If one recalls, reviewing all the most expensive stamps in BB for the countries from Aden through Guinea...

 "We have a new leader as the most expensive stamp in Big Blue. Surpassing the China Scott 78 1c on 3c red ($250) is the blank space choice France 1849-50 Ceres Imperforate 40c orange/yellowish Type I @ $475!"

But incredibly, for the Tuscany stamp spaces, there's more...

The 1860 stamp next to the 1851 "Lion of Tuscany"?

1860 1c brown lilac @ $1,000!

The stamp cut next to the 1851 1q black image is a 1860 Provisional Government issue valued @ $1,000 no gum!

Is there also a less expensive alternative?

1860 Scott 19 10c deep brown

Sure.

The 10c deep brown of the set is CV $82+: not cheap, but much less than Big Blue's stamp image cut.

 What to do?

• If one is faithfully filling the spaces with stamps that clearly fulfill BB's specifications, then one better begin a savings plan. ;-)

• If one is less fastidious, then other stamps in the issues could be substituted.

And this expensive conundrum only applies to the 'earlier 41/'43/'47 editions, as the '69 editors removed Tuscany from the album.  ;-) 

Tuscany 1851-52 Scott 6 4  Crazie green 

Out of the Blue

Crazie expensive.

Comments?