1849-1850 Ceres Issue
1 franc vermillion "Vervelle" tête-bêche

tête-bêche, position 35, in unused block of four, plate 1, positions 24-35

Provenance:
ex Ferrary (sale #11, lot 59: 200,500 FF - the second highest price paid for any item in the Ferrary collection sales, surpassed only by the unique British Guiana stamp.) also  ex Hind, Champion and Loeuillet

In 1892 Vervelle purchased a partial sheet of 139 unused vermilion palê stamps from the estate of Anatole Hulot, the print supervisor for 1849-1850 issue. Vervelle separated this block from the part sheet and sold it to Ferrary. 

References: 
Ceres #T7c, Yvert #7Aa
PHILEXFRANCE ‘89 exhibit catalog (Court Of Honor)
illustrated in 1997 William's "Encyclopedia Of Rare and Famous Stamps"

Production information:
The one franc “Vervelle” is an un-issued variety of the one franc vermillon and is named after the French dealer who first publicized the shade. It was printed from plate one which had a tête-bêche cliché at position 35.