Sale 1347 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Thursday-Friday, 6-7 March, 2025
Category — 1847 Issue - Forty Seven Forty Sevens
5c Deep Red Brown (1). Gorgeous rich color and fiery shade, detailed early impression showing every line of the engraving in perfect clarity, huge margins to full including portion of adjoining stamp at left and right sheet margin, clear strike of red New York square grid cancel in its early state with thin bars
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT 5-CENT DEEP RED BROWN FROM THE FIRST PRINTING WHEN THE PLATE WAS IN THE PRIME OF ITS LIFE. EXAMPLES OF THIS SHADE AND IMPRESSION ARE RARE.
Ex Hart. SCV $425.
5c Red Brown (1). Deep dark shade from an intermediate impression, stitch watermark, large to huge margins including right sheet margin, lightly struck blue grid cancel
extremely fine gem. an exceptionally beautiful 5-cent 1857 in a deep shade with sheet margin and attractive blue cancel.
With 1989 P.F. certificate. SCV $465.
5c Red Brown (1). Large to huge margins including bottom sheet margin, dark shade which we think is Dark Brown No. 1a (despite "Brown" certificate), intermediate impression, light strikes of blue grid cancel
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB BOTTOM SHEET-MARGIN EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE WITH BLUE CANCEL.
Ex Klein and Grunin. With 1988 P.F. certificate. SCV $465.
5c Red Brown (1). Full margins to large at right, intermediate impression, socked-on-the-nose vivid red grid cancel, Very Fine and choice, a beautiful stamp and cancel, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate, SCV $425
5c Blackish Brown (1a var). Horizontal pair, exceptional depth of color and detailed early impression, large margins to clear, nicely contrasting red New York square grid cancels
VERY FINE. AN EXCEPTIONALLY choice PAIR OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE IN THE RARE BLACKISH BROWN shade.
Ex Hart and Caspary (the Jan. 16, 1956 H.R. Harmer sale description for lot 80 states "Pronounced and very rare blackish color"). Signed Ashbrook who states "Genuine Black Brown." Scott value $3,000 for two singles.
5c Red Brown (1). Large margins, pretty bright shade, cleaned-plate impression, bold red grid cancels struck in criss-cross fashion, Extremely Fine and beautiful, ex Starr, Matthies and Ishikawa, with 1993 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown (1). Full even margins, crisp shade and cleaned-plate impression, clear strike of red Hudson River Mail 17-bar grid in circle, Very Fine and choice stamp and an Extremely Fine strike, ex Hart (signed on back), with 1971 P.F. certificate
5c Dark Brown (1a). Ample margins all around, dark shade and intermediate impression, clearly struck blue 16-thin bars open grid cancel, Very Fine and choice, a lovely stamp, ex Caspary and Koppersmith, with 1989 P.F. certificate as No. 1 Brown
5c Red Brown (1). Large even margins, attractive shade, worn-plate impression, cancelled by well-struck blue Hollow Star of Trenton N.J., which frames Franklin's face, faint manuscript offset on back barely shows thru, small corner creases at bottom
VERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THIS RARE AND DESIRABLE FANCY CANCELLATION ON THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE, WITH AN ILLUSTRIOUS PROVENANCE.
A comparable example of the Trenton Star on a 5c 1847 (also with faint crease) realized $5,750 hammer in Christie's 1993 Ishikawa sale. This example realized $12,500 hammer in our 2000 sale of the 1847 Issue from the Philip T. Wall collection.
Ex Caspary, Haas (our Sale 418, where illustrated on front cover), Grunin, Garrett, Wall and Mirsky.
5c Red Brown (1). Large margins, dark shade and intermediate impression, light strike of blue "5" in Star fancy cancel of Huntsville, Alabama, Very Fine and choice stamp with an illustrious provenance, ex Newbury, Ring, Stollnitz, 1996 Rarities sale, Saadi and Gross, with 1995 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown, Crack in "T" Variety (1 var). Position 69R, dark shade and intermediate impression shows the crack in the "T" of "Post", large margins to ample, clear strike of red small circle of wedges fancy cancel of Paris, Kentucky
VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL 5-CENT 1847 SHOWING A REMARKABLE COMBINATION OF THE CRACK IN "T" PLATE VARIETY AND A RARE RED CIRCLE OF WEDGES CANCEL FROM PARIS, KENTUCKY.
Although the circle of wedges pattern became common in the 1850s, it is extremely rare in the 1847 Issue period. The Crack in "T" plate flaw was first reported by Wade Saadi in the May 1994 Chronicle.
Ex Grunin, Garrett ("Elite"), Saadi and Gross. With 2020 P.F. certificate.
5c Red Brown (1). Full to large margins, deep shade, intermediate impression, perfect strike of red Pinwheel fancy cancel (Skinner-Eno GE-P5)
extremely fine. a remarkable fancy cancellation on the 5-cent 1847 issue—the post office of origin is unknown, but this cancel is most unusual in its design and INTRICATE detail.
Ex Emerson and Matthies. With 1992 letter from Raymond Weill discussing the stamp without having examined it personally.
5c Orange Brown (1b). Large to full margins, bright shade and cleaned-plate impression, well-struck blue pinwheel fancy cancel of Wilmington and Raleigh Railroad
VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A PERFECT STRIKE OF THIS DISTINCTIVE RAILROAD ROUTE AGENT FANCY CANCEL ON A BEAUTIFUL FOUR-MARGIN 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE.
Ex Caspary and Hart. In the introduction to Part 2 of the Caspary sale, Dr. Carroll Chase specifically mentions this stamp as one of his favorites (lot 52). Signed Ashbrook.
5c Red Brown (1). Full to large margins, rich color and early impression, unusually clear strike of red Scarab fancy cancel of St. Johnsbury, Vermont
EXTREMELY FINE. THE SCARAB FANCY CANCEL OF ST. JOHNSBURY IS RARELY SEEN AS A COMPLETE AND SHARP STRIKE ON AN OFF-COVER STAMP.
Ex Hart. With 1963 P.F. certificate.
5c Red Brown (1). Position 10L, large margins including top right corner interpane margin, worn-plate impression, cancelled by beautifully struck red Herringbone fancy cancel of Binghamton, New York, small internal crease
EXTREMELY FINE corner-MARGIN position WITH A BEAUTIFUL STRIKE OF THE RED HERRINGBONE CANCELLATION OF BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK.
Ex Garrett and Grunin. With copy of 1977 P.F. certificate.
5c Brown (1). Full to large margins except just clear at top left, pretty shade and intermediate impression, cancelled by perfect strike of large black rectangular grid of squares from Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania
VERY FINE AND EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE WILKES-BARRE, PENNSYLVANIA RECTANGULAR GRID OF SQUARES STRUCK IN BLACK.
Aside from the two recorded covers (Sale 1326, lot 4043 and Sale 1041, lot 187), we are aware of only two off-cover 5c 1847 stamps with the distinctive Wilkes Barre grid.
Ex Stollnitz and Wall. With 1996 P.F. certificate.
5c Red Brown (1). Full even margins, rich color and sharp intermediate impression, cancelled by blue grid of tiny diamonds fancy cancel of Middletown Conn., Very Fine and choice, ex Ishikawa, with 1993 P.F. certificate
5c Dark Brown (1a). Dark color and intermediate impression, full to large margins all around, red grid of diamond-shaped dots fancy cancel of Easthampton Mass., Extremely Fine, with 1997 P.F. certificate not specifying the town
5c Dark Brown (1a). Huge margins to full at upper right, including portion of adjoining stamp below, deep rich color and intermediate impression, red 7-bar grid precancel of Wheeling, Virginia at top right corner, lightly struck blue grid cancel
EXTREMELY FINE. EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE STAMPS WITH THE WHEELING, VIRGINIA, RED GRID PRECANCELLATION.
The post office in Wheeling, Virginia (later West Virginia), received its first supply of 1847 stamps on August 8, 1847—1,200 5c and 400 10c—and soon after applied a red 7-bar grid to the center of blocks of four before or at the time the stamps were sold. We do not know if the red grids were struck on all 25 blocks in a pane of 100 stamps, or if they were applied to smaller units, but all of the known examples have the red grid in one corner of the stamp. There are seven recorded covers with the Wheeling grid precancel, including three 5c and four 10c covers. In addition to the covers, a few off-cover 5c and 10c stamps are known with the red grid precancel. This sound stamp with margins all around is particularly desirable and we believe the finest of the off-cover examples.
Ex Starr and Ishikawa—this was the highest priced off-cover 5c 1847 stamp in the 1993 Ishikawa sale. With 1975 and 1993 P.F. certificates.
5c Red Brown (1). Ample to large margins, rich color, worn-plate impression, green numeral "5" in frame cancel of Princeton N.J.
VERY FINE. A CHOICE COMPLETE STRIKE OF THE RARE PRINCETON N.J. NUMERAL "5" GREEN CANCEL.
Ex Brown and Garrett. With 1989 P.F. certificate
5c Dark Brown (1a). Full to large margins, rich color and intermediate impression, neat strike of green dotted-grid cancellation used only at Tallahassee, Florida, during the 1847 period
EXTREMELY FINE. A REMARKABLE STAMP WITH ONE OF THE FEW GREEN FANCY CANCELLATIONS USED DURING THE 1847 ISSUE ERA.
A similar example (ex Emerson, Haas and Wall) realized $10,500 in our Sale 826.
Ex Grunin, Saadi and Gross. With 1990 P.F. certificate
5c Orange Brown (1b). Ample to large margins, bright shade and worn-plate impression typical of 1849 printing, clear strike of 7-bar green grid cancel
VERY FINE. A BRILLIANT TRUE GREEN CANCEL SET AGAINST THE BRIGHT ORANGE BROWN 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE SHADE.
Ex Ishikawa. With 1994 P.F. certificate.
5c Red Brown (1). Large margins, deep rich color and detailed early impression, left margin with two tiny scissors cuts, tied to small piece by vivid violet "(Pe)rrysburgh (N.Y.?) Mar. 6" circular datestamp
EXTREMELY FINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF TRUE VIOLET INK USED TO CANCEL THE 1847 ISSUE.
The violet colored cancel has a $1,000 premium in Scott, but the town datestamp in violet is unpriced. Ex Newbury.
5c Red Brown (1). Horizontal pair, large margins all around, deep rich color and proof-like early impression, cancelled by clear strike of red "St. Louis Mo. May 1?" circular datestamp
EXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB PAIR OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE WITH A SHARP EARLY IMPRESSION AND BRILLIANT RED ST. LOUIS DATESTAMP.
Ex Garrett. With 1987 P.F. certificate. SCV $1,100.
5c Dark Brown (1a). Full to large margins, deep dark shade and early impression, full margins, cancelled by black New York circular datestamp, Extremely Fine, ex Moody, with 1989 P.F. certificate, SCV $725
5c Red Brown (1). Large even margins, rich color, cleaned-plate impression, bold strike of blue "Troy N.Y. Nov. 8" circular datestamp, Extremely Fine, a beautifuly stamp, with 2002 P.F. certificate, SCV $550
5c Orange Brown (1b). Huge margins all around, brilliant shade we believe is 1847 Deep Red Brown or Brown Orange, early impression, bold strike of blue "PAID" in oval cancel of Philadelphia
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SPECTACULAR EXAMPLE OF THE FIRST PRINTING 5-CENT 1847 ORANGE BROWN—MUCH RARER THAN OTHER STAMPS CATEGORIZED AS SCOTT 1B.
The Orange Brown shade seen most often is from the 1849 printing from the worn plate, which are poor impressions and have no depth of color. This stamp is an early impression from the First Printing, which comes in Dark Brown, Deep Red Brown and Orange Brown (sometimes described as Brown Orange). It is one of the most beautiful of all 5c 1847 shades, by virtue of its impression.
With 1984 P.F. certificate (as No. 1b Orange Brown). SCV $725.
5c Red Brown (1). Full to large margins, rich color, intermediate impression, blue "FREE" and "PAID" handstamps struck in criss-cross fashion, also faint manuscript cancel, Very Fine and choice, a striking stamp, ex Stollnitz
5c Dark Brown (1a). Mostly large margins showing a bit of the adjoining stamp at left, clear at top right, exceptional depth of color and early impression, beautiful fancy manuscript "Paid" cancel, Very Fine, the "47" 5c 1847 collection featured in this sale contains only one manuscript cancel—this was deemed beautiful enough to be included and we heartily agree—ex Rohloff, with 1990 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown (1). Large margins, rich color and intermediate impression, central strike of blue Baltimore "5" in circle handstamp, fresh and Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp, ex Garrett, with 1985 P.F. certificate, SCV $525
5c Red Brown (1). Large even margins, distinctive grayish shade, sharp intermediate impression, cancelled by red "5" numeral and blue Baltimore circular datestamp, Extremely Fine, a lovely stamp, with 1994 P.F. certificate (as Brown)
5c Red Brown (1). Large even margins, rich color and detailed intermediate impression, neat strike of blue "5" numeral handstamp, Extremely Fine, ex Garrett, with 1983 P.F. certificate, SCV $525
5c Red Brown (1). Large margins, bright shade, cleaned-plate impression with some wear evident, cancelled by tiny "5" handstamp from homemade ink, Extremely Fine and most unusual, with 2002 P.F. certificate that states the homemade ink has partly faded (we disagree)
5c Red Brown (1). Large to huge margins including portions of adjoining stamps at sides, rich color and cleaned-plate impression, cancelled by red New York City "6" in large circle handstamp used for ship mail, Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp, with 1991 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown (1). Positions 99-100R, horizontal pair with bottom right corner sheet margins, large margins other sides, intermediate impression, cancelled by large blue Baltimore "10" in circle handstamp, right stamp small thin spot, appears Extremely Fine, rare corner position multiple (identified by the small dash below the bottom frameline at right)
5c Red Brown (1). Large even margins, intermediate impression, clear strike of blue "24" numeral handstamp, in our 1977 sale of the Rohloff collection we mentioned a tiny corner crease but we see no evidence of that now (nor is it mentioned on accompanying certificate)
EXTREMELY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE "24" RATE NUMERAL MARKING USED AS A CANCELLATION ON THE 1847 ISSUE.
Ex Rohloff and Garrett. With clear 1982 P.F. certificate.
5c Red Brown (1). Vertical pair, rich color and beautiful proof-like early impression, large margins, cancelled by bold complete strike of "STEAM" straightline handstamp
EXTREMELY FINE. A SCARCE VERTICAL PAIR OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE WITH A PERFECT FULL STRIKE OF THE "STEAM" HANDSTAMP USED ON MISSISSIPPI RIVER STEAMBOAT MAIL. A MAGNIFICENT OFF-COVER 1847 ISSUE MULTIPLE.
This "Steam" marking (or two similar markings) are found on Mississippi River steamboat covers that entered the post offices at Natchez and New Orleans.
Illustrated in Chronicle 217 (p. 24). Ex Hopkins, Saadi, Gross and Sharrer. With 1980, 1989 and 2013 P.F. certificates.
5c Dark Brown (1a). Full even margins all around, dark shade and intermediate impression, cancelled by red "STEAM" handstamp perfectly struck twice in criss-cross fashion
EXTREMELY FINE STRIKES OF A RED "STEAM" HANDSTAMP ON A FRESH AND CHOICE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE STAMP. BEAUTIFUL IN EVERY RESPECT.
Ex Emerson, Waterhouse, Grunin and Garrett. With 1990 P.F. certificate.
5c Dark Brown (1a). Large margins, intense shade and early impression, cancelled by blue "(STEA)MBOAT" straightline handstamp, Extremely Fine, ex Starr and Caspary, with 1991 P.F. certificate
5c Brown Orange (1d). Full margins all around, rich color, strong impression from the cleaned plate, exceptionally bold strike of blue "Way 6" in double-circle with fleurons waterway handstamp of Mobile, Alabama
VERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL STRIKE OF THIS MOBILE "WAY 6" FANCY RATE HANDSTAMP USED ON RIVER MAIL—AND RARELY AS A CANCELLATION.
This extremely rare waterway marking has a Simpson-Alexander Rarity 9 rating. Ex Caspary, Ring, Grunin and Garrett. With copy of 1971 P.F. certificate as No. 1b Brown Orange.
5c Red Brown (1). Huge margins to full at top, including portion of adjoining stamp at bottom, bright color and cleaned-plate impression, cancelled by sharp strike of red "Housatonic Railroad 10" route agent's handstamp with "0" of numeral almost complete
EXTREMELY FINE AND RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE WITH THE HOUSATONIC RAILROAD "10" CENTS ROUTE AGENT'S HANDSTAMP.
The USPCS 1847 Cover Census lists only five 5c Housatonic Railroad covers with the stamp cancelled by the route agent's handstamp (plus one 10c cover). Even fewer off-cover examples are known cancelled in this manner. Among that small population this is the only 5c 1847 with the "10" handstamp struck on the stamp—it is also one of the finest of all strikes (and it is not one of the John Fox fakes).
With 1986 P.F. certificate.
5c Dark Brown (1a). Large margins, intense shade and early impression, partly clear strike of black "L.I. Rail Road N.Y." route agent's double-circle datestamp, Extremely Fine, very rare and the only example we have encountered with the stamp cancelled by the Long Island Railroad double-circle datestamp, the USPCS census lists seven covers with this datestamp—all struck away from the pen-cancelled stamps—ex Emerson, with 1995 P.F. certificate describing the stamp as "Scott 1, Deep Brown," which is ludicrous and should be ignored
5c Brown Orange (1d). Huge margins all around including part of sheet margin at right, intense shade and rich color which we believe is Brown Orange despite the P.F. certificates, detailed cleaned-plate impression on bluish paper, cancelled by clear and mostly complete strike of black "U.S. Express Mail N.Y./N.York/May 2" route agent's circular datestamp (must be 1852)
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS THE UNIQUE 1847 STAMP CANCELLED BY THE U.S. EXPRESS MAIL MARKING IN BLACK, WHICH REPRESENTS A DEMONETIZED USE OF THE 1847 ISSUE.
The 1847 stamps on mail sent via the New York-Boston "Express Mail" route were usually cancelled by a grid—only rarely were they cancelled solely by the route agent's datestamp. The example offered here is even more significant, because the U.S. Express Mail datestamp is struck in black. Black ink was used after August 1851 (according to recorded covers — see Chronicle 68), which places this stamp in the post-demonetization period.
Ex Waterhouse, Haas, Garrett and Wall. With 1989 and 2000 P.F. certificates as No. 1b Orange Brown.
5c Orange Brown (1b). Large even margins all around, vivid color, cleaned-plate impression, cancelled by clear strike of “Mic. Central R.R. Mic. Jun. 18?” Michigan Central Railroad route agent’s circular datestamp, Extremely Fine stamp and strike, the Michigan Central Railroad was incorporated under that name in 1846, it was the successor to the Detroit and St. Joseph Railroad, started in 1836, which became the state-owned Central Railroad of Michigan; both suffered from poor construction and financial difficulties
5c Red Brown (1). Horizontal pair showing misalignment of entries—the small mark in margin at lower left corner, absence of guide dot on left stamp and misalignment of entries lead us to assign this to Positions 81-82L—large even margins all around, worn-plate impression, tied on small piece by black Canadian 7-ring target cancels, also tied by red "10" in circle handstamp applied in Canada
EXTREMELY FINE GEM PAIR OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE TIED ON PIECE BY CANADIAN BLACK TARGET CANCEL AND RED "10" RATE HANDSTAMP. A SPECTACULAR PAIR.
Ex Grunin and Ishikawa. With 1973 and 1993 P.F. certificates.
5c Dark Brown (1a). Large margins all around, deep rich color and intermediate impression, red New York square grid cancel and part of red "COLONIES/&c. ART. 13" Anglo-French framed accountancy handstamp, vivid strikes which fill up the stamp with red, striking and Extremely Fine, this marking is rarely found cancelling the stamp, ex Stollnitz and Dr. Morris, with 1974 and 1996 P.F. certificates
5c Red Brown (1). Huge margins including left sheet margin, cleaned-plate impression, clear and bold strike of small Boston "Paid" grid applied after demonetization, certificate notes a pressed out crease at top right, appears Extremely Fine, a scarce demonetized use, the earliest recorded use of this cancel is July 12, 1851, with 1990 P.F. certificate