Sale 1297 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 31 October-2 November, 2023
Category — 1c-12c 1869 Pictorial Issue (Scott 112-117)
1c Buff (112). Mint N.H., beautiful rich color, wide margins
VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A HANDSOME MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
With 2006 (as pair) and 2011 P.S.E. certificates (VF 80). SMQ does not price this stamp in Mint N.H. condition. Scott value as hinged.
1c Buff (112). Well-struck Maple Leaf fancy cancel of Waterbury Conn. (Rohloff L-6), rich color, short perf at bottom, Very Fine strike and scarce on the 1c value
1c Buff (112). Choice centering, deep rich color, neat strike of blue circle of wedges cancel, fresh and Extremely Fine, ex Mayer and Morton, with 1988, 2003 and 2007 P.F. certificates (XF 90)
1c-10c 1869 Pictorial Issue (112, 114, 116). Three stamps, each with varying strikes of blue or greenish blue Cincinnati circular datestamp and target duplex, 10c also with part of red transit datestamp, Very Fine trio of strikes
1c-10c 1869 Pictorial Issue, U.S. Post Offices in Japan Cancellations (112-113, 115-116). Six stamps including 1c and 10c with "X" chop cancels, 2c, 6c and 10c with "Hiogo, Japan" double-circle handstamp and 10c with "Yokohama Japan Jul. 8" circular datestamp, centering is mixed and a couple tiny flaws may be found but each strike is clear to bold, the "Hiogo, Japan" strike on the 10c is particularly strong, Fine and desirable group of Japan cancels
2c Brown (113). Mint N.H., beautiful proof-like impression on bright paper, Fine and attractive, with 1992 and 2002 P.F. certificates, Scott value as hinged
2c Brown (113). Rich color, cancelled by beautifully clear and bold strike of Old Woman in Bonnet fancy cancel of Waterbury Conn. (Rohloff E-10), showing every detail of the bonnet and the lady's frowning face, couple small margin faults at bottom
EXTREMELY FINE STRIKE OF THE DESIRABLE OLD WOMAN IN BONNET FANCY CANCEL OF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT.
A Power Search review failed to locate another example of this fancy cancel on the 2c 1869 Pictorial in our auctions since 1993.
2c Brown (113). Choice centering and margins, wonderful depth of color, cork cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2015 P.F. certificate (XF 90)
2c Brown (113). Two, each with clear strike of matching fancy negative "PAID" in circle, one in blue and one in black, couple small stamp faults including blue-strike stamp with corner creases, Very Fine strikes and wonderful displayed together
2c Brown, 3c Ultramarine (113-114). One of 2c and two of 3c, each with negative Cross fancy cancel, one of the 3c inside a heart, that stamp with a straight edge and the other 3c with some minor toning, Very Fine trio of strikes
3c Ultramarine, Split Grill (114 var). Mint N.H., showing one row of grill points at top and remainder of grill at bottom, rich color on bright paper, Very Fine, with 2002 P.S.E. certificate (VF 80; SMQ $650.00 as normal grill), Scott value as hinged
3c Ultramarine (114). Clearly struck "KKK", Skull & Crossbones fancy cancel of Union Mills Pa., (Skinner-Eno PH-S 29), minor perf tip toning and one partly detached perf at bottom
VERY FINE STRIKE OF THE UNION MILLS "KKK", SKULL AND CROSSBONES FANCY CANCEL
Union Mills, Pennsylvania, was the source of several remarkable fancy cancel designs in the 1869-71 period, including the "KKK" Skull & Crossbones, Kleagle Mask (two versions) and the Horse in Hat designs. All indicate Ku Klux Klan activity in this Western Pennsylvania town during the immediate post-war Reconstruction period. John H. Beardsley was the postmaster for a brief period of time — February 9, 1870, to March 16, 1871 — which coincides with the creation and use of the Ku Klux Klan cancellations.
3c Ultramarine (114). Bright color, well-struck Maple Leaf fancy cancel of Waterbury Conn. (Rohloff L-7), short perfs at bottom, Very Fine strike
3c Ultramarine (114). Two, each with an Insect fancy cancel including bold strike of Large Bee (similar to cancel used at Adrian Mich. but it is not that carving), second with small Spider, short perf on that stamp, Very Fine strikes
3c Ultramarine (114). Centered to bottom, clear strike of small Dolphin fancy cancel, small sealed tear at left, Very Fine strike and most unusual
3c Ultramarine (114). Bold strike of Flaming Sword fancy cancel, couple short perfs, Very Fine strike and most unusual, open to interpretation but it certainly looks to us like a sword with hilt and flames or light emanating from the blade
3c Ultramarine (114). Bold strike of Negative Stars and Half Moon in circle fancy cancel, couple short perfs at left, otherwise Fine
3c Ultramarine (114). Hinge-rejoined horizontal pair, cancelled by bold strike of "PAID" with Stars in grid fancy cancel of Dedham Mass., small thin spots, Very Fine strike and particularly nice on a pair
3c Ultramarine (114). Clear strike of orange target cancel, stamp with small faults, Fine appearing stamp and Very Fine strike of an extremely rare orange colored cancel, listed in Scott but unpriced
3c Ultramarine (114). Three stamps with clear green cancels, including target, propeller and indistinct cork, Fine and attractive with this scarce color
National Bank Note Co., 5c Red Violet, Washington, Large Lettering, Large Die Essay on India (115-E1b). On 40 x 65mm India paper affixed to slightly larger card, wonderful depth of color, Very Fine
6c Ultramarine (115). Bright shade complemented by vivid red cork cancel and Baltimore datestamp, which appear to "float" over the paper, Very Fine and attractive
National Bank Note Co., 10c Yellow Brown, Lincoln, Large Die Essay on India (116-E1c). On 75 x 96mm card, imprint at bottom of India paper, deep rich color, some very slight soiling, still Very Fine
10c Yellow (116). Bright color and outstanding centering, neat strike of "N. York Steamship" circular datestamp with a few letters showing, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Gorham, with 2006 P.S.E. and 2022 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95)
10c Yellow, Cancellations (116). Outstanding balance of 26 stamps on stock cards, wide range of cancels including targets, variety of stars, unusual crossroads, leafs, numerals and numbers, "New York Steamship", also blue wedges, stamps with bright colors and clear strikes though centering is mixed and a few faults will no doubt be found, overall a beautiful group of this popular 1869 Pictorial, see our website PDF
10c Yellow, 12c Green (116-117). Each with clear strike of French Anchor in Diamond of Dots maritime cancel, the 10c with bright color, Fine, the 12c with perfect centering and wide margins but slight perf toning and corner crease (otherwise this would grade highly), Extremely Fine appearance, this cancel is particularly scarce on the 12c, we have encountered only one other
12c Green (117). Deep rich color and proof-like impression, wide and balanced margins, circle of wedges cancel leaves design clearly visible, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp in every respect, with 2012 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98), this is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by nine others
12c Green (117). Rich color complemented by bold green cork cancel, Very Fine and very rare, green cancels are scarce to rare on any 1869 Issue stamp, but the tendency of postal clerks to zealously cancel stamps used overseas combined with the green color of the 12c no doubt made it particularly unlikely that clerks would use a green cancel on the S.S. Adriatic Issue
12c Green, Cancellations (117). Balance of 16 stamps on stock cards, wide range of cancels including target, crossroads, stars, clover, propeller, grids, one magenta and one blue, others, stamps with fresh colors and clear strikes though centering is mixed and a few faults will no doubt be found, overall a nice group of the S.S. Adriatic, see our website PDF