Sale 1310 — Outstanding United States Stamps, featuring The Dragonfly Collection
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 27-28 February, 2024
Category — 1869 Pictorial Issue (Scott 112-122)
1c Black, Die Essay on White Ivory (112-E5b). 64 x 68mm, showing full die sinkage, detailed impression, Very Fine, this fancy design was also essayed for envelopes and wrappers, ex Earl of Crawford and Brazer
1c-90c 1869 Pictorial, Plate Proofs on Card (112P4-117P4, 120P4-122P4, 129P4). Large margins, bright colors, Very Fine set, accompanied by original envelope in which these were given away
1c-12c Black, 1869 Pictorial, Atlanta Trial Color Proofs on Card (123TC4-128TC4). Set of the single color proofs through the 12c in Black, large margins, Very Fine, ex Ambassador Middendorf, Scott assigns a premium for Black above the other single colors
1c Buff (112, 123). Used singles of both, first with beautiful centering, part strike of "Chicago to Dunleith R.P.O." circular datestamp, Extremely Fine, with 2008 P.F. certificate (XF 90), second also well-centered, rich color on bright paper, bold quartered cork cancel, Very Fine, with 1982 P.F. and 2019 P.S.E. certificates
1c Buff (112). Well-centered and rich color, red circle of wedges cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2007 P.F. and 2019 P.S.E. certificates
2c Brown (113). Huge Jumbo margins and perfectly centered, fresh color, neat target cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a stunning stamp, ex Dr. Dauer, with 2006 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95)
3c Ultramarine (114). Wide margins and excellent centering, rich color, bold quartered cork cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2014 P.S.E. (ungraded) and 2014 P.F. certificates (XF 90 XQ)
6c Ultramarine (115). Original gum, with right straddle-pane margin showing part of adjoining stamp at right, few thin spots, Very Fine appearance
6c Ultramarine (115). Balanced margins and well-centered, strong color, lightly cancelled, Extremely Fine, with 2013 P.F. (VF-XF 85) and 2018 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90)
10c Yellow (116). Radiant color, almost perfect centering with wide margins, cancelled by clear strike of "Hiogo, Japan" double-circle handstamp, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp combining outstanding centering with a very desirable Japan cancel, ex Kirke, with 1996 and 2005 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95), with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ value as normal cancel)
12c Typographed Small Numeral, Die Essays, Stamp Size (117-E3). Substantial assemblage of 19 stamp size essays, wonderful range of colors and paper types, mounted on album pages with identification, including one perforated and two grilled, some typical small flaws to be found with these fragile papers
A BEAUTIFUL AND EXTREMELY RARE LARGE GROUP OF THE 1869 12-CENT ADRIATIC SMALL NUMERAL TYPOGRAPHED ESSAYS.
We have very rarely offered a group of these in any quantity, and the variety seen here is substantial. While the perforated small numeral essays on grilled stamp paper can be found in abundance (117-E2e), all of these typographed essays are rare.
Ex "Adriatic" collection. Three P.F. certificates accompany.
12c Green (117). Original gum, h.r., deep rich color and proof-like impression, fresh and Very Fine, with 2024 P.F. certificate
12c Green (117). Rich color and detailed impression, perfectly centered with wide and balanced margins, unobtrusive cork cancel at top right leaves entire design clearly visible, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Morton, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98), only one grades higher (at 100J, we have never offered it)
12c Green (117). Rich color, unobtrusive strikes of blue multi-point Star and also red transit cancel, Very Fine and choice, a pretty stamp, scarce with the two colored cancels, ex "Adriatic" collection, with 2012 P.S.E. certificate
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. I (118). Wide and nicely balanced margins, rich colors, cork cancel leaves the central vignette unobscured, Extremely Fine, with 1998 and 2015 P.F. certificates (XF 90)
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. I (118). Choice margins and centering, rich colors, duplex cancel, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1986 and 2023 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85)
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II (119). Deep rich colors and proof-like impressions, choice centering with well-proportioned margins, neat cork cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful stamp, ex Curtis, with 2002 P.F. and 2015 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95)
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II (119). Wide margins and fresh colors, bold rosette cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2022 P.F. certificate (XF 90)
24c Black on Dull Yellow Tinted, Small Numeral Plate Essay on India (120-E2e). Block of four, large margins, intense shade and impression, Very Fine and choice, with 2015 A.P.S. certificate
24c Green & Violet (120). Unused (no gum), rich colors, wide and balanced margins, small thin spots, Extremely Fine appearance, a stamp with great visual appeal
24c Green & Violet (120). Rich colors on bright paper, outstanding centering and margins, cork cancel
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
Ex Senchuk and "Clipper City". With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95). Only seven grade higher (higest is 98J).
30c Ultramarine & Carmine (121). Original gum, intense colors, exceptionally well-centered with nicely balanced margins all around
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE. A WONDERFUL STAMP IN TERMS OF GUM, COLOR, CENTERING, FRESHNESS OF PAPER AND IMPRESSION.
The rarity of centered original-gum examples of the 30c 1869 with grill is somewhat obscured by the availability of off-center copies of the 30c with and without grill. If the scope were narrowed to Scott 121 only, and only grades of Very Fine or Extremely Fine were considered, we estimate that fewer than 15 examples would be counted. Among the qualifying stamps, this is without question one of the finest.
Ex "Silver Lake", Hoffman and "Hampshire". With 2001 and 2015 P.F. certificates.
30c Ultramarine & Carmine (121). Rich colors and proof-like impressions, wide margins and outstanding centering, small quartered cork cancel and trace of red cancel at bottom
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE, graded xf-superb 95 by p.s.e.
With 2017 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95). Only four examples grade higher—all at 95J
90c Carmine & Black (122). Original gum, exceptionally deep and rich colors more reminiscent of the 1875 Re-Issue, wide margins and choice centering on bright paper
EXTREMELY FINE. A MAGNIFICENT ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE, WITH EXCEPTIONAL COLOR, WIDE MARGINS AND CHOICE CENTERING.
The 90c 1869 Pictorial is widely admired for its beautiful engraving and dignified portrait of Abraham Lincoln. However, collectors have been frustrated in their efforts to acquire choice examples of this issue. Used 90c stamps are typically heavily cancelled, because the high denomination was cause for postal clerks to thoroughly obliterate any chance for re-use. Naturally, the significant monetary value of 90c in 1869 limited the number of unused stamps that would be saved for future collectors. Therefore, the collector ideals of "well-centered with original gum" and "lightly cancelled" are seldom obtainable in the available supply of 90c 1869's. The stamp offered here, with full original gum, rich color and choice centering, probably ranks among the top 1% of surviving 90c 1869's in unused state.
Ex Abramowitz. With 2010 and 2021 P.F. certificates.
90c Carmine & Black (122). Rich colors, choice centering with wide balanced margins, quartered cork cancel, Extremely Fine, signed A. Brun, with 2018 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85)
15c-90c 1869 Pictorial Inverts, Plate Proofs on Card (120aP4, 121aP4, 122aP4, 129aP4). Large margins, rich colors on bright cards
EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL SET OF 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE INVERT PLATE PROOFS. ONLY ONE SHEET OF 100 OF EACH WAS PRODUCED.
The card proof sheets of 100 of the four inverted high values of the 1869 Pictorial issue were prepared for and displayed at the Atlanta International Cotton Exposition in 1881. They were printed in response to the publicity surrounding the actual inverted stamps that began to appear in the 1870’s. The sheets were somehow acquired by James A. Petrie of Phillipsburg, New Jersey, at the close of the exposition. Petrie claimed that he rescued the inverts along with the trial color card proof sheets (the "Atlanta" trial color proofs) just before they were to be burned. For some years he tried to sell his find and in 1895 he began to advertise them in the philatelic press, finding no takers. In 1903 he sold them to James Ludovic Lindsay, the 26th Earl of Crawford, one of the great collectors of stamps, essays, proofs and philatelic literature at the turn of the 20th Century. In November 1915 the Earl of Crawford’s collection was purchased by John A. Klemann of the Nassau Stamp Company in New York. It was Klemann who eventually cut up the sheets.
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II, Center Inverted (119b). Deep rich colors, lightly cancelled at bottom leaving the vignette unobscured, centered to top with wide to huge margins other sides, completely sound
FINE. A BEAUTIFUL, sound and LIGHTLY CANCELLED USED EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE INVERT.
Our census of Scott 119b, available at at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/119b, records three unused and 103 used copies (there are an additional three used examples of Scott 119c). Two of the used copies are in institutions — the Tapling Collection at The British Library and the Miller Collection at The New York Public Library. Only 12 are confirmed as fully sound. This sound example with the vignette clearly visible is highly desirable.
Census no. 119b-CAN-59. With 2019 P.F. certificate.
30c Ultramarine & Carmine, Flags Inverted (121b). Choice centering with wide margins, incredibly rich and bright colors on fresh white paper, circle of eight wedges cancel
VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A STUNNING AND RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL issue INVERT. EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES IN EXISTENCE.
Our census of 30c 1869 Inverts, available at our website at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/121b , contains a total of 47 stamps, including 7 unused and 40 used (one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library and one used in the Tapling collection at the British Library). Most have faults to varying degrees. Of the examples available to collectors, only 13 are sound or potentially sound (six are based on decades-old descriptions and need to be reexamined for condition). This example, in sound condition and with Very Fine centering, is a great condition rarity.
Census no. 121b-CAN-18. Ex Crocker, Moody, Dr. LeBow, Hoffman and Petersen. With 1969, 2004 and 2008 P.F. certificates