Sale 1297 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 31 October-2 November, 2023
Category — 15c-90c 1869 Pictorial Issue (Scott 118-122)
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. I (118). Bright colors, clear strike of circle of V's cancel, choice centering, Extremely Fine, with 2001 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90)
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. I, Double Grill (118). Second grill showing three rows of points off side of first grill, rich colors complemented by blue cork cancels, Fine and striking
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. I (118). Attractive centering and margin, rich colors, three strikes of target cancel, Very Fine
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II (119). Mint N.H., deep rich colors and proof-like impressions, attractive centering with margins well clear of design all around
VERY FINE AND EXTREMELY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT TYPE II 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE. THIS IS ONLY THE THIRD MINT NEVER-HINGED SINGLE WE HAVE OFFERED SINCE KEEPING COMPUTERIZED RECORDS. A PHENOMENAL RARITY OF THE ISSUE.
We have offered only two other Mint N.H. singles since 1994, and the P.F. has certified only three. Large multiples of this issue do exist, and we have surveyed or sold most of them. Several contain Mint N.H. examples, but they are invariably off-center. Most of the blocks containing Mint N.H. stamps are significantly off-center, with perfs at least touching or well into the designs. The one exception is a left selvage block of 20 which contains eight Mint N.H. stamps, last offered in our 2018 sale of the Wingate collection. This is unlikely to be broken as it usually forms the linchpin of a great 1869 Pictorial or classic block collection, and is in such a collection today.
With 2018 P.S.E. certificate. Scott value as hinged.
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II (119). Unused (no gum), bright colors, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine, ex "Adventurer", with 1989 and 2006 P.F. certificates (XF 90)
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II (119). Wonderful depth of color, choice centering and margins, waffle grid cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2023 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85)
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II, Center Inverted (119b). Deep rich colors, lightly cancelled at left leaving the vignette unobscured, faint horizontal crease at top is barely detectible even when drying
FINE. a beautiful, LIGHTLY CANCELLED AND essentially sound 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 example with the vignette clearly visible and with only a very faint crease is very desirable.
Census no. 119b-CAN-103. With 2017 P.S.E. certificate.
24c Green & Violet (120). Detailed impressions, well-balanced margins, cork cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2022 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90)
24c Green & Violet (120). Well-centered with rich color, bold Rosette cancel, fresh and Extremely Fine, ex Gorham, with 1994 and 2022 P.F. certificates (XF 90)
24c Green & Violet (120). Outstanding centering and margins, rich color complemented by red cork cancel, couple small pressed corner creases, Extremely Fine appearance, with 2023 P.S.E. certificate (VF 80), this was obviously downgraded for the small faults as the centering is Gem-level
24c Green & Violet (120). Rich color, bold blue brushstrokes "+" cancel, Very Fine
24c Green & Violet (120). Attractive centering and margins, rich colors, rosette cancel, Very Fine, small magenta backstamp
National Bank Note Co., 30c Burgoyne, Plate Essay on Thin Surface-Tinted Paper (121-E1p). Four, including salmon red, pale green, blue and pale gray, last is on India (121-E1q), large margins, Very Fine group
National Bank Note Co., 30c Black, Burgoyne Die Essay on 6c Entire (121-E1 var, Undersander E43A-u). Impression at top left of 6c Purple Nesbitt entire (U64), return instructions printed at left, tiny scuff to left of essay
VERY FINE. A UNIQUE ESSAY COMBINING THE UNADOPTED DESIGN FOR THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE WITH THE ISSUED 6-CENT 1864 NESBITT ENTIRE.
The unadopted Surrender of Burgoyne design is found in various colors on white or colored envelopes. Examples are scarce and are almost always found without a postal indicia. The use of this design on an issued postal stationery entire is extremely rare. We have offered only one other (ex Kuphal and "Lake Shore") and that example was printed in Orange on a 2c entire. The Undersander catalog also lists two other combinations. The only other 1869 Issue essays we have encountered on issued entires feature the 5c Washington or 10c Lincoln designs. Each of these is likely unique.
30c Ultramarine & Carmine (121). Original gum, h.r., brilliant colors and nicely centered
FRESH AND VERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
With 1980 P.F. certificate.
30c Ultramarine & Carmine (121). Unused (no gum), rich colors, well-centered, wide margins, Very Fine and choice, with 2000 and 2023 P.F. certificates (VF 80)
30c Ultramarine & Carmine (121). Rich colors and proof-like impressions, wide margins, rosette cancel
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
With 2009 and 2019 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95 XQ). The "XQ" stands for "Extraordinary Quality".
30c Ultramarine & Carmine (121). Well-centered with rich colors, black three-bar cancel and partial blue French receiving datestamp, Extremely Fine, with 2003 P.F. certificate, Scott value without premium for French cancel
30c Ultramarine & Carmine (121). Well-centered with fresh colors, neat rosette cancel, Extremely Fine
30c Ultramarine & Carmine (121). Rich colors and wide margins all around, neat segmented cork cancel, Extremely Fine and attractive, with 1995 and 2004 P.F. certificates
30c Ultramarine & Carmine (121). Jumbo margins and outstanding centering, indistinct cork cancellation as seen on the used blocks of this issue (probably from a package), Extremely Fine, with 2015 P.F. certificate
30c Ultramarine & Carmine (121). Choice centering and bright colors, vibrant red cork cancels typically found on New York Supplementary Mail, Very Fine, with 1997 P.F. certificate
30c Ultramarine & Carmine (121). Bright colors, cancelled by "(PAI)D ALL" straightline with second portion of "AL(L)" below, Fine and attractive
30c Ultramarine & Carmine (121). Block of twelve, bright colors, cork cancels, few flaws including piece out at bottom
VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A BLOCK OF TWELVE IS THE LARGEST RECORDED MULTIPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
The largest recorded unused multiple is a block of six. The largest recorded used multiple is a block of twelve, of which three or four are known.
Ex Frelinghuysen and Price. Scott value as two blocks of four and two pairs $9,600.
90c Carmine & Black (122). Deep rich colors, unusually choice centering with wide and balanced margins, cork cancel
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY THE P.F.
With 1981 and 2023 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95).
90c Carmine & Black (122). Bright colors, centered to top right but perfs clear, four squares cork cancel, fresh and Very Fine, an attractive sound example, with 2019 P.S.E. certificate
90c Carmine & Black (122). Three balanced margins, bright colors, lightly struck cork cancel, Fine
90c Carmine & Black (122). Horizontal strip of three, deep rich colors, bold roller cancel, left stamp light vertical crease, center stamp tiny thin spot at bottom of grill, right stamp thins at top and a sealed tear at bottom right
FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE USED MULTIPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
Multiples of the 90c are extremely rare. Only seven used blocks of four are recorded, and the largest recorded multiple is a strip of seven. Very few multiples were used, due to the stamps' high denomination and brief period of use. Subsequent collector demand resulted in the reduction of many multiples to singles.
Ex Price. With 2006 P.F. certificate. Scott value as pair and single.