Sale 1347 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Thursday-Friday, 6-7 March, 2025
Category — 1857-60 Issue
1c Blue, Ty. I (18). Plate 12, original gum with some adherence on back from an album page, deep rich color, small thin spot, Fine appearance
1c Blue, Ty. I (18). Position 87R12, unused (no gum), bright shade, Very Fine and choice, with 2012 P.S.A.G. certificate for pair (the pair graded XF 90)
1c Blue, Quasi-Type Ia (18 var). Position 56L12 which shows complete design at bottom and erasures of part of the design at top, also a double transfer, rich color, grid cancel at top, Fine, Position 56L12 was discussed in an article by Jerome S. Wagshal (“The One Cent Stamp of 1851-57: A Reconsideration of Types I Through IIIa”, 1973 Congress Book, pp. 113-115), in which he presented his case for reclassifying some of the 1c 1851-57 types, regarding Position 56L12, Wagshal opined, “[it] requires separate recognition. Its characteristics are unlike those of any other position on any plate of the One Cent stamp. Judged by the standards which are the basis of the One Cent classification system, 56L12 must be given a separate status as a subtype of Type I.”, with 2018 P.S.A.G. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. Ia (19). Deep rich Plate 4 color, choice centering clearly showing the outer portion of design at bottom, neat strike of circular datestamp, tiny corner creases at top right and bottom right (latter not noted on certificate)
VERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 PERFORATED ONE-CENT TYPE Ia.
Type Ia was produced by only 18 of the 20 bottom-row positions on Plate 4. Although Plate 4 was designed with sufficient space to accommodate perforations, the height of the top row and bottom row positions resulted in the perforations often cutting into the design at either top or bottom. This is a very choice example.
With 1981 P.F. certificate.
1c Blue, Ty. II (20). Plate 12, deep rich color, well-centered, light strike of red New York City carrier datestamp, Extremely Fine, ex Kirke and Morton, with 1993, 2003 and 2006 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85), with 2005 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85)
1c Blue, Ty. V (24). Positions 24-26/34-36/44-46L8, block of nine, unused (no gum), top left stamp showing gash in hair, that stamp also has scuffing, overall Fine and scarce block, Scott value as nine no-gum singles $540
3c Rose, Ty. I (25). Beautifully centered for this tightly spaced issue, with top and bottom framelines clearly visible, rich color, neat town circular datestamp, Extremely Fine, with 2022 P.F. certificate (XF 90)
3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26). Mint N.H., deep rich color, choice centering, Very Fine and choice, ex "Adventurer", with 1976 A.P.S. certificate, Scott value as hinged
3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26). Group of three original gum multiples, including block of eight with most of the imprint and plate no. 15, h.r. reinforcing some perf separations, one appears Mint N.H., Fine, also block of 12, middle six stamps Mint N.H., Fine, finally Mint N.H. top selvage strip of four, Fine, Scott value as blocks and pairs without regard to the Mint N.H. stamps
3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26). Block of 42 with top selvage, dull original gum and multiple h.r. reinforcing extensive perf separations — mostly toward the bottom, overall Fine and scarce large multiple, Scott value as blocks and pairs
3c Garnet Brown, Ty. IV (26A var). Position 25R10i, exceptional depth of color, "Paid" in circle cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2019 P.S.A.G. certificate stating Garnet Brown (XF 90)
3c Dull Red, Ty. IV, Plates 10 & 11 Partial Reconstruction (26A). 244 stamps from Plates 10 and 11 — early, intermediate and late states, largely handstamped cancels with only approximately 30 pen cancelled, mounted on graph paper pages with handwritten positions, typical plating quality, overall Fine-Very Fine or appears so, a scarce assemblage of 3c perforated Ty. IV stamps, ex Celler, Scott value as the basic stamps
5c Brick Red (27). Vertical pair, bright color, neat strikes of "New Orleans La. May 15" circular datestamps, top stamp also with red transit cancel, top stamp pulled perf at lower left, Fine or Fine appearance
5c Red Brown (28). Intense shade on bright paper, perfectly centered with perfs well clear of outer projections on all sides, long and full perforations, neat strikes of New Orleans circular datestamp
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 5-CENT RED BROWN. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT ISSUES TO OBTAIN WITH SUCH WIDE MARGINS AND IN SUCH PRISTINE CONDITION.
Due to the narrow spacing between stamps on the plate, the perforations often touch or go into the outer portion of the design on one or more sides. The example offered here, with perfect centering and unusually wide margins, is a true condition rarity.
Ex Merlin. With 1984, 1999 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95). Only two grade higher (at 98) and four others share this grade.
5c Indian Red (28A). Horizontal strip of three with selvage at right, gorgeous warm color in the true Indian Red shade, two neat strikes of New Orleans circular datestamp, perfs cutting in at right but as an intact strip designs are complete
VERY GOOD-FINE. A SCARCE STRIP OF THREE OF THE 5-CENT 1857 ISSUE IN THE INDIAN RED SHADE.
With 1978 and 1986 P.F. certificates.
10c Green, Ty. I (31). Rich color, gorgeous centering with balanced margins, light circular datestamp cancel leaves design unobscured
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 10-CENT PERFORATED TYPE I, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. — THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
Type I stamps only come from the 20 positions that comprise the bottom row of the plate. Due to narrow spacing on the plate and difficulties in aligning the perforating machine, stamps at the bottom of the plate usually have perforations cutting into the bottom portion of the design. This is a negative, because Type I is defined as having the design complete at bottom. The population of stamps showing the characteristic is extremely limited, especially when other factors such as soundness are taken into consideration.
With 1992 P.F. and 2021 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95). This is the highest grade awarded and only five others share it.
10c Green, Ty. IV (34). Position 55L1, recut at bottom, horizontal stitch watermark clearly visible even outside of fluid, rich color, scissors-trimmed perfs intact at right and mostly trimmed away at top, neat 1859 town datestamp, Fine appearance, ex Gilbart, with 2015 P.F. certificate
10c Green, Ty. IV (34). Position 76L1, recut at bottom, deep rich color, well-centered, bold grid cancel, pulled perf at top, appears Very Fine, ex Gilbart
12c Black, Plate 1 (36). Choice centering, light circular datestamp cancel, Extremely Fine, with 1988 P.F. certificate for horizontal pair (right stamp), with 2004 P.S.E. certificate for this single (XF 90)
12c Black, Plate 1 (36). Nicely centered for this tightly spaced issue, unobtrusive double-circle datestamp cancel, Very Fine, with 2016 P.S.E. certificate
24c Gray Lilac, Plate Proof on Stamp Paper (37P5, formerly 37b). Full to ample margins, fresh and Very Fine, a scarce proof on stamp paper, with 1993 A.P.S. and two 2012 P.F. certificates — one stating Scott 37P5 and the other Scott 37P4c (Scott currently lists this as 37P5)
24c Gray Lilac, Plate Proof on Stamp Paper (37P5; formerly 37b). Large margins to clear, tiny corner crease at bottom right, two light horizontal creases at top, still Fine and scarce, with 1995 P.F. certificate
24c Gray Lilac (37). Rich color and detailed impression, red grid cancel, wide margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1998 P.F. and 2011 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90)
30c Orange, Imperforate (38P5, formerly 38a). Without gum as issued, large margins to just touched, color slightly oxidized, still Very Fine, with 1950 A.P.S. certificate, 2005 P.S.E. certificate no longer accompanies
30c Orange (38). Unused (no gum), vibrant color, gorgeous centering for this difficult issue, Extremely Fine Gem, ex "Adventurer", with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95), only two unused stamps grade higher (both no gum, at 98), SCV $700
30c Orange (38). Choice centering for this difficult issue, vibrant color beautifully complemented by dark red grid cancel
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A GORGEOUS USED EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1860, CANCELLED IN VIVID RED AND GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. AN EXCEEDINGLY DIFFICULT STAMP TO FIND IN SUCH SUPERB USED CONDITION.
The 30c 1860 challenges collectors for several reasons. First, the subjects were closely spaced together on the plate, leaving almost no room for perforations and little opportunity to create stamps with perforations clear of the design on all four sides. Second, the 24c, 30c and 90c 1860 high values were only in circulation for a brief period before the series was demonetized in the Fall of 1861. Third, this high-denomination stamp was issued for use on transatlantic mail, and postal clerks were careful to thoroughly cancel the stamps to prevent cleaning and re-use. Therefore, 30c 1860 stamps in sound, well-centered and lightly cancelled condition defy all circumstances and are extremely rare.
Ex Morton. With 1992, 2003 P.F. and 2012 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95). Only three grade higher.
90c Blue (39). Unused (no gum), rich color on bright paper, wide margins, Very Fine and choice, with 2007 P.F. certificate
90c Blue (39). Deep rich color, neat strike of "San Francisco Cal. Oct. 1 (1861)" double-circle datestamp and blue "AMERICA" from "AMERICA/UBER BREMEN/FRANCO" handstamp applied on arrival in Bremen, the stamp is defective and repaired but not obviously so
VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1860 ISSUE USED FROM SAN FRANCISCO AND WITH A PORTION OF AN "AMERICA/UBER BREMEN/FRANCO" HANDSTAMP.
The highest value of the 1851-60 series—the 90c stamp with a portrait of the youthful George Washington in military uniform—was issued in 1860 (earliest recorded use is September 11). Its use was limited by the high denomination and the stamp's relatively short life, due to the demonetization of all United States stamps in August 1861, a measure designed to preclude the sale of stamps originating in rebel states' post offices. Town cancels on this stamp are very rare, while West Coast uses of any 90c stamp are seldom encountered. The year date is established by the double-circle postmark not being used before September 1861 (earliest recorded date is Sep. 19). This may well be the latest recorded use of this stamp. The "AMERICA/UBER BREMEN/FRANCO" handstamp was applied on arrival in Bremen.
With 1982 P.F. certificate.