Sale 1304 — The Brian M. Bleckwenn Collection of United States First Issue Revenues
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 12-13 December, 2023
Category — First Issue Imperforate ($1.00-$1.60)
$1.00 Conveyance, Red, Imperforate (R66a). Block of nine, large margins all around including bottom sheet margin, bright color, Apr. 13, 1863 manuscript cancels, horizontal crease at center, Very Fine appearance, Scott value $957 as block, pairs and single
$1.00 Conveyance, Red, Imperforate (R66a). Block of four, large margins all around including part of adjoining stamps at left, March 14, 1863 manuscript cancels, scissors-cut at top right into design, top stamps light horizontal crease, Extremely Fine appearance
$1.00 Foreign Exchange, Imperforate (R68a). Block of four, large margins to barely in, rich color, Feb. 26, 1863 manuscript cancels, Fine-Very Fine, only two blocks of four are recorded and there are no larger blocks (two strips of five are the largest multiples), ex Joyce and Curtis
$1.00 Inland Exchange, Red, Imperforate (R69a). Dec. 5, 1862 manuscript cancel on promissory note for $2,500.00, executed Dec. 1 but on that date no $1.00 Inland Exchange stamps were available, Butler & Carpenter made delivery to the government on Dec. 2 (a Friday) and this stamp was affixed and cancelled the following Monday, cut cancels away from stamp, Very Fine and scarce early usage, the penalty for promissory notes executed without stamps at this time was a $200.00 fine
$1.00 Inland Exchange, Red, Imperforate (R69a). Block of six, huge margins all around including bottom sheet margin, rich color, 1863 manuscript cancels, tear at top of top right stamp, otherwise Extremely Fine, only three blocks are larger, ex Joyce, Scott value $1,025 as block and pair
$1.00 Inland Exchange, Red, Imperforate (R69a). Block of four, vibrant color, margins large to just clear at top right, bottom left stamp with double transfer of top shields (Position 29), Aug. 22, 1863 manuscript cancel, Fine-Very Fine, a scarce block made even more desirable by the double transfer
$1.00 Inland Exchange, Red, Imperforate (R69a). Block of four, large to huge margins all around including part of adjoining stamp at top and possible bottom sheet margin, 1863 manuscript cancels, light horizontal crease at top just touches frame line, Very Fine appearance
$1.00 Lease, Red, Imperforate (R70a). Large to full margins including partial imprint and plate no. 100 R at left, rich color, neat 1864 manuscript cancel, Very Fine and choice, rare with plate number, ex Joyce
$1.00 Lease, Red, Imperforate (R70a). Horizontal strip of five, large margins to ample, bright color, Jul. 25, 1864 manuscript cancels, Extremely Fine, a beautiful strip in sound condition, only one multiple is larger (a block of six, ex Curtis), three other strips of five are also known, Scott value $450 as pairs and single
$1.00 Lease, Red, Imperforate (R70a). Block of four, large margins, rich color, Sept. 14, 1864 manuscript cancels, small scissors-cut at left between stamps, Very Fine, only one multiple is larger (a block of six), six blocks of four are recorded
$1.00 Life Insurance, Red, Imperforate (R71a). Enormous margins with portions of five adjoining stamps, deep rich color, Sep. 1863 manuscript cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb example of the $1.00 Life Insurance Issue and easily the finest single we have encountered, with 2015 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; Revenues unpriced in SMQ)
$1.00 Life Insurance, Red, Imperforate (R71a). Large margins all around including portions of adjoining stamps at both sides and sheet margin at bottom, rich color, neat manuscript cancel, Extremely Fine Gem
$1.00 Life Insurance, Red, Imperforate (R71a). Large balanced margins, bright color, neat strike of "Mutual Life Ins. Co. Sep 23 1863" datestamp, Extremely Fine, desirable cancelled solely by the handstamp
$1.00 Life Insurance, Red, Imperforate (R71a). Large margins, variety with right frame line double, manuscript cancel, few faults including thin spots, tears at right and light crease, otherwise Very Fine
$1.00 Life Insurance, Red, Imperforate (R71a). Horizontal pair, large margins to ample, neat Apr. 1863 manuscript cancels, Very Fine and choice, the largest recorded multiple is a block of six
$1.00 Manifest, Red, Imperforate (R72a). Block of four, large margins to full including part of adjoining stamp at bottom left, radiant color, March 3, 1863 manuscript cancel, Very Fine and choice, only one block is larger (of six) and six other blocks of four are known
$1.00 Manifest, Red, Imperforate (R72a). Horizontal strip of three, large margins to huge, rich color, neat manuscript cancels, Extremely Fine, Scott value $197 as pair and single
$1.00 Mortgage, Red, Imperforate (R73a). Block of nine, large margins to full, rich color, Jan. 15, 1863 manuscript cancels, light horizontal creases between stamps, Very Fine appearance, this is the largest recorded multiple, one other is also known, Scott value $1,027 as block, pairs and single
$1.00 Mortgage, Red, Imperforate (R73a). Block of four, large margins to full, vibrant color, May 1863 manuscript cancel, vertical crease partly between stamps, Very Fine appearance
$1.00 Passage Ticket, Red, Imperforate (R74a). Large margins all around, fresh color, cancelled solely by red handstamp cancel, Extremely Fine, a beautiful example, with 1989 and 1992 P.F. certificates
$1.00 Probate of Will, Red, Imperforate (R76a). Horizontal pair, full to large margins, bold "Feb. 6/64" manuscript cancels, bright color, top left corner toned on back but does not show thru, Very Fine
$1.00 Probate of Will, Red, Imperforate (R76a). Horizontal strip of four, three huge margins, in at left, rich color, Feb. 6, 1864 manuscript cancels, righthand strip of three Extremely Fine, ex Foster, Scott value $700 as pairs
$1.00 Probate of Will, Red, Imperforate (R76a). Block of six, full margins to clear, bright color, March 26, 1864 manuscript cancels, bottom stamps horizontal crease with some splitting, otherwise Very Fine, a block of six is the largest recorded multiple and only one other is known, Scott value $1,350 as block and pair
$1.30 Foreign Exchange, Orange, Imperforate (R77a). Large even margins all around, brilliant color, neat Feb. 6, 1863 manuscript cancel
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE $1.30 IMPERFORATE FOREIGN EXCHANGE FIRST ISSUE REVENUE WITH BEAUTIFUL COLOR AND MARGINS. ONE OF THE FINEST WE HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED.
Only 3,878 were issued imperforate (44 sheets with 82 stamps returned for perforating). No multiples are known for this issue.
$1.50 Inland Exchange, Imperforate (R78a). Vertical block of eight, ample to large margins top and bottom, huge at sides, neat manuscript cancels, second and fourth horizontal pairs light creases from document folds, otherwise Very Fine-Extremely Fine, only six multiples are larger, ex Tolman, Scott value $1,600 as two blocks of four
$1.50 Inland Exchange, Blue, Imperforate (R78a). Block of four, large and even margins, rich color, manuscript cancels, corner crease at top left, Very Fine appearance
$1.50 Inland Exchange, Blue, Imperforate (R78a). Horizontal strip of eight, large margins to just clear at one spot at right, small piece out at lower left corner, crisp impression, each with neat "W. Hills Boston Jan. 31 1863" oval datestamp, few light creases, small tear on pos. 2, otherwise Fine-Very Fine, scarce and attractive with the handstamp cancels, Scott value $800 as pairs
$1.60 Foreign Exchange, Green, Imperforate (R79a). Large to huge margins including top sheet margin, deep rich color and proof-like impression, bold "Schuchardt & Sons N.Y. Aug. 1, 1863" double-circle datestamp
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING EXAMPLE OF THE $1.60 IMPERFORATE FOREIGN EXCHANGE, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
The numerical grade of Superb 98 does not fully convey the qualities of this stamp—color, impression, huge margins, sheet margin, perfect datestamp cancel and sound. It is the finest we have ever seen.
With 2015 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98).
$1.60 Foreign Exchange, Green, Imperforate (R79a). Large balanced margins, rich color complemented by a neat blue 1865 circular datestamp, small thin spot at bottom, Extremely Fine appearance, rare with a blue handstamp cancel, a Power Search review of this issue failed to locate any other examples cancelled in blue
$1.60 Foreign Exchange, Green, Imperforate (R79a). Large margins, deep rich color, Oct. 1864 manuscript cancel, fresh and Extremely Fine
$1.60 Foreign Exchange, Green, Imperforate (R79a). Horizontal pair, large margins all around, deep rich color, neat Nov. 1864 manuscript cancels
EXTREMELY FINE. A GORGEOUS PAIR OF THE $1.60 IMPERFORATE FOREIGN EXCHANGE FIRST ISSUE REVENUE. THIS IS THE ONLY SOUND MULTIPLE.
Three pairs (one is vertical) and a strip of three are the only known multiples of this issue. All of the others have faults ranging from creases to a small repair. This is easily the finest.