Sale 1367 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 9-11 December, 2025
Category — 3c1851-57 Plating Studies
3c 1851 Orange Brown Imperforate Issue, Dr. Wilbur F. Amonette Complete Plate Reconstruction (10-10A). 1,000+ stamps mounted on thick quadrille pages, each with one pane of 100 stamps, representing every position from all 5 plates or states of plates that were used to print the 1851 3c Orange Brown stamps, from Plates 1E, 1i, 2E, 5E and 0, every stamp selected for clarity of impression as well as margins and a cancel that allow certain identification of the position, probably 80% are four-margin stamps and nearly all with handstamp cancels including many colored, probably fewer than 20 pen-canceled — very unusual for a plating study as margins and cancel are frequently sacrificed
AN EXCEPTIONAL 3-CENT 1851 ORANGE BROWN IMPERFORATE PLATING STUDY. AN EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENT IN CLASSIC PHILATELY.
Dr. Carroll Chase succinctly summarized the condition standard to be applied to platings when he stated that, "stamps showing fine impressions, good margins and light cancellations are much easier to plate than those not in good condition." A small fault in a stamp that does not impinge on the plating characteristics does not disqualify it from a good plating study. The architect of this study sought to meet those condition standards, and succeeded brilliantly. Dr. Amonette stated in a note accompanying his material that he believed this reconstruction to be the finest of six known. We have not verified six reconstructions known, but they are certainly exceedingly rare and the selection of stamps in this one is outstanding. This is an extraordinary opportunity to acquire a complete study in about as choice condition as is possible.
Scott value $172,800, counting all stamps as the slightly less expensive No. 10A, with approximately 80 additional stamps underneath the shown stamp.
3c Experimental Orange Brown, 1851 Plate One Late, Dr. Wilbur F. Amonette Plate Reconstruction (11A var). 200+ stamps mounted on thick quadrille pages, complete reconstruction of Plate 1 Late in the Experimental Orange Brown color, each page with one pane of 100 stamps and some positions with an additional stamp behind, essentially all with handstamp cancels including many colored, typical plating quality with some faults to be found, but considering this is likely the only reconstruction in existence, some accommodations can be made for faults
THE ONLY KNOWN RECONSTRUCTION OF THE 3-CENT 1851 PLATE ONE LATE IN THE EXPERIMENTAL ORANGE BROWN COLOR.
According to Dr. Carroll Chase, the final state of Plate 1, with re-entry and extensive recutting, took place in October 1851. Plate 1 Late was used until March 1855, when it was retired due to excessive wear. The Experimental Orange Brown stamps come from the earliest period of Plate 1 Late, at the end of 1851 and into early 1852. Dr. Amonette believed this to be the only known Plate 1L reconstruction using only Experimental Orange Brown stamps and consultation with other specialists confirms this. This is a wonderful opportunity to add to an overall reconstruction of 3c 1851 stamps.
Scott value as 200 stamps at $300 each is $60,000.
3c 1851 Dull Red and Other Shades Imperforate Issue, Dr. Wilbur F. Amonette Complete Plate Reconstruction (11-11A). 1,600+ of Nos. 11 or 11A mounted on thick quadrille pages, each with one pane of 100 stamps, representing every position from all eight plates or states of plates that were used to print the 1851 3c Dull Red and other shades after the 1851 Orange Brown, from Plates 1L, 2L, 3, 4, 5L, 6, 7 and 8, every stamp selected for clarity of impression as well as margins and a cancel that allow certain identification of the position, the majority are four-margin stamps and nearly all with handstamp cancels including many colored — very unusual for a plating study as margins and cancel are frequently sacrificed, some flaws certainly can be found but overall the quality is very high
A VERY CHOICE 3-CENT 1851 DULL RED AND OTHER SHADES IMPERFORATE PLATING STUDY.
Scott value $24,000, counting all stamps as the slightly less expensive No. 11A, without counting any additional stamps underneath the shown stamp.
3c 1851 Dull Red and Other Shades Imperforate Issue, Plate Reconstruction (11-11A). Partial reconstruction on quadrille pages, 50 positions per page and four pages per plate, Plates 1L and 2L are complete less one stamp, Plates 3 thru 8 are partially complete, generally with well more than half the positions filled except for a couple pages that have less, attractive stamps almost all with handstamp cancels, Fine-Very Fine partial reconstruction, from the Estate of Dr. Amonette
3c 1851 Dull Red, Plates 1L, 2L, 3, Reconstruction by Recutting Type (11A). 600 stamps on quadrille pages representing complete reconstructions of Plates 1L, 2L and 3, instead of being mounted by position they are mounted by recutting type, using a system summarized at the beginning of the book, each position with pencil notations and recutting codes, mixed condition with typical plating quality stamps, Fine and interesting approach to a plating, Scott value $9,000 for just the basic stamps, from the Estate of Dr. Amonette
3c Dull Red, Ty. II, Dr. Carroll Chase Reconstruction of the "Three Rows" from the Left Pane of Plate 3 (11A). Two complete reconstructions of the 30 positions from the left pane of Plate 3 that comprise the "Three Rows", which was the result of recutting that was required due to the unintentionally wide spacing between the eighth and ninth vertical rows and the narrow spacing between the ninth and tenth vertical rows, the first reconstruction was created by Dr. Carroll Chase and incudes stamps hinged onto cards as well as seven covers, with his plating notes, the second reconstruction is hinged onto a specialized album page, both reconstructions include only handstamp cancels and attractive stamps, a few flaws to be found but overall Fine-Very Fine or appear so, very desirable originating from the father of the 3c 1851 issue, Dr. Carroll Chase, Scott value as 200 No. 11A without premiums for any better positions
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 $34,160 as the basic stamps