Sale 1305 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 13-14 December, 2023
Category — 1861-66 Issue (Scott 56-78)
3c Brown Rose, First Design (56). Crackly brownish original gum, deep rich color, well-balanced margins, Very Fine
5c Brown, First Design (57). Part disturbed original gum, called "small part" on new certificate, gorgeous deep color of the First Design, in our 1984 Lessman sale we mentioned a tiny perf tip crease (at bottom), but this is not obvious and is not mentioned on either certificate
fINE and RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1861 FIRST DESIGN. ONLY 37 stamps ARE recorded in our census.
Our census of Scott 57, available at our website at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/57, contains a total of 37 copies of this rarity. Of these, one is in The New York Public Library collection. Of the 36 thought to be available to collectors, two are cancelled, 19 have no gum, five have part original gum and ten have full (or nearly full) original gum. Fewer than five of the full or part original gum copies are confirmed as sound.
Census no. 57-OG-03. From our 1969 Rarities sale and ex Lessman. P.F. certificate no. 34368 no longer accompanies ("genuine, part original gum"). With clear 2023 P.F. certificate.
10c Dark Green, First Design (62B). Original gum, minor h.r., deep rich color and proof-like impression, choice centering for this difficult issue
EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL SOUND AND CENTERED ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 10-CENT FIRST DESIGN.
The 10c 1861 "First Design" (or Type I from Plate 4) is extremely difficult to find in well-centered, sound, original-gum condition. This is partly due to the narrow spacing on Plate 4, which was used for the earliest printing.
With 2023 P.F. certificate.
3c Pigeon Blood Pink (64a). Original gum, h.r., radiant color and outstanding centering for this difficult issue, we detect a faint vertical crease at left but the new P.F. certificate does not mention it
EXTREMELY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT PIGEON BLOOD PINK. THIS IS THE BEST CENTERED AND OVERALL one of THE TWO FINEST OF ONLY six ORIGINAL-GUM COPIES WE RECORD THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS.
The 3c Pigeon Blood Pink is one of the rarest of all 1861-66 Issue shades in original-gum condition. We have offered three others since 1993, including the essentially sound example which is ex Whitman and Petersen (Sale 1234, lot 83). That stamp is well-centered Very Fine and choice, but this stamp is Extremely Fine. We offered one with a diagonal crease and pulled perf in 2018 in sale of the Drews collection (Sale 1195, lot 114) and a faulty stamp with a piece out in 1993. The Philatelic Foundation has certified two others, with faults noted and off center. The P.F. has also previously certified one other as genuine, but it was withdrawn when resubmitted and so needs to be reexamined. The New York Public Library's Benjamin K. Miller collection contains another, but it is not available to collectors.
With 2023 P.F. certificate.
3c Rose Pink (64b). Radiant color complimented by neat blue circular datestamp cancel, attractive margins, tiny thin spot, Very Fine appearance, with 1982 P.F. certificate
5c Buff (67). Disturbed original gum, deep mustard shade which appears to us closer to Brown Yellow but color is affected by climatic toning, also short perf at bottom, Fine appearing and rare example with original gum in any condition, with 1973 P.F. certificate as Buff and stating "toned and with small stains", Scott value $30,000
10c Green, "TAG" Double Transfer (68 var). Slightly disturbed original gum from hinge removal and with offset from printing on back, intense shade and impression, Fine example of this desirable variety
10c Green (68). Deep shade (we had to look carefully to make sure this was not 62B), bold cork cancels, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2012 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90)
12c Black (69). Large part original gum which is nearly full with just some loss in corners, intense shade, Very Fine
12c Black (69). Original gum, h.r., crisp impression, single nibbed perf at top, otherwise Very Fine
24c Steel Blue (70b). Disturbed original gum, lovely color in the true Steel Blue shade, reperfed at right
VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 24-CENT IN THE STEEL BLUE SHADE.
The Steel Blue is the most distinctive of all the 24c shades. Unlike some of the others, it is rarely mistaken or misidentified, and as such has always been a favorite of collectors. Examples with original gum are rare.
24c Violet, Thin Paper (70c). Dark shade, attractive centering, grid cancel, small filled thin spot at top, appears Very Fine, with 1987 P.F. certificate
30c Orange (71). Unused (no gum), radiant color, reperfed on two sides, Very Fine appearance
90c Blue (72). Unused (regummed), rich color, well-balanced margins, Very Fine
3c Scarlet (74). Unused (no gum), bright color, reperfed at left, faint horizontal crease, Very Fine appearance, Scott value as with gum
5c Red Brown (75). Disturbed original gum, lovely warm color, reperfed at right, Very Fine appearance
24c Lilac (78). Unused (no gum), detailed impression, well-balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, a stamp with great visual appeal