Sale 1367 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 9-11 December, 2025
Category — 3c Scott 25-26 Shades and Varieties
3c Orange Brown, Ty. I (25 var). Centered to left, rich color remarkably close to 1851 printings, bold circular datestamp cancel with 1858 year date, Fine and rare color on the Type I perforated, known to specialists but unlisted in Scott, ex Dr. Amonette, this realized $1,150 hammer in our 1996 Sale 783 of his material (lot 250)
3c Experimental Orange Brown, Ty. IV (26A var). Position 98R10, the "Phantom E" double transfer, beautiful bright color, choice centering, small manuscript cancel, Extremely Fine, a gorgeous example of this major double transfer and rare in the Orange Brown shade, ex Wagshal, accompanied by a 1980 note from Dr. Amonette confirming the shade and position, Scott value for the Dull Red shade from this position, without premium for the scarcer shade
3c Orange Brown, Ty. III (26 var). Position 2R9L, vivid color which appears like a 3c No. 10 1851 shade, tied by "Watertown N.Y. Sep. 2, 1859" circular datestamp on cover to Chicago, cover with partly missing side flap which also results in a small tear at left on front, the stamp is sound and Fine, one of the rarest of all the 3c 1857 color shades and seldom offered, Scott prices this shade at $700 for an on-cover example (63-times the price for the standard Dull Red), with 2010 P.F. certificate
3c Orange Brown, Ty. III (26 var). Position 8R9E noted at top, brilliant color, cancelled by "Paid 3" in rimless arc handstamp with "Walton N.Y. Jul. 10" circular datestamp, date changed in manuscript to "11", addressed to Colchester N.Y., Very Fine and scarce shade for a No. 26, color confirmed and signed on back by Dr. Amonette
3c Garnet Brown, Ty. III (26 var). Exceptionally intense shade, cancelled by grid with "Philadelphia Pa. Feb. 12, 1859" octagonal datestamp on yellow cover to Plaistow N.H., missing backflap, Very Fine, a rare color especially on cover, accompanied by card from Dr. Chase on which this was mounted, stating "The very rare Garnet Brown, Ridgway's name"
3c Etruscan Red, Ty. III (26 var). Gorgeous color, tied by "Newburgh N.Y. Mar. 10" (1860) circular datestamp on cover to Oswego N.Y., slight wrinkling in cover, Very Fine example of this rare shade which was used in 1860, with note from Dr. Amonette
3c Bright Brownish Carmine, Ty. III (26). Two singles, exceptionally rich color, tied by Saint Louis Mo. circular datestamps on yellow cover with embossed corner card for seed and tool dealer, to Rockford Ill., reduced at left slightly into corner card, the stamps are Very Fine
3c Rose, Ty. II (25A var). Position 66R2L, clearly showing the "Gents" double transfer, a few irregular perfs, tied by "Pontiac Mic. Sep. 22" (1857) circular datestamp on cover to Delhi Iowa, receipt and answer docketing at top, backflap tears, Fine appearance and a scarce on-cover example of this major double transfer, ex Wagshal, SCV $2,000 off cover
3c Dull Red, Ty. III, Plate Crack (26 var). Positions 61/71/81L18, vertical strip of three with the middle stamp showing the extraordinary lightning bolt crack across the design through the top of Washington's head, affixed to card with Dr. Chase's notes, additional position hinged next to the crack position, Fine and nice presentation with the Dr. Chase's notes
3c Dull Red, Ty. IV, Double and Triple Transfers (26A var). Three, first two from Position 98R10, the "Phantom E" double transfer, one a straddle-pane copy with with huge side margins and captured centerline (natural straight edge), both with bright color, last is from Position 97R11L, a triple transfer position, clearly evident in the the letters of "Three Cents" and the lower right rosette, Fine-Very Fine trio, ex Wagshal
3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26). Two covers, first tied by "Shabbona Grove, Dekalb Co., Illinois Jul 28" fancy shield postmark on yellow cover to Watertown N.Y., Very Fine and scarce fancy postmark, with 2020 P.F. certificate, second tied by "Shabbona Grove, Ill. Nov 7", fancy ribbon postmark on 1857 yellow cover to Watertown N.Y., original Nov. 3, 1857 enclosure, bottom flap tear and some light soiling, Very Fine strike of this fancy postmark, ex Lounsberry and Alexander
3c Dull Red, Ty. III, Imperforate Vertically (26b). Position 50R27 with part imprint and plate no. "(2)7.P", imperforate at left and between stamp and selvage, bold strike of "Jamaica Plains Ms. Apr. 27" circular datestamp, rich color, small tear at top, small thin spot
VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A REMARKABLE STAMP AND ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED USED EXAMPLES OF THIS RARE PERFORATION ERROR. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE SHOWING THE IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER.
The only other used example of Scott 26b we record is on cover, without imprint or plate no. There is also a horizontal unused pair from the Wagshal collection (sale 996, lot 3223).
Ex Piller, Hulme, Bakwin and Gorham. With 1974 and 2009 P.F. certificates. Unpriced as used in Scott. Scott value as unused pair is $14,000.
3c Dull Red, Ty. IV (26A). Five, original gum, three lightly hinged, one large part original gum and one with h.r., attractive centering for this difficult issue, rich colors, one with tiny corner crease, overall Fine-Very Fine, ex Wagshal
3c Dull Red, Ty. IV (26A). Position 6L10i, rich color, choice centering clearly showing the type characteristics, neat strike of circular datestamp cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2014 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85)
(Image Magnifier)3c Dull Red, Ty. IV, Imperforate Vertically (26Af var). Single from Position 74R11L, each vertical side showing bit of adjoining stamp, Fine, the discovery copy and still the only off-cover example of Type IV imperforate vertically we have encountered, the strip of three on cover offered in our 2019 sale of the Gross collection realized $23,000 hammer, Chase plating on back, ex Piller and Wagshal, with 1985 P.F. certificate as No. 26a var., offered here as a variety of No. 26Af — which is the listing for the unique on-cover strip mentioned above