Sale 1310 — Outstanding United States Stamps, featuring The Dragonfly Collection
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 27-28 February, 2024
Category — 1847 Issue and 1875 Reproduction (Scott 1-4)
5c Red Brown (1). Block of six, original gum, huge margins to just in at top right and bottom right, fresh and bright color, bottom left stamp small natural paper inclusion, some slight creasing which is naturally caused by gum (typical of this issue)
FINE TO EXTREMELY FINE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF SIX OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE. THIS REMARKABLE BLOCK WAS DISCOVERED IN THE RIVES FAMILY BIBLE, ALONG WITH THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE BLOCK OF SIX OFFERED IN OUR 2018 AUCTION OF THE WILLIAM H. GROSS COLLECTION. A REMARKABLE RARITY.
The 1847 Issue is much scarcer in unused condition than other issues, because the stamps were demonetized in 1851. They could be exchanged for the new issue, but once the exchange period ended, the stamps would have no postage value. Considering the purchasing power of five or ten cents in 1851, it is not surprising that the stamps were either used or exchanged, rather than left for future generations of collectors in a hobby that did not yet exist.
According to information uncovered during our research of the 10c 1847 Issue block of six — the famous "Bible Block" — the block offered here was discovered, with the 10c block of six, in the Rives family bible, sometime between 1909 and 1912. It was first sold at auction by Philadelphia Stamp Co. on June 28, 1912, where it realized $190, or three times catalogue value. For a full description of the discovery, go to https://siegelauctions.com/legacy/14.pdf.
Ex Wingate. With 1977 P.F. certificate. Scott value $65,000 as a block of four and a pair.
5c Red Brown (1). Part original gum, beautiful early impression showing every fine line of the original engraving, very deep shade (we would classify as Dark Brown), large even margins all around
EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 EARLY IMPRESSION, WITH LARGE MARGINS AND INCREDIBLY FRESH COLOR.
With 2024 P.F. certificate (XF 90).
5c Red Brown (1). Large margins, intermediate impression, lovely rich color nicely contrasted by blue grid cancel, Extremely Fine
5c Red Brown (1). Large to huge margins including part of frameline from adjoining stamp below, intermediate impression, blue 5-bar grid in circle cancel, Extremely Fine, ex Dr. Graves ("Argentum"), Wall and Mirsky, with 1999 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown (1). Clear horizontal stitch watermark across top, large margins including frameline of adjoining stamp at bottom, worn-plate impression, black Mount Holly N.J. circular datestamp cancel, Extremely Fine, with 1999 and 2006 P.F. certificates (XF 90)
5c Red Brown (1). Huge margins including part of adjoining stamps at top and bottom, worn-plate impression, red New York square grid cancel, Extremely Fine
5c Red Brown (1). Large to huge margins, rich color and strong intermediate impression, red New York square grid cancel, Extremely Fine
5c Red Brown (1). Full even margins, cleaned-plate impression, bold strikes of blue 6-bar square grid cancel, Very Fine and choice, scarce non-standard grid cancel
5c Red Brown (1). Large margins to full, rich color, intermediate impression, face-free strike of red square grid cancel, Very Fine and choice
5c Red Brown (1). Large margins to ample except just in at top left, worn-plate impression, tied on small piece by blue circular grid of tiny squares cancel of Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad, Very Fine, a very unusual cancel, ex Saadi and Gross, with 1991 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown (1). Full to large margins, beautiful rich color, intermediate impression, red grid cancel, Very Fine
5c Red Brown (1). Large to ample margins, bright color (Orange Brown in our opinion), cleaned-plate impression, perfect strike of red "Burl" (of Burlington Vt.) circular datestamp, Very Fine
5c Red Brown (1). Worn-plate impression, large margins to close, part of adjoining stamp at top, black 12-bar grid cancel and red Boston circular datestamp, it appears there is also an erased manuscript cancel at center, Fine, this non-standard grid was never used at Boston, that fact and the erased manuscript cancel lead us to conclude this is fishy and the cancels are forged (if we are right, someone went to a lot of trouble for little gain), offered "as is"
5c Red Brown (1). Early impression, large to huge margins (except top left corner) including bottom sheet margin, rich color, blue "5" in oval handstamp of Baltimore, Very Fine and choice
5c Red Brown (1). Horizontal pair, large margins to clear, worn-plate impression, neat strikes of red New York square grid cancel, right stamp small thin at bottom right corner, Very Fine appearance
5c Dark Brown (1a). Huge margins all around including parts of adjoining stamps at top and bottom, worn-plate impression, light red circular datestamp cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a huge 5c 1847, with 2021 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95)
5c Dark Brown (1a). Huge margins including part of adjoining stamps at top and bottom and right sheet margin, dark shade and intermediate impression, blue cancel, Extremely Fine
5c Grayish Brown (1a). Horizontal pair, large margins to ample, red grid cancels, worn-plate impression, small scissors cut at bottom between stamps, Very Fine pair in the Grayish Brown shade
5c Orange Brown (1b). Large margins all around, cleaned-plate impression, lovely color nicely complemented by blue grid cancel, Extremely Fine
5c Orange Brown (1b). Large even margins, worn-plate impression, red grid cancel, Extremely Fine
5c Orange Brown (1b). Large margins to full at top, rich color on deeply blued paper, cleaned-plate impression, attractive central strike of blue criss-crossing double-struck grid cancel, Very Fine, ex Garrett, with 2017 P.F. certificate stating the stamp comes from a "reworked" plate
5c Brown Orange (1d). Bright color, cleaned-plate impression, full to ample margins, black grid cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 2013 P.F. certificate
5c Brown Orange, Double Transfer Type B (1d-B). Position 90R1, showing the clear double transfer of top and bottom framelines, full margin at left, clear other sides, bright color and cleaned-plate impression, bold strike of blue grid cancel, Very Fine, unusual combination of Brown Orange color and the Type B Double Transfer, with 2012 P.F. certificate, Scott value as normal No. 1d without premium for the double transfer
10c Black (2). Large part original gum, large to huge margins all around, intense shade and impression, P.S.E. notes "light gum crease" which is natural and typical of 1847 stamps with original gum
EXTREMELY FINE. A RARE SOUND, LARGE-MARGINED ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE. A STAMP WITH FANTASTIC VISUAL APPEAL.
1969 and 1994 P.F. certificates no longer accompany (latter states previously hinged with large part o.g. and a light vertical crease). With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (OGh, VF-XF 85; SMQ $60,000.). It is important to note that this stamp has a very high grade despite the light natural gum crease and received an "OGh" designation from P.S.E. Based on centering the base numerical grade is probably XF 90. Only one has graded higher (at XF 90) and none share this grade.
10c Black (2). Huge even margins all around, remarkably detailed impression nicely complemented by blue grid cancels, bright and fresh
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE cancelled in blue and graded SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
With 2002 and 2013 P.F. certificates (latter XF-Superb 95 XQ). The "XQ" stands for "Extraordinary Quality". With 2016 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98). Only six grade higher.
10c Black (2). Large margins all around with trace of frameline of adjoining stamp at top, light strike of red grid cancel, Extremely Fine
10c Black (2). Full to ample margins on three sides with large bottom sheet margin, intense shade complemented by saturated strike of blue cancel, Extremely Fine
10c Black (2). Large margins to full at bottom, red square grid cancel, Extremely Fine
5c Red Brown, Reproduction (3). Without gum as issued, large even margins all around, bright color, Very Fine and choice
10c Black, Reproduction (4). Without gum as issued, large margins all around, crisp impression, Very Fine and choice