Sale 1334 — The Dr. George Haikel Collection: Stamps and Covers of Exceptional Beauty and Rarity
Sale Date — Tuesday, 12 November, 2024
Category — 1851-56 Issue thru 1875 Reprint of 1857-60 Issue
3c Orange Brown, Ty. II (10A). Positions 19-20/29-30R5E, block of four, huge margins to ample including 11mm sheet margin at right, original gum, small hinge remnant, deep rich color and proof-like impression, light diagonal crease in sheet margin barely affects top right stamp and is not noted on certificate
VERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1851 3-CENT ORANGE BROWN TYPE II FROM PLATE 5 EARLY.
Blocks of the 3c 1851 Issue in the Orange Brown shade are rare. We have offered one block of Type I (Scott 10) since keeping computerized records. We have offered only four others of Type II (Scott 10A) since the 1998 Zoellner sale. The block offered here originates from a multiple that also contained the block of 12 in our sale of the Eubanks collection (Sale 1242, lot 144—Positions 77-80/87-90/97-100R5E) and the block of four in our 1968 Rarities sale (Sale 330, lot 41—Positions 17-18/27-28R5E). We have been unable to locate any other multiples from the positions in the row above this block of four or the four rows between this block and the ex-Eubanks block.
Ex Ishikawa (acquired by Dr. Haikel in the 1993 Christie's Robson Lowe auction). With 1993 P.F. certificate.
3c Orange Brown, Ty. II, Printed on Both Sides (10Ab; formerly 10a). Printing on back with same orientation as the front, rich color, large margins to just in, bold small Boston "Paid" grid cancel, back of stamp with clear impression of Washington's head facing left as in printed stamp and also offset of lettering at bottom, tiny thin spot at top
VERY FINE APPEARANCE. THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT 1851 ISSUE PRINTED ON BOTH SIDES. ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL IMPERFORATE UNITED STATES STAMPS.
Engraved stamps printed on both sides usually have a poor impression on one side and a second, complete impression on the other. They probably occurred when a sheet was printed without proper moistening, which prevented the paper from picking up the ink in the recessed lines of the engraved plate.
This variety is known on the three denominations issued in 1851—1c, 3c and 12c—but not on the imperforate stamps issued in 1855 (10c) and 1856 (5c). This is the only recorded example of the 3c 1851 design printed on both sides.
Ex Alexander and "Natalee Grace". Illustrated in Chronicle Vol. 123, p. 164. With 1975, 2001 and 2012 P.F. certificates.
3c Dull Red, Ty. II (11A). Vertical pair, huge margins all around including part of four adjoining stamps and top sheet margin, stamps Mint N.H., lightly hinged at top of sheet margin, brilliant color and detailed impression
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED PAIR OF THE 3-CENT DULL RED TYPE II 1851 ISSUE.
Ex Dr. Morris. With 1992 P.F. certificate.
12c Black (17). Huge margins all around including part of adjoining stamp at top and right sheet margin, original gum slightly disturbed from hinge removal, remarkably detailed impression
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING ORIGINAL-GUM SHEET-MARGIN EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1851 ISSUE.
The 12c 1851 plate was laid down with very little room between stamps—just barely one millimeter, to be exact. For this reason, collectors have a difficult time finding stamps with large margins all around.
Ex Caspary and Dr. Morris. With 1982 and 1994 P.F. certificates.
3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26). Bright color, used with Blood's Penny Post 1c Bronze on Lilac (15L14) and both stamps tied by well-struck "OLD STAMPS/NOT RECOGNIZED" two-line handstamp on cover to Fly Mountain N.Y., clear strike of "Philadelphia Pa. Sep. 14, 1861" circular datestamp and "Due 3" handstamp, Blood's Sep. 14 double-circle datestamp at right, light horizontal bend at top barely affects stamps (very trivial and not noted on certificates)
EXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS THE FINER OF ONLY TWO COMPLETE COVERS KNOWN WITH A DEMONETIZED 3-CENT STAMP AND THE BLOOD'S LOCAL POST STAMP.
The contract with Toppan, Carpenter & Co. for printing the postage stamps of the 1857 Issue expired on June 10, 1861. A new contract was made with the National Bank Note Co. The designs were changed and the old issue was demonetized, as large stocks of some denominations remained on hand in the seceded post offices of the South.
An elaborate plan was devised for phasing out the old and issuing the new stamps, which were not ready until mid-August 1861. To begin, supplies were issued to major post offices. Then, the post office would advertise to exchange the old for the new. Finally, after a short exchange period, the old stamps would no longer be recognized as valid postage. In Philadelphia the cut-off date was August 26, 1861, after which letters bearing demonetized stamps were marked "Old Stamps Not Recognized". The Philadelphia "Old Stamps" marking and similar ones applied to mail originating in the North are related in purpose to the "Southern Letter Unpaid" handstamp, which was applied at the Louisville terminal office on mail originating in the South before all mail exchange was suspended.
Covers are known bearing this handstamp dated as early as August 26. According to our Levi records, there are two other 3c/Blood's combinations with the "Old Stamps Not Recognized" handstamp: a complete cover dated August 26 with the 3c stamp placed over the top edge of the cover (Sale 927, lot 1170) and a front only dated August 27 (ex Dr. LeBow, Sale 886, lot 3064). The cover offered here is the finest example of its kind.
Ex Kaplan, Malcolm and Gruys. With 1980 and 2005 P.F. certificates.
5c Brown, Ty. II (30A). A remarkable stamp with mathematically perfect centering and incredibly wide margins on all four sides—almost unheard-of on the 5c Type II—deep rich color and proof-like impression, vivid "paint red" grid cancel
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION THE FINEST USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1860 5-CENT TYPE II. A STUNNING STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT—LONG AND FULL PERFORATIONS, ENORMOUS MARGINS, PERFECT CENTERING AND A BEAUTIFUL COLORED CANCEL. THIS STAMP HAS BEEN GRADED GEM 100 BY P.S.E.—THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED AND THE ONLY EXAMPLE TO ACHIEVE THIS GRADE. THIS IS ALSO ONE OF ONLY TWO STAMPS OF THE ENTIRE 1857-60 ISSUE TO BE AWARDED THE GRADE OF GEM 100.
This offering of one of two P.S.E.-graded Gem 100 stamps of the entire 1857-60 Issue gives us an opportunity to explain why such a stamp is so rare and extraordinary. We will begin with the historical background of perforated stamps in the United States and then delve into the specifics of 5c perforated stamp production.
The use of postage stamps in the U.S. doubled in the two years after enactment of the 1855-56 laws mandating compulsory prepayment and use of stamps. Postmaster General James Campbell anticipated that such high-volume use would render the act of cutting stamps apart with scissors inconvenient. In response to seeing examples of British stamps, which had been perforated on an Archer machine since 1854, the Post Office Department requested that Toppan Carpenter investigate and report on the means used to perforate stamps in Great Britain.
Toppan Carpenter officials solicited advice from friendly competitors, the English firm of Perkins Bacon, who printed stamps for the British government. Perkins Bacon was at odds with Henry Archer and referred Toppan Carpenter to another manufacturer, Bemrose and Sons. In October 1855 both Toppan Carpenter and Perkins Bacon placed orders for two Bemrose rouletting machines at once, benefiting from a price reduction. In March 1856 Toppan Carpenter received its Bemrose machine, but was forced to convert it from a rouletting device to a round-hole perforator, which proved to be difficult and time-consuming (Perkins Bacon never succeeded in converting its own machine).
Toppan Carpenter soon realized that the spacing between stamps in the 1851-56 sheets was not wide enough to accommodate perforations. To create more space, Toppan Carpenter trimmed the transfer reliefs to reduce the width and/or height of the printed designs. New plates were made from the modified reliefs. The 5c design required only moderate trimming at top and bottom, and the vertical rows were spaced far enough apart to leave room for the gauge-15 perforation holes. As multiples demonstrate, there is approximately twice as much space between the vertical columns of stamps as there is between the horizontal rows. The imbalance in spacing produced stamps with margins that are almost always wider at the sides than at top and bottom, even if the rows of perforations were placed at the equidistant point between stamps. Only when the horizontal perforations are unusually wide apart (with balanced margins on all sides) is it possible to achieve a numerically perfect grade of 100.
Therefore, the statistical odds against a Gem 100 example of the 5c Type II perforated issue are enormous even at the point of conception. Once that rare child is born, it must survive distribution and use, dormancy while awaiting discovery and entry into the philatelic market, and finally years of collector handling. The stamp offered here made that journey and stands alone as proof that it is indeed possible for an 1857-60 Perforated Issue stamp to achieve Gem 100 status.
Ex Dr. Morris and "Natalee Grace". With 1991 and 1997 P.F. certificates and 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100). This is the highest grade awarded and the only example to achieve this grade. It is also one of only two stamps of the entire 1857-60 Issue to be awarded the grade of Gem 100 in any condition (NH, OG or Used); the other is a single Scott 26A.
24c Gray Lilac (37). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich color and proof-like impression, unusually choice centering
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1860 24-CENT GRAY LILAC. ONE OF ONLY FOUR EXAMPLES GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E., THE HIGHEST GRADED AWARDED.
Collectors looking for Gem-quality stamps (unused and used) from the 1857 perforated issue know that one of the most difficult denominations to obtain is the 24c value. The margins are often narrow, with the design almost always touched by perforations (if not cut in) at top or bottom. This is one of the finest original-gum examples we have ever offered.
Ex Dr. Morris. With 1984 and 1993 P.F. and 2024 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95). This is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by only three others.
5c Orange Brown, Reprint (42). Without gum as issued, lovely warm color on bright paper, unusually wide and balanced margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1857 REPRINT. SCARCE IN SUCH CHOICE CONDITION.
The Continental Bank Note Company reprinted the 5c stamp from the original plate of 200 subjects. 10,000 were printed (50 impressions). Only 878 were sold; the remaining 9,122 were destroyed on July 23, 1884, by order of the Postmaster General. Due to the narrow spacing between subjects, many have perforations touching the design at either top or bottom. The example offered here, with perfectly balanced margins, is a remarkable stamp.
Ex Dr. Morris. With 1994 P.F. certificate.
24c Blackish Violet, Reprint (45). Without gum as issued, deep rich color, phenomenal centering
EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1860 REPRINT.
The Continental Bank Note Company reprinted the 24c stamp from the original plate of 200 subjects. 10,000 were printed (50 impressions). Only 479 were sold; the remaining 9,521 were destroyed on July 23, 1884, by order of the Postmaster General. Due to the narrow spacing between subjects, many have perforations touching the design at either top or bottom. The example offered here, with unusually wide margins, is a remarkable stamp.
Ex Dr. Morris. With 1976 and 1991 P.F. certificates.
90c Deep Blue, Reprint (47). Without gum as issued, deep rich color and proof-like impression on bright paper, unusually wide margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN ABSOLUTELY STUNNING EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1860 REPRINT. EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE.
The Continental Bank Note Company reprinted the 90c stamp from the original plate of 200 subjects. 10,000 were printed (50 impressions). Only 454 were sold; the remaining 9,546 were destroyed on July 23, 1884.
Ex Weisman. With 1991 P.S.E. and 1989 and 1998 P.F. certificates.