Sale 1367 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 9-11 December, 2025
Category — 1861-66 Issue (Scott 62B-78)
10c Dark Green, First Design (62B). Original gum, hinge remnants, deep rich color, choice centering with perfs clear of design all around
VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE SOUND AND WELL-CENTERED ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1861 ISSUE 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.
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10c Dark Green, First Design (62B). Unused (no gum), classic dark shade of the First Design, small tear at top, appears Very Fine, with 2009 P.F. certificate
1c Ultramarine (63a). Lovely color on bright paper, light strike of cogwheel cancel (not the San Francisco device)
VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A LOVELY EXAMPLE OF THE SCARCE ONE-CENT 1861 ULTRAMARINE SHADE VARIETY.
Ex Gorham. With 2005 and 2018 P.F. certificates.
3c Pink (64). Brilliant color as fresh as the day it was printed, almost perfectly centered with well-proportioned margins, well-struck "Paid 3" in circle handstamp
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MARVELOUS USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 3-CENT PINK WITH GORGEOUS COLOR, CHOICE CENTERING AND A PERFECT "PAID 3" CANCEL.
Ex Senchuk and Gorham. With 1959 and 2022 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (latter two XF 90). The numeric grade appears to be based strictly on the measurement of margin width and ignores the presence of a perfectly struck "Paid 3" cancel. Only two grade higher (at 95).
3c Pink, Rose Pink, Rose (64, 64b, 65). Balance of eight stamps on a stock card, the three in top row appear to be Pink (64) and one has 1967 P.F. certificate as such (with blue cancel), five stamp on bottom row are labeled as Rose Pink (64b) and probably at least two are, the ones to the right range to Rose, couple small faults, overall Fine
3c Lake (66). Original gum, rich color on bright paper, Fine, with 1994 P.F. certificate
(Image Magnifier)3c Lake (66). Original gum, strong color, small thin spot, Fine appearance, with 1993 P.F. certificate
(Image Magnifier)3c Lake, Imperforate (66a). Large margins all around, original gum, deep rich color on bright paper, Extremely Fine, with 1967 P.F. certificate, SCV $1,850 as a pair
(Image Magnifier)5c Brown Yellow (67a). Wide and even margins, beautiful shade nicely contrasted by well-struck blue "Baltimore Md. Jan. 28" circular datestamp
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB WIDE-MARGINED EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 5-CENT IN THE BROWN YELLOW SHADE, CANCELLED BY A BOLD BLUE CIRCULAR DATESTAMP. A STUNNING STAMP.
Ex "Tahoe" and Gorham. With 1983, 2004 and 2022 P.F. certificates.
5c Olive Yellow (67b). True Olive Yellow shade, choice centering with perfs clear of outer frame lines all around, neat strike of San Francisco cogwheel cancel, tiny corner perf tip crease at lower left
EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. THE 1861 5-CENT IS EXTREMELY RARE IN THE DISTINCTIVE OLIVE YELLOW SHADE. THIS IS THE SCARCEST SHADE OF THE 5-CENT 1861 ISSUE, AND IT IS EXCEEDINGLY DIFFICULT TO FIND IN SUCH CHOICE CONDITION.
We have offered approximately a dozen unduplicated examples of the Olive Yellow shade in any condition since keeping computerized records.
With 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90), Based on centering alone this would grade higher than 90 — points were deducted for the negligible corner perf crease.
10c Green (68). Deep shade on bright paper, nicely complemented by red grid cancel, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Gorham, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95), only six grade higher
12c Black (69). Detailed impression on bright paper, bold strike of cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95)
(Image Magnifier)12c Black (69). Choice centering with extra wide margins framing design on all sides, bold strike of true green target cancel
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THE 12-CENT 1861 IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT DENOMINATIONS OF ANY ISSUE TO OBTAIN WITH A GREEN COLORED CANCEL.
Green cancels are generally very scarce, and most examples are found on 3c values of classic issues used from small post offices. Because the 12c was typically used to pay the U.S-British treaty rates on mail from large cities, examples cancelled in green are extremely rare. A collector looking for a green cancel on a 12c 1861 in any condition would experience great difficulty. A condition-conscious collector who asked a professional for a superb 12c 1861 with a green cancel would be considered slightly mad. The stamp offered here answers that call.
Ex "Tahoe" and Gorham. With 2006 and 2022 P.F. certificates (XF 90 — conservatively based solely on centering/margins without any regard for the cancellation).
24c Violet, Thin Paper (70c). Deep rich color and detailed impression on bright paper, target cancel, Very Fine and choice, a beautiful used example of the 24c Violet on thin paper, Scott 70c, ex Gorham, with 2004 and 2022 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates
24c Violet, Thin Paper (70c). Deep rich color, cork cancel, two small tears, short perfs at top and bottom are barely noticeable, otherwise Very Fine, with 2019 P.F. certificate
(Image Magnifier)24c Violet, Thin Paper (70c). Pen cancel removed, sealed tear at lower left, Very Fine centering, with 2025 P.F. certificate
90c Blue (72). Bright shade, cork cancel, unusually choice centering with wide and balanced margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 90-CENT BLUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
Ex Gorham. With 2004 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95). Only five grade higher.
90c Blue (72). Bright shade, choice centering with wide and balanced margins, target cancel
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 90-CENT BLUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
With 2005 and 2023 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95). Only five grade higher.
90c Blue (72). Bright color, choice centering, cork cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2004 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90)
(Image Magnifier)90c Blue (72). Radiant color nicely complemented by bold red circle of wedges cancel, Very Fine and choice, a lovely stamp, ex Saadi, pencil "A.D." (A. Diena) initials on back, with 1991 and 2014 P.F. certificates (VF 80) as Scott 72a Pale Blue shade, with 2025 P.S.E. certificate as normal Blue shade, Scott value as No. 72
2c Black (73). Horizontal block of eight with right part imprint selvage, original gum which has been sweated or redistributed, Fine and attractive part imprint block, Scott value $6,500 as two blocks of four
3c Scarlet (74). Choice centering, rich color, bold "D" oval grid duplex cancel of New York City Station D
VERY FINE. ONE OF THE FEW POSTALLY CANCELLED EXAMPLES OF THE 3-CENT SCARLET TRIAL COLOR ON STAMP PAPER. VERY FEW ARE BELIEVED TO EXIST, AND THIS MAY WELL BE THE FINEST.
As documented by Jerome S. Wagshal in a series of Chronicle articles (Nos. 56, 60, 61 and 62), Carl F. Rothfuchs, a Washington D.C. stamp dealer, obtained a supply of the 3c Scarlet in 1893 — probably from the Post Office Department in exchange for his assistance with the Columbian Exposition — and sold them with pen marks and original gum. A small number were also used by J. W. Scott, who posted letters with some of his supply to validate his claim that these stamps were legitimate postage. Today, there are perhaps five or six copies cancelled in this manner. Virtually all of the others have faults.
Ex Dr. Morris and Gorham. With 1990 and 1996 P.F. certificates.
3c Scarlet (74). Four pen strokes, vibrant color, light horizontal crease at top, Fine appearing example of the scarce 3c Scarlet trial printing, with 2008 P.F. certificate
(Image Magnifier)5c Black Brown (76a). Disturbed original gum, deep rich color in the Black Brown shade, creases, nibbed perf at right, otherwise Very Good, this shade is surprisingly difficult to obtain, with 2003 P.S.E. certificate (FR 10)
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