Sale 1310 — Outstanding United States Stamps, featuring The Dragonfly Collection
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 27-28 February, 2024
Category — 1c-3c 1851-56 Issue (Scott 5-11A)
Toppan, Carpenter, Casilier & Co., "Six Cents" Black, Die Essay on India (5-E2). Cut to shape as always and mounted on card creating large margins, crisp impression
VERY FINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE "SIX CENTS" ESSAY OF THE 1851 ISSUE—INTENDED TO PAY THE TRANSCONTINENTAL RATE BUT NEVER ISSUED.
According to the Ashbrook book, a 6c stamp was contemplated to pay the letter rate for distances over 3,000 miles. It appears that the 6c was changed to 1c because of the greater need for this value (see Robert Hegland's article in 1851 Sesquicentennial book for a discussion of this essay).
Ex Tiffany and Finkelburg.
1c Blue, Ty. I (5). Position 7R1E, large margins to just barely in, including sheet margin at top, bright Plate 1 Early shade, detailed impression, bold strike of black New York square grid cancel, completely sound
VERY FINE. A RARE SOUND AND CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT 1851 TYPE I, SCOTT 5, WHICH COMES ONLY FROM POSITION 7 IN THE RIGHT PANE OF PLATE ONE EARLY. ONLY ONE OUT OF THE 1,000 POSITIONS ON PLATES USED TO PRINT THE STAMPS ISSUED IMPERFORATE IS THE TYPE I, WHICH HAS THE DESIGN NEARLY COMPLETE, INCLUDING THE ORNAMENTAL PLUMES AND BALLS AT TOP AND BOTTOM. ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT OF ALL CLASSIC UNITED STATES STAMPS TO FIND IN SOUND CONDITION.
The published census compiled by Jerome S. Wagshal, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/5, contains at least 98 unduplicated records of Scott 5. There are probably no more than ten examples existing outside of the Wagshal census population. Therefore, the 1c 1851 Type I is the rarest of all United States stamps issued regularly prior to the 1868 Grills.
Because of the significance attached to the outer portions of the 1c 1851 design, rare types that have been carefully cut apart, so as not to impinge on any part of the design, are extremely desirable. The narrow spacing between stamps in the sheet and the users' indifference to the outlying ornamentation during separation are factors that contributed to the great rarity of four-margin examples. Time has also not been kind to the surviving population, as very few are sound. The example offered here, in sound condition, with a sheet margin at top and with the type characteristics visible, is regarded as one of the finest in existence.
Wagshal census no. 5-CAN-023. Ex Neinken and Wagshal. With 1947 R.P.S. and 2019 P.F. certificates.
1c Blue, Ty. Ia (6). Bottom row of Plate 4 (we think it is 93L or 94L), ample to full margins showing all the design characteristics, deep rich color, unobtrusive circular datestamp cancel
VERY FINE AND SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 1851 IMPERFORATE ONE-CENT TYPE Ia, ONE OF THE RARITIES FURNISHED BY PLATE FOUR.
Stamps printed from Plate 4 were issued in April, May and briefly in June 1857 before perforations were introduced. The relatively small number of imperforate Plate 4 stamps issued during this period explains the rarity and desirability of any of the imperforate stamp types produced from this plate (Ia, Ic, II, III and IIIa). The extremely rare Type Ia, showing the full design at bottom, was furnished only by 18 of the 200 subjects on Plate 4 (the remaining two bottom-row positions were sub-type Ic).
With 1992 and 2020 P.F. certificates (VF 80)
1c Blue, Ty. II, Plate 3 (7). Position 3L3, original gum, lightly hinged, large margins, intense Prussian Blue shade on bright fresh paper
VERY FINE. THE ONE-CENT 1851 ISSUE FROM PLATE 3 IS RARE IN ANY CONDITION. THIS SUPERB STAMP IS ONE OF THE FEW ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES IN EXISTENCE.
According to Ashbrook and Neinken, Plate 3 is believed to have been made in March or April 1856, possibly to replace the defective Plate 2 and/or to meet the increased demand for stamps concurrent with the April 1855 change in postal regulations requiring prepayment of postage. For an unknown reason -- possibly a severe defect that arose in the plate -- very few stamps were printed from the new Plate 3 before it was retired, and surviving examples are rare.
Plate 3 comprised Type II stamps exclusively. Early impressions are found with a distinctive mottling or ink film caused by ink remaining on the plate after it had been wiped. The stamp offered here does not have the mottling characteristic, and, therefore, it must come from a later impression after the surface became more polished and uniform. This stamp does possess the remarkable Prussian Blue color found among Plate 3 stamps, and it can be plated to Position 3L3 with absolute certainty (note the double guide dots at top right, a distinctive feature of top-row Plate 3 positions).
With respect to Plate 3 stamps such as this, which can be plated with certainty, Neinken wrote (p. 220): "The fact is that in this day and age, if a stamp has been plated as a Plate 3 position, and this plating is substantiated by a knowledgeable student or a Philatelic Foundation certificate, the Plate 3 stamp realizes far more in auction sales, or when purchased from a dealer, even though it has no definite Plate 3 characteristics. There is only one certain way to identify a stamp as being printed from Plate 3, and that is to definitely plate the position."
Plate 3 stamps have always been highly respected and enthusiastically collected, especially examples that show one or more of the distinctive features (surface cracks, mottling or Prussian Blue color).
Ex Wingate. With 1999 P.S.E. and 2001 P.F. certificates, both identifying the position as 3L3.
1c Blue, Type II (7). Positions 1-2L2, horizontal pair from the top left corner of left pane of Plate 2 with major plate crack appearing as a lightning bolt through right stamp, original gum, deep shade and fine impression, large to huge margins showing parts of adjoining stamps at bottom, slight vertical crease in left stamp, tiny thins in selvage
EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A MAGNIFICENT CORNER MARGIN PAIR OF THE ONE-CENT TYPE II IMPERFORATE, CLEARLY SHOWING THE PLATE 2 "BIG FLAW".
Unlike plate cracks resulting from stress fractures during the course of printing, the Plate 2 crack is believed to have been caused by a integral flaw in the steel plate. As Plate 2 was used, the crack widened and extended downward into the fourth row. Due to the nature of this unusually large crack, Ashbrook preferred to call it the "Plate 2 Flaw." This pair shows the crack at a later, more well-developed stage.
Ex Caspary, Chapin and Gross. With 1957 P.F. certificate.
1c Blue, Ty. II-IV (7-9). Blocks of four and six which originally formed a block of ten, later separated and offered here together, block of four on left Positions 4-5/14-15R1L, unused (no gum), Type II at top left (4R), others Ty. IV (5R recut once at bottom, 14-15R recut once at top and bottom), large to huge margins including parts of adjoining stamps at left and part of top sheet margin, deep shade, tiny thin spot in top left stamp (4R), tiny margin tear top right stamp, few ink spots on back, block of six at right Positions 6-8/16-18R1L, unused (no gum), all Type IV, Positions 6-7R recut once at bottom, 8R recut twice at bottom, bottom row recut once at top and bottom, Position 7R1L is the recut version of Type I on Plate 1 Early (Scott 5) and in this state still shows much of the bottom right plume, large margins including part of top sheet margin, deep shade, bright and fresh, vertical crease along left side, small bit of toning top right stamp
EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. EXCEEDINGLY RARE UNUSED BLOCKS OF FOUR AND SIX OF THE ONE-CENT 1851 ISSUE FROM THE TOP ROW OF PLATE ONE LATE, ORIGINALLY FORMING A BLOCK OF TEN—CONTAINING THE ONLY TYPE II POSITION ON THE PLATE AS WELL AS POSITION 7R, WHICH IN ITS EARLIER STATE FURNISHED THE ONLY TYPE I IMPERFORATE ONE-CENT STAMP.
The top row of Plate 1 Late was, with the exception of Position 4R1L (the only Type II position on the plate), recut and transformed into Type IV’s. However, the top row right pane positions still retained many of their fascinating features from Plate 1 Early. Among these is Position 7R, which on the early state of the plate produced the only imperforate Type I, Scott No. 5. On Plate 1 Late, most of 7R’s unique characteristics are still present: the design is complete at top and still shows the distinctive double transfer at top right; it is almost complete at bottom with only a small part of the balls erased; and the plumes are essentially intact, especially on early printings.
Ex Vogel and Ambassador Middendorf. Both blocks with 2011 P.F. certificates.
1c Blue, Ty. II (7). Position 68R2, full to huge margins, dark Prussian Blue shade which led to previous misidentification as a Plate 3 stamp, indistinct cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Hansen, with 1985 P.F. certificate as Plate 3, 2005 P.F. certificate as Plate 3 no longer accompanies, with 2016 P.F. certificate as Pos. 68R2 (XF-Superb 95)
1c Blue, Ty. III (8). Position 70R4, huge margins all around including right sheet margin and top portion of imprint ("Toppan Carpent"), wide break at bottom and substantial break at top, huge margins, rich color
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING JUMBO USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1851 ONE-CENT TYPE III. THIS TYPE IS EXTREMELY RARE WITH THE IMPRINT. THIS IS THE ONLY SOUND EXAMPLE OF TYPE III SHOWING THE IMPRINT WE HAVE OFFERED SINCE KEEPING COMPUTERIZED RECORDS. APART FROM THE IMPRINT, THIS IS ALSO ONE OF THE FINEST TYPE III STAMPS IN EXISTENCE, BY VIRTUE OF ITS HUGE BALANCED MARGINS, FACE-FREE CANCEL AND WONDERFUL COLOR AND IMPRESSION.
The Neinken book states, "Stamps from Plate 4 showing part of the imprint are very rare." Looking at the layout of Plate 4 (Neinken book, page 263), the imprint position types are as follows: left pane 31/41L Type IIIa, 51L Type IIIa-III, 61L Type III; right pane 40R Type III, 50/60R Type IIIa, 70R Type III. Therefore, only Positions 61L, 40R and 70R4 are Type III imprint positions (51L is a "swing" position with a smaller break).
Ex Vogel, "Natalee Grace", Curtis and Myerson. With 2011 P.F. certificate as a pair with Type IIIa and 2012 P.S.E. certificate as this single (Superb 98). Only two grade higher (at 98J) and two share this grade.
1c Blue, Ty. IIIa (8A). Position 19R2, a late impression from Plate 2 with a clear broken line at top, large even margins all around, intense shade and impression, neat grid cancel and trace of red transit cancel at bottom
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1851 ONE-CENT IMPERFORATE TYPE IIIa FROM a late impression of PLATE 2.
Position 19R2 was originally a Type II with a lightly transferred top line. As the plate wore this position evolved into Type IIIa. Examples are scarce and Power Search does not list another from this position.
With 2001 and 2013 P.F. certificates. With 2001 and 2016 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95)
1c Blue, Ty. IV (9). Position 91L1L, triple transfer, one inverted, recut once at top, unused (no gum), large margins all around, Extremely Fine, the inverted transfers on Positions 71L, 81L and 91L (offered here) were made after the top row of the right pane of Plate 1 Early was entered from the Type I single-relief transfer roll, according to Richard Celler's theory, the three inverted transfers were made from a Type I design 3-relief transfer roll as a sort of trial after the top row entries had been made and the plate was turned around 180 degrees, when another plate ("Plate 0") had to be discarded, the siderographer returned to Plate 1 and erased the three inverted transfers before completing the plate with entries surrounding 3R to 10R, on Plate 1 Early, Positions 71L and 81L are double transfers, Position 91L was entered a total of three times, so it is a triple transfer, one inverted, when the plate was reworked in 1852, 71L and 81L were re-entered (but not 91L), making them all triple transfers, one inverted, ex Floyd and Wingate, with 1999 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. IV (9). Position 34R1L, Jumbo margins showing parts of adjoining stamps on all sides, bright color on fresh paper, neat strike of San Francisco circular datestamp, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Kirke, with 2002 P.F. and 2012 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98 Jumbo)
Henry C. Benner, 3c Black, Large Die Essay on India (11-E2a). 31 x 41mm, crisp impression, fresh in every respect
VERY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE ESSAY FOR THE 3-CENT 1851 ISSUE, FORMERLY BELIEVED TO BE A RAWDON, WRIGHT, HATCH & EDSON PRODUCT, BUT IN ACTUALITY PRODUCED BY HENRY C. BENNER OF WASHINGTON D.C. THIS IS THE ORIGINAL, OR "STATE ONE," OF THE DIE. ONLY A HANDFUL OF THESE CONTEMPORARY BENNER ESSAYS EXIST.
The outstanding e-book U.S. Three-Cent 1851 Essays for Postage Stamps, published by the U.S. Philatelic Classics Society and available on their website, gives a detailed account of the history of this Benner die essay, including the discovery of the original die on eBay, its acquisition, limited prints taken from the die and its subsequent donation to the Smithsonian National Postal Museum. We commend it to readers and will not repeat it here.
There are several differences in the die between the State 1, or contemporary state, and the State 2 and State 2 Reprints (the latter executed in recent years as mentioned above). This essay comes from State 1, which is the most desirable, as it was pulled at the time of the 1851 contract competition.
Ex Granzow. With 2020 P.F. certificate erroneously calling the paper proof paper (it is India paper).
Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co., 3c Green, Die Essay on Card (11-E5b). Cut to shape as are most but not impinging onto the design on any side, bright color, Fine and scarce, these have long been listed in Scott as 3c 1851 Issue essays, though recent research has failed to find evidence that Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co. submitted any proposals to the Postmaster General for the 1851 competition, ex Granzow
Draper, Welsh & Co., 3c Die Essay on Bond (11-E8b). All five Scott listed colors, approximately 31 x 36mm, Very Fine, a beautiful complete set of these essays on bond paper, ex Brazer
Toppan, Carpenter, Casilier & Co., 3c Red, Ty. I, Plate Proof on India, Brush Stroke Obliteration (11P3). Positions 25-26L4, horizontal pair, wonderful depth of color, full to clear margins, Very Fine, in 1854 complete sheets of 200 3c India proofs from Plate 4 were sent by Toppan, Carpenter to Bemrose and Perkins Bacon in England for a perforating experiment, each firm received left and right panes, all of the proofs were cancelled with brush strokes to prevent use as postage
3c Orange Brown, Ty. II (10A). Horizontal pair, large part disturbed original gum, brilliant color, full margin at top to clear or just in at bottom right, Fine and attractive pair of the 3c Orange Brown
3c Orange Brown, Ty. II (10A). Deep rich color, outstanding even margins, socked-on-the-nose "Aug. 28" circular datestamp cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2012 P.F. and 2016 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95)
3c Orange Brown, Ty. II (10A), Position 58R1E, ample margins to touched at top, affixed with additional red sealing wax to secure the stamp and tied by grid cancel, blue "Baltimore Jul. 1" (1851) First Day of Issue circular datestamp on blue folded letter to New York, manuscript "Paid" at lower left, letter clearly datelined July 1, 1851 and relates to a deposit of silver dollars, stamp with some slight puckering from the sealing wax (called light creases from the wax on accompanying certificate), sealed cover tear at top not affecting stamp or postmark
VERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE FIRST DAY COVER OF THE 1851 3-CENT ORANGE BROWN USED FROM BALTIMORE, MARYLAND. THIS IS THE ONLY CONFIRMED FIRST DAY USE FROM BALTIMORE.
Three new stamps—1c, 3c and 12c denominations—were necessary after postage rates were revised by Congress during the Fillmore administration. Effective July 1, 1851, the basic rates became 1c for newspapers and circulars (with a distance escalation until 1852), 1c for drop letters and carrier fees, 3c for domestic letters sent up to 3,000 miles, and 6c for letters sent over 3,000 miles. Prepayment by stamps or stamped envelopes was not made compulsory until 1855, but for the first time there were higher rates for letters sent unpaid—5c instead of 3c, and 10c instead of 6c. The combination of convenience and the financial incentive to prepay postage led to a rapid increase in stamp use and popularity.
Under Postmaster General Nathan K. Hall, the contract to print the 1851 Issue was awarded to the Philadelphia firm of Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co. (Casilear retired in October 1854, but his name was included in plate imprints as late as 1857). To start, only the 1c, 3c and 12c (and the General Issue Carrier stamps) were produced. A 10c stamp was added in 1855 to meet the new transcontinental rate, and a 5c stamp was added in 1856 for use on transatlantic mail. The firm's original six-year contract was extended to 1861, during which time stamps were perforated and three new denominations were issued (24c, 30c and 90c), for a total of eight different stamps under Toppan Carpenter's contract.
All three 1851 Issue stamps were supplied to certain post offices on or before July 1, 1851, the first day of the new rates. The census of 1851 First Day Covers published by Wilson Hulme in 2006 (The 1851 Issue of United States Stamps: A Sesquicentennial Retrospective, USPCS) tallied 45 covers from 23 cities in 11 states (one in the count was postmarked by the Louisville & Cincinnati Mail Line route agent). Only two of the 45 covers have 1c stamps and the other 43 have 3c stamps. There are currently are no 12c July 1 covers known.
The Hulme census illustrates five covers from Baltimore, but four of these are either printed circulars dated July 1, 1851 (which were frequently mailed at a later date) or have no confirming evidence of 1851 usage other than an Orange Brown stamp from Plate 1E. This is the only Baltimore cover that can be definitively identified as a First Day use.
Ex Granzow. With March 31, 1947 note of authenticity from Dr. Carroll Chase on back and with 2020 P.F. certificate
3c Dull Red, Ty. I (11). Original gum, lightly hinged, large to full margins and rich color, Extremely Fine
3c Dull Red, Ty. I (11). Unused (no gum), large margins to full including part of adjoining stamp at bottom, unusual extension of frameline at top right, incredibly deep rich color and proof-like impression, Extremely Fine, a stamp with tremendous visual appeal, with 2024 P.F. certificate (XF 90)
3c Dull Red, Ty. II (11A). Original gum, left sheet margin and other margins ample to clear, pretty pastel color, Very Fine and choice
3c Dull Red, Ty. II (11A). Two in vastly different shades, first bright color closer to Orange Brown than Dull Red, original gum, ample margins, faint horizontal crease in bottom margin, appears Very Fine, second is a Brownish Carmine, original gum with some slight gum loss on one side, ample to large margins with portion of adjoining stamp at top, Very Fine and choice
3c Dull Red, Ty. II (11A). Horizontal pair with right sheet margin, other sides large to essentially full, original gum, bright color, light horizontal crease in bottom margin, overall Very Fine with the right stamp Extremely Fine appearance
3c Dull Red, Ty. II (11A). Horizontal pair, unused (no gum), large margins to ample with portions of adjoining stamps at top, Very Fine and choice
3c Dull Red, Ty. II (11A). Block of four, original gum, ample margins to clear all around, bright color, fresh and Very Fine original-gum block
3c Brownish Carmine, Ty. II (11A). Positions 51-52/61-62L2L, block of four with left "(E)NGRAVERS Phila. New York. Boston & Cincinnati" portion of imprint and plate "No. 2", full margins to just clear other sides, slightly disturbed original gum, brilliant color, slight wrinkling, bottom right stamp small internal crease, short horizontal crease straddles bottom pair, shallow thin spot straddling top pair, none of these issues are particularly evident except when dipping the block, Very Fine appearance and quite scarce, only two complete plate blocks are known from Plate 2 Late, Scott value $2,000 as normal block
3c Dull Red, Ty. II, Plate 3 "Three Rows" (11A). Positions 66-69/76-79/86-89L3, block of twelve, original gum, couple small h.r. at top, some of the stamps below top row are Mint N.H., bright color, the block of six at right vividly demonstrates the "Three Rows" recutting adjustments including the triple frameline recutting on Position 89, vertical crease between the right two rows
VERY FINE. A CHOICE AND RARE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF TWELVE OF THE 3-CENT 1851 ISSUE, SHOWING THE PLATE 3 "THREE ROWS" RECUTTING ADJUSTMENTS.
The "Three Rows" variety is the result of recutting that was required due to the unintentionally wide spacing between the eighth and ninth vertical rows and the narrow spacing between the ninth and tenth vertical rows of the left pane of Plate 3. The frameline recutting was executed in a way that attempted to minimize the visual spacing anomalies, by adding framelines where the spacing was too wide and using the inner framelines in lieu of outer framelines where the spacing was too narrow. This block vividly demonstrates this, with normal stamps in the left block of six, extra frameline recuts between the vertical rows in the right block and lack of outer framelines at right.
Ex Granzow. With 2020 P.F. certificate stating that Positions 76 and 87-89 are Mint N.H.
3c Brownish Carmine, Ty. I (11). Large to huge margins all around, attractive color (P.S.E. certificate calls it Claret), light "WAY" cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2000 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98)
3c Claret, Ty. II (11A). Brilliant color, huge margins including large parts of adjoining stamps at top and bottom, circular datestamp cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, ex "Clipper City", with 2010 P.S.E. (Superb 98 Jumbo) and 2017 P.F. certificates (Superb 98 Jumbo)
3c Brownish Carmine, Ty. II (11A). Mostly large margins, tied by blue grid cancel with matching indistinct strike of "Cleveland O. Jan. 3" circular datestamp on J. Valentine Peace Propaganda illustrated cover to Syracuse N.Y.. fresh and Very Fine, a beautiful and rare design, ex Piller and Granzow and from our 1988 Rarities sale
3c Deep Brownish Carmine, Ty. II (11A). Position 16R1L, intense shade which is far closer to the No. 10A Orange Brown than it is to the No. 11A shades, tied by "New-York Aug. 27" circular datestamp on lady's hand-colored small cover to West Stockbridge Mass., lovely multicolored floral and vase design, the address also written in a beautiful small script, 1852 docketing on back, Extremely Fine, ex Granzow, shade confirmed and signed by Dr. Amonette
3c Dull Red, Ty. II (11A). Margins to in, tied by bold strike of blue "Trenton N.J. Feb. 17" circular datestamp on buff cover to Newark N.J. with "Intemperance is the Curse of the World" propaganda design, wonderful overall design depicting various scenes including the smashing of gin and rum barrels, Very Fine
3c Dull Red, Ty. II (11A). Tied by indistinct strike of Conn. Oct. 14 circular datestamp on buff cover to Westfield Mass. with "Intemperance is the Bane of Society" propaganda design, Geo. D. Jewett imprint at right, top edge of stamp slightly creased from placement over edge, Very Fine
3c Dull Red, Ty. II (11A). Ample margins to just in at left, tied by overlapping but blurry strikes of Hartford Conn. circular datestamp on buff cover to Cambridge Mass. with "Intemperance is the Curse of the World" propaganda design, wonderful overall design depicting various scenes including the smashing of gin and rum barrels, Wm. C. Hale imprint at right, Very Fine, ex Granzow
3c Dull Red, Ty. I, Vertical Half Used as 1c (11c). Left vertical half (or third) adjoining vertical strip of three, Plate 4, each with manuscript "X" cancel," matching "Garrote Cal. May 31st" postmark on buff cover to East Brooklyn, N.Y., small cover edge flaws, one stamp tiny corner crease
VERY FINE. ONLY SIXTEEN 3-CENT 1851 BISECT COVERS ARE RECORDED, OF WHICH FIVE ARE USED TO MAKE UP THE 10-CENT TRANSCONTINENTAL RATE. THIS COVER IS ONE OF THE TWO FINEST EXAMPLES AND THE ONLY BISECT IN A BLOCK CONFIGURATION.
The census of 3c 1851 bisects, published by David Beals in Chronicle 76 and updated by Stanley M. Piller in Chronicle 136 and 137, contains a total of 16 covers. Of these, one is the strip of four bisects used from Milton, Massachusetts (offered in the following lot), seven were bisected for use as 1c stamps to pay part of the 10c transcontinental rate, and eight were bisected to pay the 1c circular rate. The census does not identify which are Type I (Scott 11c) and which are Type II (11Ac), and the older photos make identification impossible.
Ex Cohen, Dr. Kapiloff, Kramer and Bakwin. 1981 P.F. certificate no longer accompanies.
3c Dull Red, Vertical Half (11c). Right half of vertical strip of four, lightly plated in pencil as Position 52/62/72/82L3, large margins, canceled by nine neat penstrokes with the ninth tying the strip on legal-size buff cover to Medway Mass., matching "Milton Mass. Aug. 29" manuscript postmark, some very minor cover wear
VERY FINE. THE ONLY RECORDED MULTIPLE OF A BISECTED STAMP IN UNITED STATES PHILATELY. A TRULY REMARKABLE COVER.
The census of 3c 1851 bisects, published by David Beals in Chronicle 76 and updated by Stanley M. Piller in Chronicle 136 and 137, contains a total of 16 covers. Of these, one is the strip of four bisects used from Milton, Massachusetts, offered here, seven were bisected for use as 1c stamps to pay part of the 10c transcontinental rate, and eight were bisected to pay the 1c circular rate. The rate the sender intended to pay with this strip is subject to debate, but in our opinion the sender cut vertical strips of 3c stamps precisely in half in anticipation of mailing circulars at the 1c rate. However, in this case, the sender used a strip of four to prepay the double 3c rate, and the postmaster at Milton accepted the "four halfs equals two stamps" principle. Given the address, perhaps he was more accommodating.
Ex Bakwin. With 2002 P.F. certificate stating "It is a genuine usage of the bisected stamps, but it is not possible to say what rate the strip is paying." Listed in Scott as "strip of four used as 6c on cover". Scott value $15,000 is for this unique cover.