Sale 1297 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 31 October-2 November, 2023
Category — 3c-90c 1857-60 Issue (Scott 25-39)
3c Rose, Ty. I (25). Choice centering and margins, bright color, bold strike of Pontiac Mich. circular datestamp, Extremely Fine, with 2023 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85)
3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26). Rich color, wide and centered margins, double-circle datestamp, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2016 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95)
5c Brick Red (27). Beautifully centered with perfs clear of the design at on all sides, vibrant Brick Red color, 1859 New Orleans circular datestamp cancel
EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL 1857 5-CENT BRICK RED WITH OUTSTANDING COLOR, CENTERING AND NEAT CANCELLATION.
With 2018 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90). Only six grade higher.
5c Brick Red (27). Fresh color and neat light cancel, strong perfs on all sides, Very Fine and attractive, with 2017 P.F. and 2019 P.S.E. certificates graded F-VF 75
5c Brick Red (27). Brilliant color, attractive centering and margins, light strike of circular datestamp cancel, Very Fine, with 1982 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown (28). Choice centering and margins, deep rich color, light circular datestamp cancel leaves design fully visible, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2013 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85)
5c Red Brown (28). Nice depth of color which is close to Bright Red Brown (submitted as such to the P.F. by Richard Champagne), attractive margins, Fine, with 2001 P.F. certificate as Red Brown
5c Indian Red (28A). Brilliant color in this distinctive shade, New Orleans circular datestamp and vivid red transit cancels, well-centered
FRESH AND VERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT INDIAN RED, CANCELLED IN BLACK AND RED.
With 1997 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (VF 80; SMQ $3,500).
5c Indian Red (28A). Deep rich color in this elusive and desirable shade, light strike of circular datestamp cancel, couple short perfs at left and one at right, appears Fine, with 2019 P.S.E. certificate
5c Brown (29). Dark color and well-centered, 1860 New Orleans double-circle datestamp, Very Fine and choice, with 2011 and 2012 P.F. certificates (latter VF 80)
5c Orange Brown, Ty. II (30). Mint N.H., beautiful rich color in the warm Orange Brown shade, attractive margins and centering, Fine, a rare Mint N.H. example of this issue, we have offered only two others since keeping computerized records, with 2015 P.F. certificate, Scott value as hinged
5c Orange Brown, Ty. II (30). Choice centering and margins for this difficult issue, which normally has wide margins at sides but in at top or bottom, deep rich color complemented by red grid cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2011 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85)
5c Brown, Ty. II (30A). Block of four, original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich color and proof-like impression, top left stamp trivial short perf
VERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE. A RARE AND DESIRABLE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1860 5-CENT TYPE II BROWN.
The 5c Brown Type II is far rarer in unused multiples than the Orange Brown. Unlike the 1861 Orange Brown, the earlier printing in Brown was not left in Southern post offices when the issue was demonetized in August 1861. Prior to the discovery of the block of 20 in the Frelinghuysen collection, the largest recorded multiple was a block of nine. A horizontal block of six is also known (creased thru bottom three stamps) as are approximately a half-dozen blocks of four. This is certainly one of the finest of the existing blocks of any size.
Ex Klein and Curtis. Scott value $25,000.
5c Brown, Ty. II (30A). Jumbo margins and choice centering, dark color complemented by red grid cancel, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90 Jumbo)
10c Green, Ty. I (31). Position 93L1, choice centering with extra wide margins — especially at the bottom where it beautifully shows the type-defining design, deep rich color, light strike of blue cancel
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 10-CENT TYPE I WITH REMARKABLE JUMBO MARGINS WHICH CLEARLY SHOW THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TYPE.
10c Type I stamps come only from the 20 positions that comprise the bottom row of the plate. Due to narrow spacing on the plate and difficulties in aligning the perforating machine, stamps at the bottom of the plate often have perforations cutting into the bottom portion of the design. This is a serious drawback, because Type I is defined as having the design complete at bottom. The stamp offered here, which is very well-centered and clearly shows the type characteristics, is a true condition rarity.
With 2001, 2007 and 2014 P.F. certificates (XF 90 Jumbo).
10c Green, Ty. I (31). Three wide margins including extra wide at bottom beautifully showing the design characteristics, ample at right, grid cancel, fresh and Very Fine, with 2018 P.F. certificate
10c Green, Ty. I (31). Position 91L1 with left selvage, deep rich color, neat strike of circular datestamp cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 1993 P.S.E. certificate identifying the position as 91R1
10c Green, Ty. II (32). Wide margins and choice centering, deep rich color, Bristol R.I. circular datestamp cancel, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85)
10c Green, Ty. III (33). Well-centered, rich color, San Francisco circular datestamp, Very Fine, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (VF 80)
10c Green, Ty. IV (34). Position 74L1, recut at top, nicely balanced margins, light strike of New York Ocean Mail circular datestamp with integral grid cancel leaves the type characteristics clearly visible, Very Fine, with 2007 and 2014 P.F. certificates (latter VF 80), unlisted in Scott with the rare N.Y. Ocean Mail cancel, Scott value as normal cancel
10c Green, Ty. IV (34). Position 65L1, recut at top, rich color, grid cancel, Fine, with 1967 and 2018 P.F. certificates
10c Green, Ty. III/IV/IV/I (33/34/34/31). Positions 66/76/86/96L1, vertical combination strip of four, three different types in one strip, including two Type IV and Type I, Position 76L recut at bottom, 86L recut at top, Type I at bottom, pen cancels, some faults including separated and reattached and repair at left, otherwise Fine, an extremely rare combination strip containing Types I, III and IV, we know of one other (a strip of five, ex Grunin), ex Curtis, unpriced in Scott
10c Green, Ty. V (35). Mint N.H. with bottom selvage, wide margins, Very Fine and choice, with 2006 P.F. certificate, Scott value as hinged
10c Green, Ty. V (35). Mint N.H. with bottom selvage, choice centering with wide margins, deep color, certificate notes an embedded perf disc (otherwise would grade higher), Extremely Fine, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90), SMQ does not price this stamp in Mint N.H. condition
10c Green, Ty. V (35). Positions 37-38/47-48R2, block of four, original gum, bottom left stamp double transfer, a choice and Very Fine block particularly showing the only double transfer on this plate, ex Worthington and Hetherington, with 2007 P.F. certificate, Scott value without premium for the variety
10c Green, Ty. V (35). Extra wide margins and exceptionally well-centered, rich color complemented by red datestamp, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95), also with 2014 P.F. certificate (XF 90 XQ), we feel the P.F. got it wrong on this one
12c Black, Plate 1 (36). Excellent centering and bright shade, two strikes of Boston large "Paid" grid cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2010 P.F. (XF 90) and 2011 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90)
12c Black, Plate 1 (36). Choice centering and margins, lightly struck numeral portion of datestamp, Extremely Fine, with 2022 P.F. certificate
12c Black, Plate 3 (36B). Bright shade on crisp paper, wide and balanced margins, bold strike of grid cancel, Extremely Fine, ex Hansen, with 1982 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90)
24c Gray Lilac (37). Wide margins, well-centered, neat grid cancel, Extremely Fine, ex Koppersmith, with 1987 and 2017 P.F. certificates (XF 90)
30c Orange (38). Vibrant color, wide and nicely balanced margins, dark blue grid cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2021 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90)
30c Orange (38). Well-centered and bright color, cancelled by "Boston Br. Pkt Oct. 23" circular datestamp, fresh and Very Fine, with 2014 P.F. certificate (VF 80)
90c Blue (39). Original gum, lightly hinged, nicely centered, deep rich color
VERY FINE AND ATTRACTIVE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1860 ISSUE.
With 2007 P.F. certificate (VF 80)
90c Blue (39). Unused (no gum), wide margins and essentially perfect centering, deep rich color on bright paper
EXTREMELY FINE GEM UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1860 ISSUE, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY THE P.F.
This is the ideal stamp for the condition conscious collector who values choice centering above original gum. With 1989 and 2023 P.F. certificates (Superb 98). A 2008 P.S.E. certificate no longer accompanies (NG, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $3,250.00). Only one unused Scott 39 grades higher in the P.S.E. Population Report — a no-gum example at 98.
90c Blue (39). Deep rich color, unusually choice centering with beautifully balanced margins, red grid cancel
EXTREMELY FINE. A stunning USED EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1860 ISSUE WITH choice CENTERING, RICH COLOR AND A RED GRID CANCEL.
The 90c stamp was issued in 1860, along with the 24c and 30c values, all of which were needed to prepay high international letter rates established by various postal treaties. The basic 24c and 30c rates to England, France and Germany created a volume of mail franked with those values. However, the 90c saw much more limited use, partly due to the rates in effect, but more because of the American Civil War. When supplies of current postage stamps were declared invalid in the South and ultimately demonetized by the Federal government, the 90c had been in use for only one year. For this reason, genuinely cancelled copies are scarce, and covers bearing the 90c are extremely rare.
With 2021 P.F. certificate (XF 90).