Sale 1332 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 8-10 October, 2024
Category — 1861-66 Issue
3c Brown Rose, First Design (56). Original gum, h.r., bright color, Very Fine
3¢ Brown Rose, First Design (56). Original gum, barely hinged, deep rich color, choice centering, tiny corner perf crease at top right not noted on certificate, Extremely Fine appearance, with 1991 P.F. certificate
10c Dark Green, First Design (62B). Well-centered, wonderful dark shade, lightly cancelled by non-standard grid, Very Fine
10c Dark Green, First Design (62B). Deep rich color on bright paper, nicely complemented by red grid cancel, reperfed at right, Very Fine appearance
30c Red Orange, First Color (61). Original gum, beautiful shade and impression, choice centering for this difficult issue
VERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 30-CENT 1861 FIRST COLOR. AN EXTREMELY RARE STAMP IN SOUND CONDITION.
Our census of Scott 61 at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/61 contains a total of 33 examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library. Virtually all are centered to one side, and many are centered to two sides. A characteristic common to most examples of the 30¢ 1861 First Color is creasing, which in some cases is very severe and in others barely visible. Only six stamps with original gum are free of faults, including the example offered here, and among those a few have a nibbed perf or two.
Census no. 61-OG-19. Ex Lilly and 1993 Rarities sale where acquired by the current owner. With 1973 P.F. certificate.
90c Blue, First Design (62 or 62a). Unused (no gum), perfect centering and rich color, this comes from an old-time holding and was certified by the P.F. prior to 1968 as a genuine unused No. 62 (certificate no. 27468), with a later notation stating "support withdrawn pending re-examination. Possibly 62a perforated 3/11/69", 2023 P.F. certificate calls this No. 72-E7g (the current number for the old 62a), "fraudulently perforated on all four sides", we are not convinced but offered on its own merits
3c Pink (64). Brilliant color, bold strike of small open grid cancel, well-balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine
3c Pink (64). Brilliant color, large open grid cancel, reperfed at left, Very Fine appearance
3c Lake (66). Original gum, lightly hinged, proof-like impression, few ink specks along left perfs not noted or visible on certificate, otherwise Very Fine, with 1980 P.F. certificate
5c Buff (67). Unused (no gum), radiant color, centered to top but only the perfs at top are slightly in, clear at sides and wide at bottom
FINE. A SCARCE SOUND UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 5-CENT BUFF.
P.S.E. encapsulated (VG 50). This is an unduly harsh grade in our opinion. SCV $12,500.
5c Buff (67). Superb centering and margins, rich color, neatly struck target cancel, Extremely Fine, a remarkably choice example of this scarce 1861 Issue
5c Buff (67). Rich color nicely complemented by blue Baltimore circular datestamp, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 1996 P.F. certificate
5c Buff (67). Deep rich color, blue Baltimore circular datestamp, reperfed, Very Fine appearance
24c Red Lilac (70). Rich color on bright paper, exceptional centering with balanced margins, Shield with Stars and Bars fancy cancel of Sacramento Cal. (Skinner-Eno PS-ST 43)
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 24-CENT RED LILAC ISSUE WITH A SHIELD FANCY CANCEL, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST USED EXAMPLES EXTANT.
With 2010 P.F. and 2016 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95). Only one example grades higher (at 98). We are not aware of the cancel on that stamp but none of the other 95's we have offered have a fancy cancel.
24c Red Lilac (70). Deep rich color on bright paper, balanced margins, neat crossroads cancel, Very Fine
24c Brown Lilac (70a). Extra wide margins and choice centering, San Francisco cogwheel cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2017 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85), this should be graded 85 Jumbo
24c Brown Lilac (70a). Lovely color, cork cancel, Very Fine, with 2019 P.S.A.G. certificate (VF 80)
24c Steel Blue (70b). Rich color, well-struck Boston large "Paid" grid cancel, Very Fine, with 1963 and 2001 (as 70d) P.F. certificates, with 2014 P.F. certificate as 70b
24c Steel Blue (70b). Well-centered, bright shade, vivid red grid cancel, reperfed at left, Extremely Fine appearance
24c Violet, Thin Paper (70c). Lovely color, neat strike of open bar grid cancel, reperfed at right, appears Very Fine
24c Violet, Thin Paper (70c). Beautifully centered, fresh color in the true "Cincinnati Violet" shade, cancelled by clear strike of blue "Cincinnati O. Jul. 16" double-circle datestamp and part of duplex grid, slight crease and tiny tear at upper left, Extremely Fine appearance, with 1972 P.F. certificate
30c Orange (71). Block of four, original gum, top pair hinged and bottom pair very lightly hinged, near perfect centering, brilliant fresh color on bright white paper
EXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF THE 30-CENT 1861 ISSUE—ONE OF THE TWO FINEST BLOCKS.
As this block demonstrates, the 30c 1861 plate left very little space between the stamp subjects. Consequently, perforations usually cut into part of the design. This fact is acknowledged in both the Scott Catalogue and Stamp Market Quarterly, and the 30c 1861-68 Issue is one of the few for which which centering standards are adjusted accordingly.
This block is one of approximately ten different blocks we have located in past auctions. It was originally joined with the equally superb block of four in our sale of the Alan B. Whitman collection (Sale 968). This block was originally positioned to the right of the ex-Whitman block. It is possible that these and a few other 30c 1861 blocks were part of a larger multiple, but this and the Whitman blocks have superior centering to any others.
Ex Lilly, Klein, Zoellner and Hall. With 1968 and 1998 P.F. certificates.
30c Orange (71). Horizontal pair, original gum, h.r., fresh color, left stamp with short perf at bottom, otherwise Fine, with 2015 P.F. certificate, SCV $5,750
30c Orange (71). Well-centered, bright color, bold 7-point Star in Octagon fancy cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2014 P.F. and 2016 P.S.A.G. certificates (90 used)
90c Blue (72). Bright color and crisp paper nicely complemented by red New York grid cancel, well-balanced margins
EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1861 ISSUE. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH THE RED CANCEL.
Ex Saadi. With 1991 P.F. certificate. SCV $750.
90c Blue (72). Beautifully balanced margins, brilliant color, blue Cincinnati O. circular datestamp cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful used example of the 1861 issue top value with a blue cancel, with 2006 and 2011 P.F. certificates, SCV $685
2c Black (73). Block of six, top stamps Mint N.H., others lightly hinged, detailed impression on bright paper, well-balanced margins
EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL BLOCK OF SIX OF THE 2-CENT BLACK JACK ISSUE, CONTAINING THREE MINT NEVER-HINGED STAMPS.
Blocks collectors are well familiar with the conundrum of the 2c Black Jack, which is readily available in multiples but almost always with average or poor centering. Most multiples with centering such as this have been broken to feed collector demand for high-quality singles—not to mention Mint N.H. high-quality singles.
With 2014 P.S.E. certificate. Scott value $3,500 as hinged block of four and pair.
2c Black (73). Horizontal block of ten, original gum (four slightly disturbed), intense shade and proof-like impression on crisp white paper, choice centering throughout, second vertical row from right natural vertical gum crease
EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL BLOCK OF TEN OF THE 1863 2-CENT BLACK JACK ISSUE.
As mentioned in the previous lot, blocks collectors are well familiar with the conundrum of the 2c Black Jack, which is readily available in multiples but almost always with average or poor centering. Most multiples with centering such as this have been broken to feed collector demand for high-quality singles. This spectacular block was featured in our firm's 500th sale and also in our 1983, 1986, 2012 and 2016 Rarities sales.
With 2012 P.F. certificate. Scott value $6,250 as two blocks of four and pair
2c Black, Triple Transfer (73 var). Original gum with bottom selvage and straddle-pane margin at right with divider mark, showing the clear triple transfer at top and bottom, detailed impression, Very Fine, this variety is listed but unpriced in Scott, accompanied by a photograph highlighting the variety and a lengthy 1969 letter from our firm explaining the triple transfer to a prospective bidder prior to the Matthies sale (realized $350), ex Matthies and Faust
2c Black (73). Choice centering with Jumbo margins, neat strike of 1866 Pa. double-circle datestamp, Extremely Fine, ex Kirke and Morton, with 2004 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90 Jumbo)
2c Black (73). Irregular block of ten, double-circle datestamp cancels and some manuscript as well at center, some adherences on back from an old document, few thin specks and one with light corner crease, overall Fine appearance and better condition than often seen with large used multiples, rare in this size as well (the largest recorded used multiple is a block of 12), Scott value $6,650 as two blocks of four and a pair
3c Scarlet (74). Original gum, minor hinge remnants, bright color, light paper wrinkling caused by hinging, nibbed perf at top, small mark on neck
FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE VERY SCARCE 3-CENT SCARLET TRIAL PRINTING.
This stamp is much fresher than usually found.
5c Red Brown (75). Choice centering, rich fiery color nicely complemented by red grid cancel, Extremely Fine, ex Saadi, with 1989 P.F. and 2014 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85)
15c Black (77). Unused (no gum), centered to bottom right, rich shade and sharp impression on fresh paper, Fine, with 1973 P.F. certificate
24c Lilac (78). Original gum, lightly hinged, radiant color, attractive centering for an original-gum example of this stamp, fresh and Fine, with 2015 and 2017 P.S.E. certificates (latter OGph, F 70), SCV $2,750
24c Lilac (78). Remarkably wide margins, rich color, cancelled by perfect bold strike of Geometric Cogwheel fancy cancel (Skinner-Eno GE-P 70), Extremely Fine, a spectacular stamp, ex Diamond, with 2013 P.F. certificate SCV $400
24c Dark Lilac (78 var). Enormous straddle-pane margin at right with centerline and large portion of stamp from adjacent pane, intense color, bold strike of Rosette cancel of Alexandria Va., Extremely Fine, a magnificent stamp, ex Geisler, with 2002 P.F. certificate, SCV $400
24c Grayish Lilac (78a). Vertical strip of three, nicely centered with fresh color, bold red circle of wedges cancels, Very Fine and choice, Scott value $1,275 as singles