Vignettes
Commentaries on Items in the Gross Collection
⇚ Select other Commentaries here (16 available)October 6, 2020 — Charles F. Shreve
1228 - The William H. Gross Collection: United States 1847 First Issue
Two disparate events in time, yet inextricably linked.
The William H. Gross Collection
As United States stamp collectors know, July 1, 1847, is one of the most important dates in U.S. philately—the day the first two general issue postage stamps, the 5¢ Franklin and 10¢ Washington, were placed on sale. For most of their nearly 175-year existence, these classically designed stamps have fascinated people, from the public who used them to mail letters to the collectors who sought them for albums.
The 1847 Issue presents collectors with a cavernous mountain of material: proofs from the dies and plates; distinctive impressions and colors produced from five different printings of the 5¢ stamp; plate varieties, such as double transfers so striking they look like double impressions; unusual cancels, including markings carried over from the stampless period, as well the new “killers,” as they were called by postal officials, because they rendered a stamp dead for reuse; and, a wide range of covers that show the evolving modes of transportation and postal reforms of the era.
When one mentions virtually any one of the past titans of United States philately—Emerson, Ackerman, Gibson, Caspary, Newbury, Rust, Grunin, Kapiloff and Ishikawa—the names are synonymous with important collections of the 1847 Issue. One might say that the true greatness of a classic U.S. collection may be measured just by looking at the 1847s.
In totality, the William H. Gross collection of the 1847 Issue is, by any measure, the most comprehensive, and certainly the most valuable, ever formed. It is doubtful that anyone will be able to recreate the 1847 collection amassed by Mr. Gross.
Almost from the beginning of his entry into the stamp hobby, Mr. Gross was drawn to and fascinated by important 1847 items. So, he began his quest to build not only a major 1847 collection, but also to create exhibit presentations that garnered some of the highest awards in philately.
With this sale, the Gross 1847 collection will now be fully dispersed into the hands of the future titans of philately—some who are well on their way, and some who have just started on their quest towards greatness.
Returning to the two inextricably linked dates, one is July 1, 1847, and the other is October 14, 1992—a random date to be sure, but one that forever changed our personal lives. It was a week before our Ivy, Shreve & Mader 1992 Autumn sale, when Bill first introduced himself to us and participated as a bidder in his first important stamp auction. At that moment, we began a relationship that has lasted 28 years.
Much more than just a client, Bill became a friend who placed so much trust in us that it left us speechless. His trust and support opened doors and presented opportunities that we could never have experienced without him. We are forever grateful, and we want others to know that Bill Gross is not only one of the greatest philatelists of all time, but a remarkable friend as well.
CHARLES F. SHREVE
TRACY L. CAREY