Sale 1115 — A European Connoisseur's Collection of U.S. Classic Issues
Sale Date — Tuesday, 15 December, 2015
Category — 5c 1847 Issue, Off-Cover (Scott 1)
5c Brown (1). Large part original gum, large to huge even margins including bottom sheet margin, gorgeous dark rich color and sharp impression on fresh paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE IN SUPERB CONDITION. ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL 5-CENT 1847 STAMPS WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED, AND ITS FRESH COLOR IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT WAS PLACED IN THE COLLECTOR'S ALBUM HALF A CENTURY AGO AND HAS SEEN VERY LITTLE OF THE LIGHT OF DAY.
With 2015 P.S.E. certificate (POG, XF-Superb 95). The highest P.S.E. grade for Scott 1 (Red Brown or Brown) is 95 for NG/RG/POG categories (3 total, without differentiating between no gum/regummed or part original gum -- a big difference), and for OGph the highest grade is 90. The Dark Brown, Scott 1a, is separately listed with OGph 98J (2) and OGnh 95 (1) but none listed for 90 or 95 in OGph category. Applying the SMQ value to this stamp is problematic. As Scott 1 in OGph 90 grade, the value is $13,500.00, but this stamp is a higher grade and has part original gum. For Scott 1a in OGph 95 the SMQ is $24,000.00, but since no such stamp exists for that grade and gum category, the value does not have a true market basis. With all that said, the stamp offered here should have a fair market value of at least $10,000 to $15,000, which should eventually translate into an SMQ value after the auction.
5c Red Brown (1). Position 10L1, from the top right corner of the left pane with top right interpane margins, large margins all around including part of adjoining stamp at left, lightly struck red square grid cancel, strongly blued paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN OUTSTANDING CORNER-MARGIN EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE.
Large corner-margin examples of the 5c 1847 Issue are extremely rare, and we have offered only a few in sound condition. The top margin of this stamp is one of the largest we have encountered.
Ex Lehman
5c Red Brown (1). Large even margins all around, incredibly beautiful rich early color and impression on bluish paper, strong reddish-orange hue with lovely contrasting blue Philadelphia "5 cts" integral-rate circular datestamp, Extremely Fine Gem, an outstanding stamp with unusual depth of color, with 2015 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,300.00)
5c Brown (1). Large even margins all around, beautiful dark shade and crisp early impression, cancelled by sock-on-the-nose blue grid cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, an unusually choice 5c 1847, with 2015 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,300.00)
5c Red Brown (1). Huge margins all around, bright shade, cancelled by clear strike of New York City red square grid in an early state, tiny extraneous ink spot in left margin not mentioned on certificate, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2015 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,300.00)
5c Red Brown (1). Large to huge margins including part of adjoining stamp at bottom, dark shade, sharp impression, cancelled by red grid and blue handstamp, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2015 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,300.00)
5c Red Brown (1). Large to huge margins including frameline of adjoining stamp above, dark shade, cancelled by red town circular datestamp, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2015 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,300.00)
5c Red Brown (1). Large margins including bottom sheet margin, intense dark shade and sharp impression, cancelled by vivid red St. Louis integral-rate circular datestamp with the "10" slanted numeral perfectly struck at the center of the stamp, Extremely Fine Gem, an exceptionally beautiful 5c 1847 stamp
5c Red Brown (1). Large even margins all around, sensational deep rich color and sharp impression from the First Printing, light strike of red grid cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, accompanied by Aug. 1847 folded letter from which this stamp was removed
5c Red Brown (1). Large margins all around, bright shade, cancelled by red town circular datestamp, fresh and Extremely Fine, a lovely 5c 1847 with red town cancel, ex Charlton Henry
5c Red Brown (1). Large to huge margins, bright shade, cancelled by red New York circular datestamp, Extremely Fine, ex Caspary
5c Red Brown (1). Large even margins, deep shade, face-free red grid cancel, Extremely Fine, Senf purple backstamp (old-time German dealer)
5c Red Brown (1). Full to large margins, rich color, red grid cancel, Very Fine and choice
5c Red Brown (1). Huge even margins, bright shade and sharp impression from the cleaned plate, red grid cancel, faint and truly negligible small faint stain spot at top not mentioned on certificate, still Extremely Fine, with 2015 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $650.00)
5c Red Brown (1). Large even margins, extraordinary First Printing color and impression, cancelled by New York City red square grid, tiny blue ink spot in right margin, Extremely Fine, a lovely 5c 1847 Issue
5c Red Brown (1). Large even margins, rich color, bright red grid cancel, vertical crease, otherwise Extremely Fine
5c Orange Brown (1b). Large even margins, vivid shade on bluish paper, cancelled by perfect strike of "PAID" straightline -- a level and full strike on the stamp with both of Franklin's eyes peering out -- remarkably freshEXTREMELY FINE GEM. IN A COLLECTION FILLED WITH BEAUTIFUL STAMPS, THIS 5-CENT 1847 ORANGE BROWN STANDS OUT AS ONE OF THE MOST PERFECT COMBINATIONS OF COLOR, CONDITION AND CANCELLATION.
Scott 1b comes in a variety of shades belonging to the 5c 1847 Orange Brown family, ranging from the deep First Printing color to the late, somewhat washed out Orange Brown. The stamp offered here was printed in a brilliant shade of Orange Brown, and its color was preserved thanks to a lifetime of almost uninterrupted sheltering from light and atmospheric influences. This stamp's beauty goes well beyond numerical grading.
With 2015 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $3,700.00). There are ten Scott 1b stamps graded 95, and none better, but we dare say that if this were compared to the other nine, there would be no comparison. Power Search helps support this statement.
5c Orange Brown (1b). Huge margins all around including left sheet margin, bright color accentuated by vivid red grid cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT SHEET-MARGIN EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ORANGE BROWN.
Ex Klep. Small red backstamp does not show thru. With 2015 P.F. certificate graded XF-Superb 95 XQ (denoting Exceptional Quality)
5c Orange Brown (1b). Full to large margins, bright shade, cancelled by blue Baltimore datestamp and red "5" numeral handstamp, small thin spot at bottom, Very Fine and choice appearance, a colorful 5c 1847 stamp