Sale 982 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Friday, 16-18 December, 2009
Category — Postmasters Provisionals
Brattleboro Vt., 5c Black on Buff (5X1). Position 5 from the upper right corner of the sheet of ten, large margins all around, guideline at left and bottom right, trace of adjoining stamp also shows at bottom, a marvelous deep impression with every line of engraving printed in perfect clarity, tied at lower right by vivid red "Paid" straightline on small piece of coverEXTREMELY FINE GEM. ONE OF THE THREE FINEST EXAMPLES OF THE BRATTLEBORO POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL STAMP, OF WHICH A TOTAL OF 32 ARE KNOWN OFF COVER, INCLUDING FIVE SOUND COPIES.
Of the 32 off-cover Brattleboro stamps recorded by Philip T. Wall, five are sound. Only three of the five have four full margins (the framelines are touched on two others). These three sound four-margin stamps are as follows: 1) Position 5, tied by red "Paid" on piece, the example offered here, last sold in our 2000 Rarities sale for $32,500 hammer; 2) Position 1, red "Paid", offered as part of the Lapham-Colson-Wall reconstruction, Christie's Oct. 12, 1989 sale, lot 628; and 3) Position 9, light red manuscript control mark, offered as part of the Lapham-Colson-Wall reconstruction (Christie's Oct. 12, 1989 sale, lot 628) and in our Sale 826, lot 103. In addition to the off-cover stamps recorded by Wall, there are six sound stamps still on covers.
With 2000 P.F. certificate. The Scott Catalogue value of $11,000.00 does not reflect a transaction involving any of the sound stamps.
New York N.Y., 5c Black, "A.C.M." Initials (9X1b). Large margins, intense shade and impression which is nicely complemented by blue ms. cancelEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT NEW YORK POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL WITH THE A.C.M. SIGNATURE.
With 2004 P.F. certificate.
Providence R.I., 5c Gray Black (10X1). Mint N.H., Position 11, large margins with sheet margin at bottom, detailed impression, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp in every respect, PSE encapsulated (XF-Superb 95; unlisted in SMQ), Scott Retail as hinged
Providence R.I., 5c Gray Black (10X1). Original gum, large margins incl. sheet margin at right, bright shade, Very Fine and choice