Sale 1240 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 20-21 July, 2021
Category — 1861-66 Issue (Scott 56-78)
3c Brown Rose, First Design (56). Original gum, barely hinged, bright shade, Very Fine
1c Blue (63). Rich color, some perfs scissors-trimmed, cancelled by perfect strike of Witch fancy cancel of Salem Mass., Extremely Fine strike which is rare on the 1c stamp
3c Pink (64). Block of four, original gum, true Pink color, choice centering, right stamps light vertical crease (as often found on the Pink stamps with original gum), small tears in top left and bottom right stamps, few expertly reinforced perf separations and single short perf at upper right (last two not mentioned on accompanying certificate)VERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1861 3-CENT PINK.
Multiples of this distinctive shade are very difficult to obtain. Apart from the unique plate block of twelve (ex Zoellner) we have offered only four other blocks since keeping computerized records. None were sound.
Ex Drews and from our 1988 Rarities sale. With 1988 P.S.E. certificate. Scott value $65,000.00
3c Rose (65). Mint N.H. pair, vivid color close to the Rose Pink shade, Very Fine-Extremely Fine, with 2021 P.F. certificate, Scott value as hinged
3c Rose (65). Bottom imprint and plate no. 37 block of eight, original gum, stamps are Mint N.H. but with gum heavily and unevenly applied in some areas, h.r. in selvage, centered to left, selvage with small sealed tear and crease, appears about Fine, a scarce plate block, Scott value $4,750.00 as hinged
5c Buff (67). Radiant color nicely complemented by blue Baltimore Md. circular datestamp, choice centering for this tightly spaced issue with perfs clear of all design elements, Very Fine and choice, a lovely stamp, with 1980 and 1987 P.F. certificates
5c Buff (67). Bright shade nicely complemented by red grid cancel, choice centering but reperfed at right, Very Fine appearance, with 2021 P.F. certificate
5c Brown Yellow (67a). Block of four, top and bottom horizontal pairs rejoined horizontally, brilliant color, attractive margins and centering, cancelled by small grid of squares, top right stamp small tear at top left and tiny tear at top rightVERY FINE APPEARING AND EXTREMELY RARE BLOCK OF THE 5-CENT 1861 ISSUE BUFF OR BROWN YELLOW. ONLY FOUR BLOCKS OF FOUR ARE KNOWN FOR EITHER SHADE AND NONE ARE SOUND.
We are aware of only four blocks of four of either Scott 67 or 67a. None are known for Scott 67b. The blocks are: 1) Scott 67 with original gum, bottom stamps with crease and one stamp small repair, ex Ward, Phillips, Ishikawa and Gross (Sale 1200, lot 62); 2) Scott 67 with blue grid cancels, rejoined, ex Bechtel and Zoellner (Sale 804, lot 181); 3) Scott 67a, pen cancels on piece, small faults, ex Klein and Drews (Sale 1195, lot 131, realized $16,500 hammer); and 4) Scott 67a, grid cancels, rejoined along horizontal perfs, the block offered here. The Philatelic Foundation has only certified the one unused block.
Scott Catalogue does not list a block in the No. 67a Brown Yellow shade. Scott value $13,000.00 as No. 67 Buff used block
5c Brown Yellow (67a). Part original gum redistributed over small thin spot, bright color, single toned perf at top leftFINE APPEARANCE. A SCARCE EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1861 BROWN YELLOW SHADE WITH PART ORIGINAL GUM.
The 5c Brown Yellow and its shade varieties (Buff and Olive Yellow) are recognized as among the rarest of 1861-66 Issue stamps in original-gum condition. We have offered fewer than a dozen unused examples in any condition since keeping computerized records.
Ex Drews. With 1997 P.F. certificate. Scott value $30,000.00 as original gum
5c Brown Yellow (67a). Bright shade nicely complemented by red grid cancel, unusually well-centered, singly slight nibbed perf at top, appears Extremely Fine
5c Brown Yellow (67a). Brilliant color, well-struck grid in circle handstamp, well-proportioned margins, Very Fine and choice
5c Brown Yellow (67a). Rich color, large Boston "Paid" grid cancel, Very Fine
12c Black (69). Original gum, intense shade, attractive centering and margins, fresh and Very Fine, with 2014 P.F. certificate
24c Red Lilac (70). Original gum, small h.r., rich color, reperfed, Very Fine appearance
24c Brown Lilac (70a). Warm shade, with interpane margin and centerline at left, neat target cancel, unusually wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1991 P.F. certificate as Scott 78, Lilac shade, which it clearly is not
24c Steel Blue (70b). Bright color, face-free strike of blue rimless Baltimore datestamp, slightly short perf at left, still Very Fine
24c Violet, Thin Paper (70c). Unused, regummed over repair at top right, rich color and detailed impressionVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A SCARCE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1861 ISSUE IN THE VIOLET SHADE ON THIN PAPER, SCOTT 70c.
Ex Drews. With 2000 P.S.E. and 2018 P.F. certificates, the former not noting regumming. Scott value as no gum $13,500.00
90c Blue (72). Uncharacteristically wide margins, deep shade, lightly cancelled, Very Fine and choice, with 1988 and 2000 P.F. certificates
5c Brown (76). Original gum, warm color, well-centered but one of two certificates states reperfed at bottom, Very Fine and choice appearance, with clear 2013 P.F. certificate, with 2021 P.S.E. certificate stating reperfed
24c Grayish Lilac (78a). Pastel color nicely complemented by red quartered cork cancel, Very Fine, with 2005 P.F. certificate