Sale 1242 — The Gordon Eubanks Collection: United States 1851 to 1856 Imperforate Issue
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 12-13 October, 2021
Category — Three-Cent: Dull Red and Shades, Types I, II (Scott 11-11A)
3c Rose Red, Type II (11A). Plate 3, complete right pane of 100 with full "Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co. BANK NOTE ENGRAVERS. Phila. New York. Boston & Cincinnati" imprint and "No. 3" plate number, nearly complete centerline at left, disturbed original gum, sealed tear in bottom selvage and creases, small toned spot on one stamp in middle, also some slight overall toning as is typical of large pieces in the 1853-54 Rose Red shadesAN EXTREMELY RARE COMPLETE PANE OF 100 OF THE 1851 3-CENT ISSUE IN THE ROSE RED SHADE. A MARVELOUS EXHIBITION PIECE.
As far back as our 1966 Rarities sale we reported that only three complete panes of the 3c 1851 Issue were known. This number was also stated in Brookman. We can account for two other complete panes. One is from Plate 1 Late, offered in our 1966 and 1979 Rarities sales and most recently offered by Cherrystone in the "New Amsterdam" sale in 2019. The Plate 1 Late pane is in inferior condition to the pane offered here. The other pane is from Plate 3 (Right) and is part of the Harry L. Jefferys collection donated to the Franklin Institute and currently on display at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum.
Ex Rust and Piller, and from our 1966 Rarities of the World sale. Illustrated in Brookman Vol. I (p. 133).
3c Brownish Carmine, Type I (11). Mint N.H. block of four, pristine gum without the tiny disturbances often encountered on otherwise Mint N.H. examples of this issue, intense color and post office fresh, large margins to clear at all pointsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN INCREDIBLY RARE SOUND, MINT NEVER-HINGED BLOCK OF THE 3-CENT 1851 TYPE I IN THE BROWNISH CARMINE SHADE. A SPECTACULAR SHOWPIECE.
A Power Search review found one irregular block of five that is never-hinged but with small gum disturbance spots. It is also cut into in several places. Other than that block and this one, we have sold no Mint N.H. blocks of Types I or II since at least 1993.
Ex Kirke. With 2011 P.F. and P.S.E. certificates (latter XF-Superb 95; blocks unpriced in SMQ). Scott value of $2,000.00 for a hinged block of four does not remotely convey the rarity of this Mint N.H. block.
3c Claret, Type I (11). Positions 65-67R4 and 75-77R4, block of six formed from two rejoined strips of three, original gum, h.r., rich color, few flaws, Fine appearance, Scott value $2,200.00 as two strips of three
3c Brownish Carmine, Type I (11). Vertical pair, original gum, bottom stamp Mint N.H., massive margins including part imprint left sheet margin and large portions of four adjoining stamps at right and bottom, framelines of adjoining stamps captured at top, rich color, fresh in every respectEXTREMELY FINE GEM PART IMPRINT PAIR OF THE 1851 3-CENT BROWNISH CARMINE. A STRIKING AND SUPERB POSITION PIECE.
While we would certainly discourage anyone from cutting apart this beautiful pair, either of these two stamps alone would grade Gem 100
3c Dull Red, Type I (11). Three used singles from Plate 4, including two examples of Position 51L4--one without plate number and other with plate number "4" reversed, third is Position 50R4 showing the correct orientation of the "4" of plate no., few flaws including first with bottom corner repaired, otherwise Fine-Very Fine, a wonderful and rare study of the three different states of the plate number from Plate 4, ex Dr. Amonette
3c Claret, Type I (11). Position 10R6, unused (no gum), massive top right corner sheet margins, with portions of three adjoining stamps at bottom and left, bright color, the partial stamp at left has a small thin spot which is utterly inconsequential since it is far from the full stamp but is mentioned on accompanying certificate, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb position single of the 3c 1851 in the Claret shade, ex Haas and Grunin, with 1972 and 2005 P.F. certificates
3c Brownish Carmine, Type I (11). Position 1R7, huge top left corner interpane margins with centerline, large margin at right and full at bottom, rich color, light circular datestamp cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, ex W. A. Fox ("Renard"), with 2006 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95)
3c Dull Red, Type I (11). Position 100L7, huge margins to full including bottom right corner interpane margins with centerline, significant portion of adjoining stamp at top, bright color, neat circular datestamp, Extremely Fine
3c Dull Red, Type II (11A). Position 1R2L, huge margins including top left corner straddle-pane margin and centerline, portion of stamp in adjoining pane present, other sides full to clear, Very Fine and choice
3c Dull Red, Type II (11A). The famous Chase corner copy, Position 10R2 (recut button variety) with full top right corner sheet margins measuring 17-1/2 mm at top and 16 mm at right, neatly tied by "Urbana O. Mar. 18" circular datestamp on small cover to Peoria Ill.EXTREMELY FINE AND TRULY REMARKABLE. CONSIDERED BY MANY TO BE THE FINEST SINGLE COPY OF THE 3-CENT 1851 STAMP ON OR OFF COVER.
The sheet margins on this stamp are the largest recorded for the 3c 1851. One other copy, also on cover, has comparably sized sheet margins, but it is cut into on one other side and is not nearly as impressive as this Chase example.
Ex Dr. Chase, Grunin and Zoellner.
3c Dull Red, Type II (11A). Position 2R1L, massive Jumbo margins all around, bright color, unobtrusive circular datestamp cancels, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp, 2010 P.S.E. certificate no longer accompanies (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $675.00)
3c Claret, Type II, Major Plate Crack (11A var). Position 94L5L, large even margins, rich color, unobtrusive circular datestamp leaves the plate crack clearly visible, Extremely Fine example of this striking plate crack, ex "Golden Oak"
3c Dull Red, Type II, Major Plate Crack (11A var). Positions 74/84/94L5L, vertical strip of three, huge margins to full including part of adjoining stamps at left, each stamp shows the crack at right, rich color, blue grid cancels, few toned spots on back, Very Fine and choice, reported to be the only strip to show the entire plate crack, according to the Chase book six examples of so-called major cracks are known from the first nine "imperforate" plates, of these six, four are found on the late state of Plate 5
3c Dull Red, Type II (11A var). Positions 91-92L1L, bottom sheet margin pair with exceptionally narrow spacing between the subjects, right stamp with dramatic line thru "Three Cents" and rosettes doubled, deep rich color which has been previously called Experimental Orange Brown--we respectfully disagree, but it is not important, since the "squeezed" plate variety and double transfer are of far greater significance--other margins to barely in at left, tied by indistinct circular datestamp on cover to Louisville Ky., letter enclosure datelined 1854 but may not belong with the cover, lightly cleaned, still Very Fine example of this dramatic double transfer
3c Dull Red, Type I (11). Margins to just in, cancelled by clear strike of red "Supplementary Mail" Type A octagonal handstamp, tiny edge thins, Very Fine strike and extremely rare on an 1851 Issue stamp, we have not encountered another, also very likely an extremely early use of the marking, with clear 1980 P.F. certificate, accompanied by a brief analysis discussing why it may pre-date the known on-cover uses by several years
3c Dull Red, Type II (11A). Positions 12-13/22-23R2L, block of four, full even margins all around, bright color, exceptionally bold strike of "Buffalo & Erie R.R. Nov. 8" route agent's circular datestamp, also additional red and black cancels, Very Fine and choice, undoubtedly rare as a used block with this cancel, with 2004 P.F. certificate
3c Brownish Carmine, Type I (11). Positions 31-34/41-44R7, two blocks of four rejoined to form a block of eight, huge margins to full at top including sheet margin at left, brilliant color, cancelled by four strikes of blue "Oberlin O. May 26" circular datestamp, horizontal crease thru both blocks, Extremely Fine appearance, a lovely reconstructed large used block, ex Waterhouse and Caspary, both of the blocks of four with 1998 P.F. certificates, Scott value $2,000.00 as two blocks
3c Plum, Type II (11A var). Positions 42-45R2, horizontal strip of four, intense color in the true Plum shade, full to large margins including portions of adjoining stamps at bottom, tied by light strikes of "New Orleans La. Mar. 7" (1857) circular datestamp on blue folded cover to New York City, docketing inside confirms the dateEXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS THE LARGEST RECORDED MULTIPLE OF THE 3-CENT 1851 PLUM SHADE. A SPECTACULAR COLOR RARITY IN EXCEPTIONAL CONDITION.
Dr. Chase stated that the Plum shade was produced in early 1857, shortly before the introduction of perforated stamps. This cover fits exactly into that time period. He also compared the shade to an intermediate shade of Scott 280 of the 1894 Issue. Some students believe that no more than 50 examples are known.
With 2003 P.F. certificate and with note of authentication on back by Dr. Amonette, who additionally states that it matches the Chase Color Chart "Medium Plum". Scott value as four off-cover singles is $8,800.00
3c Deep Purplish Claret, Type II (11A var). Full to ample margins all around, exceptional depth of color in this scarce sub-shade, tied by bold and perfect strike of "Orrville Ohio Apr. 25" circular datestamp on lady's small embossed-border cover to Salem O., Extremely Fine, wonderful quality, with 2001 P.F. certificate as "Deep Purplish Claret" -- whatever it is called, in our opinion it is a true and beautiful shade variety, which is very scarce
3c Experimental Orange Brown, Type II (11A var). Position 26R1L, bright color in this scarcer shade which comes only from Plate 1L, margins all around, tied by "Providence R.I. Jan. 26" (1852) circular datestamp, second strike of different Providence circular datestamp with 5c integral-rate on buff cover to Paris, France, "PAID" straightline indicating that the additional 2c must have been paid in cash, carried on Cunarder Asia, arriving Liverpool Feb. 7, 1852, red French entry datestamp and "13" decimes due which ties the stamp, transit and receiving backstamps including boxed handstamp indicating letter arrived unsealed, Very Fine, we have offered several dozen 3c Plate 1L Experimental Orange Brown covers and this is the only one to a foreign destination, with 2015 P.F. certificate
3c 1856 Orange Brown, Type I (11). Position 7R4, gash on shoulder variety, with top sheet margin, other sides large to touched at bottom left, brilliant color in the 1856 Orange Brown, tied by blue "Wells, Fargo & Cos. Express S. Frco. 3 May" double-circle datestamp, two additional strikes including one cancelling the indicia of 3c Red on Buff Nesbitt entire (U10) with Wells, Fargo & Co. frank, addressed to Roseburg, Oregon, 1859 docketing (just after admission as a state), Very Fine, a lovely use of this scarcer shade carried entirely outside the mails but properly franked for a double rate, with 2012 P.F. certificate
3c Claret, Type II, Double Impression (11Ae). Very pronounced doubling of "U.S. Postage" at top, two large margins to in at right and bottom, rich color which takes on a blurry appearance from the doubling, town circular datestamp cancelFINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 1851 3-CENT TYPE II IMPERFORATE WITH DOUBLE IMPRESSION. THE 3-CENT IS THE ONLY DENOMINATION OF THE 1851-56 ISSUE KNOWN WITH A DOUBLE IMPRESSION AND THIS IS ONE OF TWO OR THREE RECORDED EXAMPLES. AN IMPORTANT CLASSIC RARITY.
Most double impressions occur when the first impression is made and found to be inadequate. The paper is then put in the press a second time, where it receives the heavier impression (similar to the printed on both sides variety). It is a common misconception that the weaker impression is the second one. The newly certified example offered here is only the second we have offered. The other is ex Wagshal and was most recently offered in our 2012 sale of the "Natalee Grace" collection (Sale 1024, lot 41). That example realized $26,000 hammer despite small creases. Stanley M. Piller wrote that Dr. Carroll Chase stated that he was aware of an example from Marshall, Mich. (Chronicle 120, p. 257), but we cannot locate confirming evidence of that stamp.
With 2021 P.F. certificate