Sale 973 — 2009 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Saturday, 13 June, 2009
Category — 1869 Pictorial Issue
3c Ultramarine, Without Grill (114a). Slightly disturbed original gum, rich color and proof-like impressionVERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE WITHOUT GRILL. THE LOWER-VALUE 1869's WITHOUT GRILL ARE MUCH RARER THAN THE HIGH VALUES, AND THEY ARE SELDOM ENCOUNTERED IN CHOICE CONDITION.
We have only offered fifteen other unused examples in our computerized records, which includes all of our Rarities sales plus 15 years of auctions.
With 2009 P.S.E. certificate
3c Ultramarine, Printed on Both Sides (114e). Back printed inverted in relation to the front, part of two stamps printed at bottom, s.e. at right, cork cancel, small corner crease at top rightFINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL PRINTED ON BOTH SIDES.
Illustrated in Rose 1869 book where described as the only example known. With 2009 P.F. certificate. Listed but unpriced in Scott
12c Green (117). Bottom selvage block of nine with full "National Bank Note Co. New York imprint, original gum, naturally short gum at bottom, bright shade, couple expertly reinforced perf separationsVERY GOOD. AN EXTREMELY RARE BLOCK OF NINE OF THE 12-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE. ESPECIALLY SCARCE WITH THE IMPRINT AND SELVAGE. THIS IS THE SECOND-LARGEST UNUSED MULTIPLE.
The Rose book notes eight unused blocks, including off-center blocks of twelve and nine, three blocks of six and two blocks of four. All of the blocks of six or larger are off center.
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. I (118). Original gum, deep rich colors and clear impressions, beautiful centering for this difficult issueVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A LOVELY ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT TYPE I 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
The 15c Type I comes from the first 1869 printing; in May 1869 the 15c went to press using the second frame plate, which produced Type II.
With 1996 P.F. certificate
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. I, Double Grill (118 var). Well-centered with Jumbo margins, two clear overlapping grill impressions, bold rosette cancel, small red ink spot on back shows through slightly at lower left (probably some excess ink from a transit marking), Extremely Fine example of this rare variety, undervalued in Scott, with 2004 P.F. certificate
15c Red Brown & Blue, Ty. II, Large Die Essay on India, Vignette Mounted in Place (119-E1c). On 88 x 64mm card with full die sinkage, fresh and bright colors, few trivial toned spotsVERY FINE AND VERY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE ESSAY WITH THE VIGNETTE MOUNTED IN PLACE.
Ex Finkelburg.
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II, Center Inverted (119b). Rich color, neat strike of "Highland" circular datestamp, repaired at top left, corner perfs added at bottom left, creases, reperfed at rightVERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN AFFORDABLE AND PRESENTABLE EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE WITH CENTER INVERTED.
Our census of 1869 Inverts, published in the February 1999 Chronicle and updated with three new stamps, contains 93 examples of the 15c Invert, including three unused and 90 used (one in the British Library's Tapling collection).
Census No. 119b-CAN-CE-02. With 1956 and 2009 P.F. certificates
24c Green & Violet (120). Original gum, fresh vivid colors, well-centered with wide marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
The 24c 1869 Pictorial is readily available in original-gum condition. However, choice centering and sound paper are elusive qualities among examples of this issue.
With 1992 P.F. certificate.
30c Black, Burgoyne Plate Essay on Salmon Surface-Tinted Paper (121-E1p). Block of 20 with sheet margin at bottom and sides and imprint at bottom, large margin at top, small tear in sheet margin at leftEXTREMELY FINE AND RARE BLOCK OF THE BOTTOM TWO ROWS OF THE PLATE OF THE 30-CENT BURGOYNE PLATE ESSAY. PROBABLY UNIQUE.
Scott Retail as singles