Sale 1062 — The Golden Oak Collection of Superb United States
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 17-18 December, 2013
Category — 1861-66 Issue, cont. (Scott 71-78c)
30c Orange (71). Enormous margins all around - together with the shade, paper and cancel, this closely resembles its 1875 Re-Issue counterpart (but the P.F. has ruled Scott 71 more than once)EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 30-CENT ISSUE, WHICH IS SURELY ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES EXTANT.
Ex Dr. Morris. With 1992 P.F. and 1995 P.S.E. certificates
30c Orange (71). Vivid color nicely complemented by magenta grid cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 1988 and 2009 P.F. certificates (VF 80), the grade does not adequately convey the scarcity of this issue with a magenta cancel
30c Orange (71). Well-centered, bright early shade, neat San Francisco cogwheel cancel, Very Fine and choice, ex LeBow
30c Orange (71). Bright shade, cancelled by unusual Geometric fancy cancel applied on New York foreign mail, light creases, Extremely Fine strike of this unusual cancel
90c Blue (72). Rich color, Jumbo margins, bold circle of V's cancel, Extremely Fine, scarce with such wide margins
90c Pale Blue (72a). Pretty shade, wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 90-CENT IN THE PALE BLUE SUB-SHADE. A SURPRISINGLY DIFFICULT SHADE TO OBTAIN IN BETTER CONDITION.
A review using Power Search found that we have only offered six unused and used examples of this shade since keeping computerized records. A review of the Philatelic Foundation's online records found a slightly greater supply, but most tend to be either defective or poorly centered.
With 1983 and 1998 P.F. certificates
90c Dark Blue (72b). Deep shade and proof-like impression, two neat strikes of circular datestamp, unusually choice centering with Jumbo marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN ABSOLUTELY STUNNING USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 90-CENT IN THE DESIRABLE DARK BLUE SUB-SHADE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED SUPERB 95 JUMBO BY P.S.E..
The Dark Blue shade of the 90c is the only shade which trends towards the deeper end of the color spectrum, while the other shades--Blue, Dull Blue and Pale Blue--all trend towards the brighter end of the spectrum. In our opinion this is the most difficult shade to obtain in such choice condition. We have offered only eight unused and used examples since the mid-1990's, and most of those were faulty. The Philatelic Foundation has certified less than a dozen unused or used in the past decade, and most have either heavy cancels or flaws. The example offered here, with unusually choice centering, rich color, and in sound condition, is possibly the finest used copy in existence.
With 2002 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $6,500.00 as 95, unpriced as 98). This is the highest grade awarded and the only example to achieve it. As an indication of what this may catalogue as 98, the normal shade catalogues $14,000.00 in that grade and $4,000.00 as a 95, so if applying the same multiplier this should catalogue $22,750.00 as a 98.
2c Black (73). Intense shade and impression, well-centered, blue Circle of Diamonds cancel, Very Fine and choice, a beautiful stamp, ex Haas and Dr. Morris, with 1989 P.F. certificate
2c Black (73). Dark shade and detailed impression, gorgeous strike of red Star in Circle fancy cancel of New York City, Very Fine, a stunning stamp with tremendous visual appeal, with 1999 P.F. certificate
3c Scarlet (74). Bold strike of "D" oval grid duplex cancel of New York City, brilliant color, single pulled perf and small corner crease at top rightFINE APPEARANCE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT SCARLET CANCELLED BY THE NEW YORK CITY OVAL DUPLEX CANCELLATION. ONLY A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF THIS ISSUE WERE ACTUALLY SENT THROUGH THE MAILS.
As documented by Jerome S. Wagshal in a series of Chronicle articles (Nos. 56, 60, 61 and 62), Carl F. Rothfuchs, a Washington D.C. stamp dealer, obtained a supply of the 3c Scarlet in 1893 -- probably from the Post Office Department in exchange for his assistance with the Columbian Exposition -- and sold them with pen marks and original gum. A small number were also used by J. W. Scott, who posted letters with some of his supply to validate his claim that these stamps were legitimate postage. Today, there are perhaps five copies cancelled in this manner. We offered one in 2001 (Twigg-Smith collection), and another in our recent sale of the Wagshal collection.
Ex Natalee Grace. With 1994 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as with the more common penstrokes cancel
3c Scarlet (74). Four neat pen strokes, original gum, h.r., vivid bright color, well-centered with unusually wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 3-CENT SCARLET TRIAL PRINTING.
As documented by Jerome S. Wagshal in a series of Chronicle articles (Nos. 56, 60, 61 and 62), Carl F. Rothfuchs, a Washington D.C. stamp dealer, obtained a supply of the 3c Scarlet in 1893 -- probably from the Post Office Department in exchange for his assistance with the Columbian Exposition -- and sold them with pen marks and original gum. This example is particularly well-centered. Many have faults or perfs in on one or more sides.
With 1975 P.F. certificate.
5c Bright Red Brown (75 var). Brilliant color on the extreme fiery end of the color spectrum, unobtrusive red circular datestamps, well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE. THIS REMARKABLE STAMP IS THE ONLY EXAMPLE OF THE 1862 5-CENT CERTIFIED BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION AS A BRIGHT RED BROWN. A PHENOMENAL RARITY.
Brookman notes that this issue is known in Red Brown and Dark Brown, and those two shades are listed in Scott. However, we have occasionally encountered this issue with the distinctive fiery color of the stamp offered here. It is the only example certified by the P.F. as this shade.
With 1986 P.F. as normal Red Brown and 2008 P.F. certificate as Bright Red Brown (VF-XF 85). Scott Retail as normal shade.
5c Dark Red Brown (75 var). Intense color and impression nicely complemented by blue Baltimore circular datestamp, choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1862 5-CENT IN THE DARK BROWN SUB-SHADE, WITH A BEAUTIFUL COLORED CANCEL.
With 2002 P.F. certificate. Scott Catalogue does not assign a premium for the Dark Red Brown shade, even though we would classify it as scarce.
5c Red Brown (75). Intense color towards the more fiery end of the spectrum, nicely complemented by blue Baltimore circular datestamp, Extremely Fine, a stamp with wonderful visual appeal, with 1987 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown (75). Dark shade from what may be a late printing, boldly struck San Francisco cogwheel cancel, well-proportioned margins, Extremely Fine, with 1997 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown (75). Wonderful warm color, bold red circular datestamps, well-proportioned margins, Extremely Fine, a pretty stamp, with 1992 and 2009 P.F. certificates
5c Red Brown (75). Warm shade, unobtrusive strike of target cancel, fresh and Very Fine
5c Brown (76). Deep rich color, choice centering for this difficult issue, well-struck circle of wedges cancel, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1985 P.F. certificate
5c Brown (76). Bright shade, perfect strike of Star in Circle fancy cancel, small corner creases at top left, Extremely Fine appearance, very scarce with this attractive fancy cancel, with 2009 P.F. certificate
5c Dark Brown (76a). Deep rich color, unusual strike of segmented cork cancel, Extremely Fine, with 1988 P.F. certificate
24c Lilac (78). Brilliant color and crisp impression, well-struck blue circle of wedges cancel, Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp in every respect, ex Dr. Morris and Collier, with 1996 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90 Jumbo; SMQ $1,000.00 as 90, $3,500.00 as 95)
24c Lilac (78). Rich color, neat strike of target cancel, wide margins, fresh and Very Fine, with 1997 P.F. certificate
24c Grayish Lilac (78a). Deep rich color and proof-like impression, gorgeous centering with wide and balanced margins, cork cancel struck at upper left leaves entire design clearly visibleEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1863 24-CENT IN THE GRAYISH LILAC SHADE. THIS STAMP HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E., WHICH IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
With 1983 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $3,500.00). This is the highest grade awarded and only three others share this grade.
24c Grayish Lilac (78a). Choice centering, bright shade, neat red Spokes fancy cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2003 P.F. certificate
24c Grayish Lilac (78a). Radiant color, bold strike of red Rosette in Circle cancel, Very Fine and choice, an unusual cancel on a fresh stamp, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate
24c Gray (78b). Intense shade and impression, centrally-struck San Francisco cogwheel cancel, Very Fine and choice, with copy of 1988 P.F. certificate
24c Gray (78b). Rich color, bold blue circle of wedges cancel, tiny corner margin crease at bottom left, Very Fine appearance, ex Renne, with 1989 P.F. certificate
24c Blackish Violet (78c). Intense color, neat strike of target cancel, three well-proportioned margins, extra wide margin at topVERY FINE AND CHOICE. THE 24-CENT BLACKISH VIOLET IS THE MOST DIFFICULT STAMP OF THE 1861-66 SERIES TO OBTAIN -- EITHER UNUSED OR USED -- IN SOUND AND CENTERED CONDITION.
A thorough search through past auction catalogues will demonstrate how rare this stamp is in either used or unused condition. With regard to used stamps, this shade was lacking from the Ishikawa, Grunin, Klein, Caspary and Twigg-Smith collections. The Zoellner collection contained an original-gum single even though the rest of the series was obtained in used condition, because a suitable used stamp was never offered. The superb used single in our Sale 878 (lot 324, realized $22,000 hammer) was stolen from a Fedex courier and has not been recovered.
Our census of Scott 78c, available at our website at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/78c/78c.pdf , records a total of 36 used examples of this issue, of which only 31 have been certified as genuine by the Philatelic Foundation. We also record nine on cover plus three unused, for a total of 48 potential examples. Of the used off cover copies only ten are confirmed as sound.
Census No. 78c-CAN-05. Ex Hoffner. With 2002 P.F. certificate.