Sale 1090 — United States, Possessions and Confederate States Stamps and Postal History
Sale Date — Wednesday-Friday, 17-19 December, 2014
Category — 1869 Pictorial Issue (Scott 112-122)
1c-15c 1869 Pictorial Issue, Fancy Cancels (113, 114, 116, 118, 123). Eight stamps, each with a better cancel, incl. three No. 113 with 5-Point Star, Geometric Bars and Triangles and "HIOGO/JAPAN" double-circle handstamp, two No. 114 with Eagle and Shield fancy cancel of Corry Pa. and negative Masonic on Apple of Appleton Wis., No. 116 with "B62" in barred oval cancel of Hong Kong, No. 118 with blue boxed 1869 ribbon-marker datestamp (possibly a railroad route agent's marking but certificate declines opinion), finally No. 123 with negative large "J", a few small flaws to be found but overall attractive strikes, some of these are rarely seen, several ex Dr. Heimburger, three P.F. certificates accompany
1c-12c 1869 Pictorial Issue (112-117). Two 10c, one of which is cancelled by quartered cork and tied by "New Orleans La. Sep. 6" circular datestamp on small piece, Sep. 1870 French transit, other 10c with blue target, all but 3c are well-centered, a few trivial imperfections, overall a Very Fine group
1c Buff (112). Mint N.H., beautiful rich color, wide marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A HANDSOME MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
With 2011 P.S.E. certificate (VF 80). SMQ does not price this stamp in Mint N.H. condition. Scott Retail as hinged
1c Buff (112). Disturbed original gum, bright color, Very Fine, with 1981 P.F. and 2010 P.S.E. certificates, the former as "original gum"
1c Buff (112). Block of four, original gum, h.r., deep rich color, fresh and Fine, attractive block, ex Frelinghuysen
2c Brown (113). Top imprint and plate no. 28 block of 12, Positions 5-6 and 8-10 Mint N.H., other positions lightly hinged, gorgeous rich color, choice centering and margins incl. portions of all 12 surrounding stamps, bright and freshVERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE. A SPECTACULAR AND EXCEPTIONALLY RARE TOP POSITION IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF 12 OF THE 2-CENT 1869 ISSUE WITH FOUR MINT NEVER-HINGED STAMPS. ONE OF THE MOST OUTSTANDING CLASSIC UNITED STATES PLATE BLOCKS.
Apart from a block of 70, we have offered only two other plate number blocks of Scott 113 since we began keeping computerized records in 1992 -- both were blocks of six without the imprint and had only Very-Good-Fine centering.
With 2012 P.F. certificate. A plate block of ten is listed in Scott but is unpriced. This format of 12 is unlisted
2c Yellow Brown (113 var). Block of sixteen, original gum, bright shade, few perf separations sensibly reinforced, pos. 12 diagonal crease, pos. 14 and 16 thin spotsFINE APPEARANCE. A RARE AND DESIRABLE BLOCK OF SIXTEEN OF THE 2-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE IN THE YELLOW BROWN SUB-SHADE.
As a review of Power Search shows, multiples larger than a block of four are rare.
Ex Dr. Heimburger. Scott Retail $15,000.00 as four blocks of four
2c Brown (113). Original gum, rich color on fresh paper, balanced margins, Very Fine and choice, ex Curtis, with 1991 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, VF-XF 85; SMQ $950.00)
2c Brown (113). Jumbo margins and almost mathematically perfect centering, fresh color on bright paper, cork cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp in every respect, ex Merlin, with 1991 P.F. and 2010 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $2,000.00 as 98), this is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by only one other
3c Ultramarine (114). Mint N.H., rich color and sharp impression on pristine white paper, Very Fine, with 2011 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as hinged
3c Ultramarine, Split Grill (114 var). Mint N.H., bright and fresh, Very Fine, with photocopy of a 1985 P.F. certificate for a block of four, Scott Retail as hinged
3c Ultramarine, Split Grill (114 var). Mint N.H., fresh and bright color, grill split horizontally, Very Fine, Scott Retail as hinged
6c Ultramarine (115). Original gum, nearly full with small amount of gum loss in bottom right corner, well-balanced margins, expertly reperfed at right, Very Fine appearance, with 2012 P.F. certificate
6c Ultramarine (115). Unused (no gum), wide margins, fresh color, Very Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate
6c Ultramarine (115). Bold strike of blue grid cancel, well-centered, Very Fine, with 1991 P.F. certificate
10c Yellow (116). Original gum, vibrant color, well-centered amid wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A SELECT QUALITY ORIGINAL-GUM TEN-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL.
With 1991 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E certificates (OGh VF-XF 85).
12c Green (117). Unused (no gum), wide margins, rich color, Very Fine and choice, with 2006 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85)
12c Green (117). Incredibly wide straddle-pane margins with large portion of stamp from adjacent pane, cork cancel, Very Fine and striking, with 1983 P.F. certificate
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. I (118). Original gum, lightly hinged, wide margins and attractive centering, fresh colorsVERY FINE. A DESIRABLE SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1869 15-CENT TYPE I.
With 2009 P.S.E. and 2013 P.F. certificates
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. I (118). Bright colors, Jumbo margins all around, bold strike of large grid cancel, Extremely Fine, a huge stamp, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90 Jumbo; SMQ $950.00 as 90, $1,400.00 as 95)
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II (119). Original gum, rich colors, reperfed at top, Very Fine appearance, with 2006 P.F. certificate
24c Green & Violet (120). Unused (no gum), vibrant colors, trivial perf crease, otherwise a Fine example of this scarce unused stamp, with 2011 P.F. certificate
24c Green & Violet (120). Two, first rich colors on bright paper, bold strike of blue cork cancel, fresh and Fine, second nicely complemented by deep red cork cancel, few creases, Fine appearance, attractive pair of stamps with colored cancels
24c Green & Violet, Center Inverted (120b). Bright colors, unusually choice centering for this difficult issue, light strike of rosette cancel leaves entire design clearly visibleEXTREMELY FINE. THIS STAMP HAS BEEN WIDELY ACKNOWLEDGED AS THE FINEST USED EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL INVERT IN EXISTENCE. THE COLORS ARE FRESH, THE MARGINS ARE BALANCED, THE ROSETTE CANCEL IS LIGHT, AND IT IS COMPLETELY SOUND. A TRULY PHENOMENAL STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT.
Our census of 24c 1869 Inverts, recently updated at our website at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/120b/120b.pdf , contains four unused, 83 used singles, one used pair, one on cover and the unique block of four, for a total of 94 copies of the perforated 24c Invert. Of these, only five qualify as "centered" and of these four are either reperfed or have margins added. This stamp stands alone as being sound and centered.
Census No. 120b-CAN-C01. Ex Moody, "Ambassador", Grunin and Eubanks. With 1999 and 2010 P.F. certificates.
30c Ultramarine & Carmine (121). Original gum, intense colors, exceptionally well-centered with nicely balanced margins all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE. A WONDERFUL STAMP IN TERMS OF GUM, COLOR, CENTERING, FRESHNESS OF PAPER AND IMPRESSION.
The rarity of centered original-gum examples of the 30c 1869 with grill is somewhat obscured by the availability of off-center copies of the 30c with and without grill. If the scope were narrowed to Scott 121 only, and only grades of Very Fine or Extremely Fine were considered, we estimate that fewer than 15 examples would be counted. Among the qualifying stamps, this is without question one of the finest.
Ex Silver Lake and Hoffman. With 2001 P.F. certificate
30c Ultramarine & Carmine (121). Original gum described on most recent certificate as slightly disturbed, wide margins, attractive colors, Fine, with 2000 ("previously hinged") and 2013 P.F. certificates
30c Ultramarine & Carmine (121). Unused (no gum), vibrant colors, very wide margins all around, Extremely Fine, with 1989 and 1999 P.F. certificates
30c Ultramarine & Carmine (121). Exceptionally well-centered within wide margins, pastel colors, clear Japanese "X" cancel and bold cork bottom left, small thin spot and some very faint edge toning at right, otherwise Extremely Fine, scarce
90c Carmine & Black (122). Unusual variety showing excess ink in the bottom margin, below the "Y", lightly cancelled, attractive color, small faults, Fine appearance