Sale 1159 — 2017 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Tuesday, 27 June, 2017
Category — 1861-66 Issue (Scott 56-78)
10c Dark Green, First Design (62B). Excellent centering with wide and even margins, rich color and proof-like impression, neat grid cancelEXTREMELY FINE. A HANDSOME USED EXAMPLE OF THE FIRST DESIGN 10-CENT 1861 ISSUE. AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT STAMP TO FIND IN THIS PRISTINE CONDITION.
The 10c is the only denomination of the 1861-66 Issue that was actually issued in two types. Type I, Scott 62B, was printed from Plate 4. Type II stamps -- Scott 68 and its grilled counterparts -- were printed from Plates 15 and 26. It has been surmised that Type I was pressed into service to help fill strong demand for 10c stamps after demonetization of the earlier issue. The 10c stamps paid the transcontinental rate, the ship-letter rate and certain rates to foreign countries. The Plate 4 Type I stamps left very little space between the stamps for the 12-gauge perforation holes. Examples of Scott 62B are rarely seen with margins framing the design on all sides.
With 2000 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $4,500.00). Only two have graded higher and two have equaled this grade.
William Newton & Co., Newport R.I., 5c Precursor Fractional Currency with 1861 Issue Postage Stamps (Durand Catalog No. 679). 110 x 56mm, first issue without the imprint at bottom, with two 1c Blue (63) and one 3c Rose (65) affixed in marked spaces, each with trimmed perfs as found on each of the few known examples, printed dateline "Newport, July 4, 1862", light creases and tiny tear at top centerVERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE WILLIAM NEWTON & CO. GROCER DEALER 5-CENT FRACTIONAL CURRENCY NOTE WITH 1861 ISSUE STAMPS.
Due to a shortage of coins during the Civil War, some private firms used stamps to make change and in the process to help advertise their business. Best known among these uses are the various issues of encased postage. This note from William Newton & Co. is highly collectible as a United States stamp rarity and as a precursor to U.S. issued fractional currency (which followed in August 1862).
There are two types of the William Newton & Co. note. The first issue, offered here, is dated July 4 and lacks the imprint at the bottom. The second issue, dated July 24, states "Unless kept clean these Stamps will be useless for circulation and Post Office purposes" (see Siegel Sale 955, lot 4130 for an example of the second issue). Due to the fragile nature of the paper most of these were likely destroyed. The few known examples of both issues have creases and some are defective.
With 2005 P.F. certificate
5c Brown Yellow (67a). Original gum, h.r., radiant color in the true Brown Yellow shadeFINE. AN EXCEDINGLY RARE SOUND, ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1861-66 ISSUE IN THE BROWN YELLOW SHADE.
The 5c Buff and its shade varieties (Brown Yellow and Olive Yellow) are recognized as being among the rarest of 1861-66 Issue stamps in sound original-gum condition. Perhaps the only shade varieties rarer than the 5c Brown Yellow are the 3c Pigeon Blood Pink and 24c Blackish Violet (Scott 64a and 78c). A review of Power Search found only about a dozen other unduplicated sound, original-gum examples of the 5c Buff or Brown Yellow.
Ex "Laila". With 1972 A.P.S. and 2000 P.S.E. certificates
12c Black (69). Original gum, lightly hinged, detailed impression on bright paper, nicely balanced marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1861 ISSUE.
With 1994 and 2004 P.F. certificates
24c Red Lilac (70). Original gum, bright color and proof-like impression, well-centered with balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1861 RED LILAC.
The 1861 Issues (5c and up) are exceedingly scarce in well-centered, original-gum condition. Although one finds the 24c unused without gum in this grade, original-gum examples are often poorly centered or faulty.
With 2000 P.S.E. (as 70a Brown Lilac) and 2010 P.F. certificates
90c Blue (72). Original gum, h.r., brilliant color and detailed impression, gorgeous centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1861 ISSUE HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED AND IT IS SHARED BY NO OTHERS.
We have encountered perhaps a half-dozen sound 90c 1861 stamps with original gum and Very Fine or Extremely Fine centering. The multiples that were broken to furnish singles were generally off center.
With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (OGh, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $15,000.00). Since this stamp was graded in 2009, it has stood alone as the only original-gum copy to achieve a 95 grade
3c Scarlet (74). Unused (no gum), remarkably choice centering, brilliant color and sharp impressionVERY FINE. A MAGNIFICENT STAMP IN TERMS OF COLOR, CENTERING AND IMPRESSION. THE 3-CENT SCARLET IS EXCEEDINGLY DIFFICULT TO FIND IN SUCH PRISTINE CONDITION.
Many examples of this stamp have either somewhat faded color or poor centering. Despite the absence of gum, we would rank this stamp among the finest examples we have seen.
5c Red Brown (75). Original gum, attractive warm color, choice centering for this difficult issueVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A SCARCE SOUND AND CENTERED ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1862 ISSUE IN THE RED BROWN SHADE.
A Power Search review shows that we have offered very few sound and centered original-gum examples of this issue.
With 1985 and 2003 P.F. certificates.
5c Red Brown (75). Unused (no gum), extraordinarily deep rich color, choice centering with well-proportioned margins, Extremely Fine, with 1957 B.P.A. and 2017 P.S.E. certificates (NG, VF-XF 85; SMQ $2,500.00)
5c Red Brown (75). Vivid color, used with 10c Green and 30c Orange (68, 71), tied by segmented cork cancels and red "1d" British Colonial credit handstamp, red "Boston Br. Pkt. 40 Sep. 16" (1863) credit datestamp on blue folded letter to Port Elizabeth, Cape of Good Hope, sender's route directive "via England p. Africa" and carried on that Cunarder which departed New York Sep. 16 and arrived Queenstown Sep. 25, red London transit, Nov. 10 and 14 transit and receiving backstamps, 30c with two small vertical tears at top, Very Fine, a beautiful 1861 Issue three-color franking from the Howland correspondence, with 2017 P.F. certificate
15c Black (77). Original gum, lightly hinged, sharp proof-like impression, wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE. WITH A FEW EXCEPTIONS FOR RARE SHADES, THE 1866 15-CENT LINCOLN COULD WELL BE THE RAREST OF THE 1861-66 SERIES IN CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.
Throughout years of Siegel sales, we have emphasized the rarity of 1861-66 stamps in choice original-gum condition. With the exception of the rare 5c and 24c shades, our experience shows that the 15c Black is the most difficult stamp to obtain in sound, choice original-gum condition. It is most often found without gum or disturbed gum, or the fully-gummed examples are off center. The block of six (straight edge at left), ex Caspary, Lilly and Ishikawa, is well-centered with original gum, but our search of numerous other major auction sales produced few other examples apart from the block. Therefore, this stamp could be the rarest face-different design of the 1861-66 series in choice original-gum condition.
With 1979, 1997 and 2004 P.F. certificates.
24c Grayish Lilac (78a). Original gum, choice centering with well-balanced margins all around, beautiful bright colorEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1863 ISSUE.
This shade is particularly difficult to obtain in sound, centered and original-gum condition. A Power Search of our sale records will confirm this statement.
Ex Hansen. With 1995 P.S.E. and 1974, 1994 and 2004 P.F. certificates