Sale 1166 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 24-26 October, 2017
Category — 1861-66 Issue (Scott 56-78)
3c Brown Rose, First Design (56). Original gum, outstanding centering and margins, rich color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2010 P.F. certificate
90c Blue, First Design, Imperforate (62a). Unused (no gum), large margins, rich color, Very Fine and quite scarce, with 1972 P.F. certificate noting "minute corner margin crease", which is not actually present, with 2015 P.F. certificate as sound and identifying the stamp by its original Scott number (62a) as well as its essay number (72-E7g), unpriced as a single in Scott, Scott Retail as half of a pair
10c Dark Green, First Design (62B). Wide margins and choice centering, wonderful dark shade and intense impression of the First Design printing, which provides the backdrop for a vivid red "New York Paid Oct. 20" circular datestampEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING USED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT GREEN FIRST DESIGN, WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT ISSUES TO OBTAIN IN SUCH SUPERB CONDITION.
The 10c 1861 First Design (or Type I) was printed from Plate 4, which left very little space between the stamps for the 12-gauge perforation holes. Examples of Scott 62B (or 58) are rarely seen with margins framing the design on all sides. The stamp offered here is the rare exception, and it is even more remarkable as a used copy, free of faults, and with a complementary red cancel.
With 2015 P.F. certificate
10c Dark Green, First Design (62B). Deep rich color nicely complemented by red circular datestamp cancel, single short perf at bottom right, still Very Fine appearance, with 2017 P.F. certificate
1c Blue (63). Mint N.H., deep rich color on bright paper, well-balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2005 and 2015 P.F. certificates, Scott Retail as hinged
1c Blue (63). Brilliant color, blue Wells, Fargo & Co. Express double-circle datestamp, Extremely Fine, scarce marking on the 1c 1861, ex Rose and Diamond, with 2015 P.F. certificate
1c Dark Blue (63b). Intense color in the true Dark Blue shade, nicely complemented by red New York City carrier circular datestamp, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine example of this distinct variety, with 2017 P.S.E. certificate
3c Lake (66). Original gum, unmistakable rich Lake shade, Very Good, with 1966 P.F. certificate
5c Olive Yellow (67b). Radiant color in the true Olive Yellow shade, nicely complemented by blue grid cancel, well-balanced marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 5-CENT IN THE DISTINCTIVE OLIVE YELLOW SHADE. THIS IS THE SCARCEST SHADE OF THE 5-CENT 1861 ISSUE, AND IT IS EXCEEDINGLY DIFFICULT TO FIND IN SUCH CHOICE CONDITION.
We have offered approximately a dozen unduplicated examples of the Olive Yellow shade in any condition since keeping computerized records. Of these, two were unused. It is difficult to find in sound and centered condition.
Ex "Golden Oak". With 1988 P.F. certificate
10c Yellow Green (68). Choice centering, intense shade with contrasting red New York circular datestamp, Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp
12c Black (69). Unused (no gum), wide margins and excellent centering, clear impression, Extremely Fine, with 2011 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $850.00)
12c Black (69). Block of six, original gum, top four stamps lightly hinged, bottom two stamps Mint N.H., bright shade and crisp impressionFINE-VERY FINE. A REMARKABLE BLOCK OF SIX OF THE 12-CENT 1861 ISSUE, WITH THE BOTTOM STAMPS IN MINT NEVER-HINGED CONDITION. A BLOCK OF SIX IS ALSO THE LARGEST RECORDED UNUSED MULTIPLE, AND THIS MAY BE THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE.
Linn's Stamp Facts notes the largest unused multiple is a block of six. The largest multiple we have offered in our auctions since 1979 is a block of four. Sinkler had a block of four. The Ishikawa collection contained a block of four. Walter Klein only had a pair. We offered a block of six in our 1979 Rarities sale, with disturbed gum on one stamp and "nearly full gum" on the others. The block offered here, with full original gum and with two Mint N.H. stamps, is a remarkable rarity.
With 1994 P.F. certificate stating "previously hinged on the top two, the balance are never hinged". We believe the center stamps show a faint trace of hinging or slightly uneven gum that would likely be called previously hinged by today's stringent expertizing standards. Scott Retail as block of four and pair with no premium for the two Mint N.H. stamps
2c Black (73). Block of nine, original gum, most stamps appear Mint N.H., choice centering and crisp impression, some perf separations, light toning most noticeable at top and on reverse, couple light fingerprints and bottom right stamp with tear, Fine-Very Fine appearance, Scott Retail as block of four, two pairs and a single
3c Scarlet (74). Original gum, bright color, reperfed at top, Very Fine appearance, with 2017 P.F. certificate
3c Scarlet (74). Slightly disturbed original gum, brilliant color, small natural inclusion below Washington's ear, Very Fine and attractive
3c Scarlet (74). Unused (no gum), bright color, light horizontal crease, Fine appearance, signed Bloch, Scott Retail as original gum
3c Scarlet (74). Four neat pen strokes, brilliant color, nice margins and centering, single slightly nibbed perf at top leftVERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE VERY SCARCE 3-CENT SCARLET TRIAL PRINTING.
As has been 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. The Rothfuchs lot is not from the same supply acquired by John W. Scott in the late 1870's, from which stamps exist uncancelled and cancelled with a New York City Station D oval.
With 1981 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown (75). Unused (no gum), deep rich Red Brown color, attractive margins and centering, Very Fine, with 1975 and 2015 P.F. certificates
5c Red Brown (75). Perfectly centered within balanced margins, deep rich color, razor-sharp impression on bright white paper, light target cancel and trace of red cancel at topEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1862 RED BROWN.
Brookman notes "I consider the used Red Brown to be more scarce than Buff but the Buff is more scarce unused".
With 1994 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown (75). Lovely warm color, neat strike of Philadelphia circular datestamp, well-proportioned margins, Very Fine and choice, with 1996 P.F. certificate
5c Brown (76). Block of eight, original gum, deep intense color, centered to left, uncommonly fresh, one of the largest blocks of No. 76 still in existence and the largest we have offered since keeping computerized records, Scott Retail $16,500.00 as two blocks of four
15c Black (77). Exceedingly well-centered within balanced margins, intense shade, crisp impression on fresh paper, red quartered cork cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE 1866 15-CENT LINCOLN. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH THE RED CANCELLATION.
With 2003 P.S.E. certificate
15c Black (77). Intense shade on bright paper, nicely complemented by blue cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate
24c Lilac (78). Rich color on bright paper, wide and balanced margins, red quartered cork cancel, fresh and Extremely Fine, a pretty stamp, with 1988, 2000 and 2016 P.F. certificates