Sale 1219 — The Edward Morton Collection of Outstanding Quality U.S. Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 8-9 April, 2020
Category — 10c-12c 1857-60 Issue (Scott 31-36B)
10c Green, Ty. I (31). Bright shade, wide and balanced margins clearly showing the type characteristics, unobtrusive strike of circular datestamp cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 10-CENT TYPE I, WHICH CLEARLY SHOWS THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TYPE, AND IS GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. AND THE P.F.
Type I stamps are only found on the 20 positions that comprise the bottom row of the plate. Due to narrow spacing on the plate and difficulties in aligning the perforating machine, stamps at the bottom of the plate usually have perforations cutting into the bottom portion of the design. This is a serious drawback, because Type I is defined as having the design complete at bottom. The stamp offered here, which is very well-centered and clearly shows the type characteristics, is a true condition rarity.
With 1987 and 2007 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95). With 2013 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $12,500.00). This is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by only five others
10c Green, Ty. II (32). Essentially perfectly centered with wide and balanced margins, deep rich color and detailed impression, unobtrusive 1859 circular datestamp cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A PHENOMENAL EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 10-CENT TYPE II, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. -- THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $11,000.00). Also accompanied by 2009 P.F. certificate graded XF-Superb 95, but we feel P.S.E. got it right on this stamp. Superb 98 is the highest grade awarded in the P.S.E. Population Report and it is shared by only one other, a statistic that has not changed in a decade.
10c Green, Ty. III (33). Choice centering with wide and beautifully balanced margins, vivid color and impression on bright paper, unobtrusive rim of circular datestamp cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 10-CENT TYPE III, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 XQ BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION.
With 2010 and 2018 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95 XQ). The "XQ" denotes extraordinary quality.
10c Green, Ty. III (33). Perfectly centered with wonderfully balanced margins, neat strike of blue circular datestamp cancel, bright and fresh color, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful stamp, ex Dr. Puliafito, with 1996 P.F. certificate
10c Green, Ty. IV (34). Position 74L1, recut at top, pretty shade, beautiful centering with wide and balanced margins, neat strike of circular datestamp cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE PERFORATED 1857 10-CENT TYPE IV, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. -- THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
10c Type IV stamps are defined by the recut of one or both outer lines at the top or bottom of the design. Type IV stamps come from only seven scattered positions on the left pane and one position on the right pane of Plate 1. Therefore, only 4% of the stamps from Plate 1 are Type IV, and since their population is low they are difficult to find with such choice centering.
Ex Merlin. With 2019 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $7,500.00). Only three stamps share this desirable grade, with none higher
10c Green, Ty. IV (34). Position 55L1, recut at bottom, deep dark color, well-centered with wide and balanced margins, black grid and red circular datestamp cancelsEXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1857 PERFORATED TYPE IV. A STAMP WITH REMARKABLE COLOR, CENTERING, MARGINS AND VERY DESIRABLE WITH A RED CANCEL.
With 1995 and 2005 P.F. certificates
10c Green, Ty. III-IV-III-III (33-34-33-33). Positions 2-5R1, horizontal strip of four, second stamp from left (3R) Type IV and recut at top -- the only recut position in the right pane -- tied by "New Orleans La. Apr. 1, 1859" circular datestamp on folded cover to Vera Cruz, Mexico, sender's ship designation "p Str. Tennessee", bold "7" (reales) due handstampVERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE MULTIPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1857 ISSUE, CONTAINING TYPE IV AND USED ON A QUADRUPLE-RATE COVER TO MEXICO FROM THE FAMOUS HARGOUS CORRESPONDENCE.
Position 3R1 is the misplaced B Relief instead of A Relief. It is the only recut position on the right pane of Plate 1 and is very desirable as part of a large strip with other types, particularly on a foreign destination cover.
Ex Caspary, Rust, Klein and Dr. Martin. With 1989 and 2017 P.F. certificates.
10c Green, Ty. V (35). Perfect centering with wide margins not only at sides (as usual) but at top and bottom as well (not usual), deep rich color complemented by red grid cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a truly superb example of the 10c Type V, with 2015 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $1,750.00), this is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by only four others, we have offered two of the others and neither has a colored cancel
10c Green, Ty. V (35). Position 60R2, wide margins with captured "(Toppa)n, Carpenter & Co. BANK NOTE E(NGRAVERS)" portion of imprint at right, which is completely clear of the perforations and also shows a trace of plate number 2, rich color complemented by red circular datestamp cancel, Extremely Fine, a beautiful and striking stamp, with 2016 P.F. certificate
12c Black, Plate 1 (36). Well-balanced margins, cancelled by bold strike of green circular grid of small squares and rectanglesVERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1857 ISSUE FROM PLATE 1 WITH A GREEN CANCEL.
The cancel on this stamp is a true green color, not bluish-green or an adulterated green ink. The cancel's unusual configuration and distinctive green color make this 12c 1857 stamp one of the most striking we have ever encountered.
Ex Saadi. With 1994 and 2014 P.F. certificates
12c Black, Plate 1 (36). Unusually choice centering for this difficult issue, intense shade and proof-like impression, light strike of red grid cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM USED EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1857 ISSUE FROM PLATE 1. A DIFFICULT STAMP TO FIND IN SUCH SUPERB CONDITION AND DESIRABLE WITH A COLORED CANCEL.
Ex Kirke. With 2006 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $2,750.00). Only four grade higher.
12c Black, Plate 1 (36). Choice margins and centering, intense shade beautifully contrasted by blue segmented grid cancel, fresh and Extremely Fine, a lovely and striking stamp, with 2008 and 2014 P.F. certificates
12c Black, Plate 3 (36B). Intense shade and impression, exceptional centering with wide and balanced margins, neat strikes of blue circular datestamp and red transit cancelsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1860 ISSUE FROM PLATE 3, WITH BLUE AND RED CANCELS AND GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION.
With 2014 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95). By way of comparison, P.S.E. has graded only one used stamp higher (at 98, offered in our "Natalee Grace" sale).