Sale 1227 — Outstanding United States Stamps and Gold Coins
Sale Date — Monday-Friday, 19-23 October, 2020
Category — 12c-90c 1857-60 Issue (Scott 36-39)
12c Black, Plate 1 (36). Horizontal pair, tied by grid and part of red 19c credit circular datestamp on small piece, Fine, with 2010 Weiss certificate
12c Black, Plate 3 (36B). Unused (no gum), intense shade, with straddle pane margin at right showing centerline and part of stamp in adjoining pane, Very Fine, with 1985 A.P.S. certificate
12c Black, Plate 3 (36B). Block of four with bottom selvage, original gum, bottom right stamp Mint N.H., bottom left stamp lightly hinged, top pair h.r., intense dark shade, top pair horizontal crease, overall Fine-Very Fine, a desirable block containing one stamp with three huge margins and Mint N.H. gum, Scott value as hinged block
12c Black, Plate 3 (36B). Block of 24 in 8 x 3 format, original gum, intense shade and impression, most with tiny hinge slivers sensibly reinforcing perfs, small inked-in scrape in third stamp from right at bottomVERY FINE. AN IMPRESSIVE MULTIPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1857 ISSUE FROM PLATE 3 -- THE THIRD LARGEST BLOCK AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS, AND THE LARGEST AVAILABLE WITH ORIGINAL GUM.
A pane of 100 is contained in the Jefferys collection, formerly in the Franklin Institute and now displayed at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum. A half-pane of 50 and a block of 25 are also known (both offered in our Sale 1000), but neither has gum.
Ex Caspary, Klein, "Sevenoaks" and Wingate. With 2001 P.F. certificate. Scott value as four blocks of four and four pairs
24c Gray Lilac (37). Original gum, fresh color and sharp impression, wide margins at sides, Very Fine, with 1994 P.F. certificate
24c Gray Lilac (37). Horizontal pair, part original gum which covers about half of each stamp, bright shade, attractive centering with perfs barely touched at top, both stamps with small shallow thin spot straddling the perfs between and evident only in fluid, appears Very Fine, Scott value as original-gum pair
24c Gray Lilac (37). Used with 5c Brown, Ty. II (30A), tied by "San Francisco Cal. Jun. 21, 1861" circular datestamp on small piece, Fine, Scott value as singles
30c Orange (38). Original gum, lightly hinged, brilliant color on bright paper, beautifully centeredEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1860 ISSUE.
With 2002 P.F. and P.S.E. certificates (OG, XF 90; SMQ $5,000.00)
30c Orange (38). Vibrant color as fresh as the day it was printed, well-balanced margins, neat strike of large Boston "Paid" grid cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 2010 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85)
90c Blue (39). Original gum, h.r. at top, exceptional centering and margins, deep rich color and proof-like impressionEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1860 ISSUE. THIS ISSUE IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN IN ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION AND WITH SUCH PRECISE CENTERING.
The 90c stamp was issued in 1860, along with the 24c and 30c values, all of which were needed to prepay high international letter rates established by various postal treaties. When supplies of current postage stamps were declared invalid in the South and ultimately demonetized by the Federal government, the 90c had been in use for only one year. Most unused examples come from supplies recovered from Southern post offices. The vast majority have no gum or poor centering -- this is an extraordinary exception to the rule. This stamp's centering and margin width are virtually unimprovable, and we consider the XF-Superb 95 grade to be one level too low -- if this is not a Superb 98, then what is?
With 2017 P.S.E. certificate (OGh, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $17,500.00). Only three other original-gum stamps have achieved a 95 grade in the P.S.E. Population Report -- the highest awarded.
90c Blue (39). Unused (no gum), deep rich color, wide margins, Very Fine, with 1997 P.F. certificate
90c Blue (39). Unused (no gum), rich color, fresh and Fine, with 1981 P.F. certificate
90c Blue (39). Centered slightly to right and bottom, vivid red grid cancel, completely soundFINE. FAR SUPERIOR TO THE TYPICAL CONDITION OF A GENUINELY USED 90-CENT 1860 ISSUE.
The 90c stamp was issued in 1860, along with the 24c and 30c values, all of which were needed to prepay high international letter rates established by various postal treaties. The basic 24c and 30c rates to England, France and Germany created a volume of mail franked with those values. However, the 90c saw much more limited use, partly due to the rates in effect, but more because of the American Civil War. When supplies of current postage stamps were declared invalid in the South and ultimately demonetized by the Federal government, the 90c had been in use for only one year. For this reason, genuinely cancelled copies are scarce, and covers bearing the 90c are extremely rare. Approximately 180 used examples have been certified by The Philatelic Foundation, of which only one-quarter are sound. This sound stamp with a vivid red cancel is very desirable.
With 2009 P.S.E. certificate