Sale 1247 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 14-15 December, 2021
Category — 1869 Pictorial Issue (Scott 112-122)
1c-90c 1869 Pictorial Issue, Atlanta Trial Color Proofs on Card (123TC4-132TC4). Complete set (less the one recently-listed unique 90c color combination), most with large to full margins, a small number with close or touching margin, rich colorsFINE TO MOSTLY VERY FINE. A RARE COMPLETE SET OF 1869 PICTORIAL ATLANTA TRIAL COLOR PLATE PROOFS.
The Atlanta trial color plate proofs on card were prepared for display at the 1881 International Cotton Exposition in Atlanta. Only one sheet in each color was printed. The sheets were somehow acquired by James A. Petrie of Phillipsburg, New Jersey, at the close of the exposition (along with the 1869 invert card proof sheets). Petrie claimed that he rescued the proofs just before they were to be burned. They were later cut up into one set of blocks of eight, two sets of blocks of four, pairs and singles. It is difficult to assemble the complete set of the 1869 Pictorials since the bicolor values come in many different color combinations. See our website PDF for a complete scan
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1c-90c 1869 Pictorial Issue, Plate Proofs on Card (112P4-117P4, 120P4-122P4, 129P4). Complete set of ten values, 15c Type III, most with large margins, Very Fine set
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3c Ultramarine (114). Mint N.H. with tiny brown spot on gum not noted on accompanying certificates, wide margins and essentially perfect centering, bright color on post office fresh paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
Ex Gorham and Curtis. With 2002 and 2006 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95)
3c Ultramarine, Split Grill (114 var). Mint N.H., radiant color as fresh as the day it was printed, clear grill points, Very Fine and choice, ex Hoffman, with 2003 P.F. certificate, Scott value as hinged
3c Ultramarine (114). Mint N.H., detailed impression on bright paper, wide margins, Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp, Scott value as hinged
6c Ultramarine (115). Original gum, fresh color, light horizontal crease, appears Fine, with 2015 P.S.E. certificate
10c Yellow (116). Original gum, bright color, reperfed at left, appears Very Fine
12c Green (117). Deep rich color and proof-like impression, gorgeous centering with wide and balanced margins, neat strike of crossroads cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp in every respect, ex "Tahoe", with 1998 P.S.E. certificate
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. I (118). Bright colors and crisp impressions, choice centering, bold strike of segmented cork cancel, Extremely Fine, ex "Cloudrest", with 2001 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $1,750.00)
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. I (118). Unusually choice centering with well-balanced margins, bright colors and crisp impressions, part of red circular datestamp cancel at lower left leaves the entire design clearly visible, Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp, with 2003 and 2012 P.F. certificates (XF 90)
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. I, Double Grill (118 var). Clear second grill perfectly aligned top-to-bottom and making grill look extra wide, bright colors, rosette cork cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 1978 P.F. certificate
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II (119). Unused (no gum), rich colors, single slightly short perf at left not mentioned on certificate, Very Fine, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II (119). Rich colors, unusually choice centering, cork cancel, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1990 P.F. certificate
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II, Center Inverted (119b). Bright colors, cork cancel leaves design clearly visible, defective including repairsFINE APPEARING USED EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL INVERT. ONLY 102 USED COPIES ARE RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS.
Our census of Scott 119b at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/119b , records three unused and 102 used copies (there are an additional three used examples of Scott 119c). Two of the used copies are in institutions -- the Tapling Collection at The British Library and the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library. We estimate that approximately fifteen used copies are sound, including copies with tiny corner creases. A large number -- more than half -- have serious faults or repairs.
Census no. 119b-CAN-28. With 2018 P.S.E. certificate
24c Green & Violet (120). Unused (regummed), well-centered with nicely balanced margins, singly slightly nibbed perf at bottom not mentioned on certificate, appears Extremely Fine, with 1982 P.F. certificate
24c Green & Violet (120). Jumbo margins and precise centering, rich colors, unobtrusive cork cancel, small pressed corner crease at top left, appears Extremely Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (VF 80 Jumbo; SMQ $800.00)
24c Green & Violet (120). Crisp impressions, light strike of segmented cork cancel leaves design clearly visible, Very Fine, with 1980 P.F. certificate
30c Ultramarine & Carmine (121). Unused (no gum), accompanying old certificate states "slight toning", appears Fine, ex Diamond, with 1972 P.F. certificate
30c Ultramarine & Carmine (121). Deep rich colors, neat strike of target cancel at center, part of circular datestamp at upper right, trace of blue postmark at lower left, beautiful centering, Extremely Fine, with 2011 P.F. certificate (XF 90 XQ), the "XQ" stands for "Extraordinary Quality"
30c Ultramarine & Carmine (121). Wide and balanced margins, deep rich colors, bold strike of segmented cork cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2006 P.F. certificate (XF 90)
30c Ultramarine & Carmine (121). Wide margins, crossroads cork cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 1980 P.F. certificate
90c Carmine & Black (122). Bright color, extra wide margins and attractive centering, cork cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 1998 and 2013 P.F. certificates (VF 80)
90c Carmine & Black (122). Deep rich color, bold strike of segmented cork cancel, Very Fine, an unusual cancel on this issue, with 1980 P.F. certificate