Sale 1304 — The Brian M. Bleckwenn Collection of United States First Issue Revenues
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 12-13 December, 2023
Category — First Issue Imperforate (50c-70c)
50c Conveyance, Blue, Imperforate (R54a). Block of 14, large margins including part of adjoining stamps at top and left, each with Dec. 1, 1863 manuscript cancel, light creases, Very Fine-Extremely Fine, only three larger multiples are known, Scott value $2,200 as blocks and pair
50c Conveyance, Blue, Imperforate (R54a). Block of twelve, large margins all around, each with small Dec. 6, 1862 manuscript cancel, few creases and tears, small piece out at bottom left reattached, Very Fine appearance, from the Weill Brothers stock, Scott value $2,100 as blocks, pairs and singles
50c Foreign Exchange, Blue, Imperforate (R56a). Horizontal strip of four, large even margins all around, 1863 manuscript cancel, faint vertical crease affects right stamp, still Extremely Fine, a strip of four is the largest intact multiple (a reconstructed block of eight made up of two strips is also known), Scott value $800 as two pairs
50c Lease, Blue, Imperforate (R57a). Horizontal strip of six, large margins to clear at top center, rich color, 1866 manuscript cancels, light horizontal crease at top of right stamps, Very Fine, this strip of six and two blocks of six are the largest recorded multiples, Scott value $600 as pairs
50c Lease, Blue, Imperforate (R57a). Block of four, large margins, rich color, faint manuscript cancel, light vertical crease at bottom between stamps, tiny nick in margin at left does not affect stamp, Very Fine appearance, a scarce multiple
50c Life Insurance, Blue, Imperforate (R58a). Horizontal pair, large to huge margins, bright color nicely complemented by red "Deposit...Duty...Excess..." three-line handstamp, Extremely Fine, a beautiful pair, Scott value $160
50c Life Insurance, Blue, Imperforate (R58a). Block of four, large margins to full, bright color, 1864 manuscript cancels, top left stamp small tear at top, horizontal crease between stamps ending in small tear at left, Very Fine appearance, a scarce block, ex Joyce
50c Mortgage, Blue, Imperforate (R59a). Two singles, huge margins, each with part imprint and plate no. "50 T", left stamp small crease in sheet margin, Extremely Fine, rare with the full plate number
50c Mortgage, Blue, Imperforate (R59a). Block of four, large margins, neat Dec. 1, 1862 manuscript cancels, Very Fine and choice
50c Original Process, Blue, Imperforate, Perforated (R60a, R60c). Six imperforate and 17 perforated, including imperforate with top left corner sheet margin, five perforated showing double transfer at top and left, one perforated with double transfer at bottom, few small faults, Fine-Very Fine group
50c Original Process, Blue, Imperforate (R60a). Block of eight, large margins to ample, deep rich color, Apr. 21, 1863 manuscript cancels, bottom right stamp thin spot, light horizontal crease affects bottom stamps, Very Fine appearance, only two larger blocks are recorded (irregular block of ten and block of twelve), one other block of eight is also recorded
50c Original Process, Blue, Imperforate (R60a). Block of four, large margins to clear, bright shade, Oct. 6, 1863 manuscript cancels, light horizontal crease between stamps, left stamps vertical crease, still Very Fine and attractive
50c Passage Ticket, Blue, Imperforate (R61a). Horizontal pair, huge margins all around, detailed impression, June 17, 1863 manuscript cancels, Extremely Fine Gem pair, the largest recorded multiple is four stamps
50c Probate of Will, Blue, Imperforate (R62a). Block of eight, large to huge margins including top sheet margin, rich color, 1864 manuscript cancel, sealed tears at left and bottom, faint vertical crease at right, otherwise Very Fine, scarce large multiple, only two are larger (rejoined block of 19 and a defective block of 32), Scott value $2,000 as two blocks of four
50c Probate of Will, Blue, Imperforate (R62a). Block of four, full margins to just in at top, deep rich color, Dec. 9, 1862 manuscript cancels, Fine-Very Fine, ex Whitman and Fay
50c Surety Bond, Blue, Imperforate (R63a). Horizontal pair, large margins to ample, rich color, faint 1863 manuscript cancels, left stamp small natural pre-printing paperfold, Very Fine and choice, no blocks are known, the only recorded multiples larger than a pair are three strips of four
50c Surety Bond, Blue, Imperforate (R63a). Horizontal strip of four, large and even margins, deep rich color, manuscript cancel, pos. 3 faint pressed-out vertical crease, Very Fine appearance, no blocks are known, a strip of four is the largest recorded multiple (three known), ex Joyce, Scott value $3,000 as pairs
50c Surety Bond, Blue, Imperforate (R63a). Horizontal strip of four, large margins all around, detailed impression, 1863 manuscript cancel, Extremely Fine, no blocks are known, a strip of four is the largest recorded multiple (three known), ex Joyce, Scott value $3,000 as pairs
60c Inland Exchange, Orange, Imperforate (R64a). Huge margins, vibrant color, Jan. 12, 1863 manuscript cancel, Extremely Fine Gem
60c Inland Exchange, Orange, Imperforate (R64a). Horizontal pair huge margins, vivid color, Jun. 13, 1863 manuscript cancel, left stamp small tear at bottom mostly in margin, still an Extremely Fine pair
60c Inland Exchange, Orange, Imperforate (R64a). Horizontal pair, vibrant color, large margins to full at bottom, 1863 manuscript cancel, Very Fine and choice, an attractive pair
60c Inland Exchange, Orange, Imperforate (R64a). Horizontal strip of eight, large margins all around, each with neat manuscript cancel, light creases except one breaks thru paper on sixth stamp, Very Fine appearance, a scarce large multiple, the largest block is of ten, one strip of 15 is also known, ex Joyce, Scott value $2,000 as pairs
60c Inland Exchange, Orange, Imperforate (R64a). Block of eight used alongside 20c Inland Exchange, Red, Imperforate (R42a) and 5c Inland Exchange, Red, Part Perforated (R27b), on Aug. 18, 1863 deed from Rochester N.Y., each stamp with manuscript cancel, horizontal crease through the center of the block and trace of oxidation, Very Fine and rare, the only larger blocks of the imperforate 60c Inland Exchange are a block of ten and a block of nine, perhaps only four blocks of eight survive, Scott value $2,400 as used blocks
70c Foreign Exchange, Green, Imperforate (R65a). Large and even margins, deep rich color and proof-like impression, neat 1864 manuscript cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Kingsley
70c Foreign Exchange, Green, Imperforate (R65a). Horizontal pair, huge margins all around, bold Aug. 12, 1864 manuscript cancel
EXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF TWO RECORDED PAIRS OF THE 70-CENT FOREIGN EXCHANGE IMPERFORATE. A PAIR IS THE LARGEST RECORDED MULTIPLE. A WONDERFUL RARITY.
Only one other pair is recorded—both ex Joyce.