Sale 962 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Friday, 24-26 September, 2008
Category — 1861-66 Issue (Scott 62B-78)
1c Blue (63). Mint N.H., intense shade on brilliant paper, Very Fine and choice, with 1999 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as hinged
1c Blue (63). Unused (no gum), radiant color on bright paper, gorgeous centering, Extremely Fine
3c Pink (64). Brilliant color, well-struck "Paid" cancel, barely noticeable creases at bottom, appears Very Fine, with 1987 P.F. certificate
3c Rose (65). Mint N.H., exceptionally well-centered, dark shade, Extremely Fine, especially desirable in Mint N.H. condition, with 2004 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as hinged
3c Rose (65). Mint N.H. block of four, beautifully centered and with gorgeous color, exceptionally fresh, Extremely Fine, Scott Retail as hinged block of four
3c Rose (65). Bright color and nicely centered, unusual cork cancel, the back of the stamp has the intact latticework from a Leeds Patent Envelope, Very Fine
3c Lake (66). Original gum, lightly hinged, rich color and detailed impression, almost Fine, with 1981 P.F. certificate
5c Buff (67). Pretty shade nicely complemented by red grid cancel, few small flaws incl. corner crease at bottom left, tiny tear at top and short perf at bottom right, otherwise Fine
5c Brown Yellow (67a). Essentially perfectly centered with margins clear of design all around, lovely bright color with a light oval grid cancelEXTREMELY FINE. A PARTICULARLY CHOICE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1861-66 5-CENT BROWN YELLOW SHADE.
With 1990 P.F. (as No. 67) and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ 90; $2,800.00)
10c Yellow Green (68). Uncommonly wide Jumbo margins and practically perfect centering, lovely color and bold circular datestamp, Extremely Fine Gem, certainly one of the widest-margined centered used examples of this stamp we have ever encountered, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (VF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $740.00 as 95, $1,900.00 as 98)
24c Red Lilac (70). Phenomenal dark rich shade and early impression, clear strike of blue "Chicago Ills." double-circle datestamp, essentially perfect centering with wide balanced margins all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1861 ISSUE IN THE DISTINCTIVE DEEP RED LILAC SHADE AND COMPLEMENTED BY A BLUE CHICAGO DATESTAMP CANCEL. THIS STAMP IS THE QUINTESSENTIAL COMBINATION OF CENTERING, COLOR AND CANCELLATION.
We are occasionally presented with a classic stamp which creates an opportunity to talk about Ashbrook's six essentials of quality: Color, Impression, Margins, Color of Cancel, Placement of Cancel and Paper. This is certainly one of those occasions.
The myriad 24c 1861-63 shades are divided into Scott number classifications. Scott 70, the Red Lilac, encompasses a spectrum of shades. Within the Red Lilac family is a distinctive deep purplish shade, which was probably an early printing (late 1861 or early 1862). The stamp offered here is a wonderful example of this deep purplish Red Lilac. It does not have its own Scott number, but it is certainly much scarcer and more desirable than the average Red Lilac, Scott 70.
In addition to its color attributes, this stamp is beautifully cancelled in blue by the double-circle datestamp used in Chicago. The perforations create a balanced frame around the printed design, and the paper is naturally fresh and bright (in other words, it is untainted by bleaching agents). It would be difficult to imagine a finer example of the 24c Red Lilac, and, in fact, a Power Search on our website will prove the rarity of this little bird.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $4,000.00)
24c Red Lilac (70). Attractively centered and wonderful color, neat rimless grid cancel and bit of red transit at bottom left, Very Fine and choice, with 2002 and 2008 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85; SMQ $700.00)
24c Brown Lilac (70a). Choice margins and unusually well-centered, lovely color, neat interrupted bars grid cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $800.00)
24c Brown Lilac (70a). Lovely margins and centering, fresh color, 10-bar grid cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 1996 and 2008 P.F. certificates
24c Steel Blue (70b). Attractive margins and well-centered, choice Steel Blue color, light red grid cancel, Very Fine, with 1989 and 2005 P.F. certificates
24c Steel Blue (70b). Very attractively centered and true Steel Blue color, bold circular datestamp and part of red transit, single added perf at right, Extremely Fine appearance, with 2008 P.F. certificate
30c Orange (71). Original gum, bright color and beautiful Jumbo margins, almost perfectly centeredEXTREMELY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT ORANGE 1861 ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF 90 JUMBO BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE AND THE ONLY EXAMPLE TO ACHIEVE THIS GRADE. AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT STAMP TO FIND IN THE HIGHER GRADES.
The narrowly-spaced 30c 1861 plate left very little room for the 12-gauge perforations between stamps. Consequently, examples with wide margins at sides are extremely rare -- this fact is acknowledged in the Scott Catalogue footnote to No. 71.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90 Jumbo; SMQ $6,900.00 for 90, $15,600.00 for 95). This is the highest grade awarded to date for an original-gum stamp and the only example to achieve this grade.
2c Black (73). Original gum, lightly hinged, bright shade in crisp paper, Fine, with 1998 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates
3c Scarlet (74). Unused (no gum), light soiling, reperfed at right (not noted on certificate), otherwise Very Fine, signed Sidney D. Harris and with 1976 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown (75). Original gum, deep rich color, detailed impression, Fine, scarce in sound original-gum condition, with 1986 P.F. certificate
24c Lilac (78). Original gum, light hinging, exceptional centering and truly outstanding colorEXTREMELY FINE. THE 24-CENT 1861-63 ISSUE IS VERY RARE IN SOUND AND WELL-CENTERED ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION. A FAR GREATER CHALLENGE TO ACQUIRE IN THIS GRADE THAN MANY COLLECTORS REALIZE.
With 1987 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85; SMQ $4,500.00)
24c Grayish Lilac (78a). Original gum, h.r., excellent color and impression, centered to top, faint toned spots at bottom of vignette, otherwise Very Good, with 2008 P.F. certificate