Sale 967 — Important and Superb United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Friday, 16-19 December, 2008
Category — 1869 Pictorial Issue (Scott 112-122)
1c Buff (112). Original gum, lightly hinged, brilliant color, well-balanced margins throughoutVERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE ONE-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
With 1999 P.F. certificate
2c Brown (113). Original gum, brilliant color, crisp impression, gorgeous centering with unusually wide and balanced margins, shows guide arrow at bottom leftEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE AND THE ONLY EXAMPLE TO ACHIEVE THIS GRADE.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, Superb 98; SMQ $6,450.00). As another indication of how scarce this issue is in higher grades, only one used example has achieved this grade.
2c Brown (113). Original gum, beautiful Jumbo margins and fabulous centering to match, sharp fresh color on bright paper, shows guide arrow at bottom left (this would have been the top right stamp in a right arrow margin block of four)EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MASSIVE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 JUMBO BY P.S.E. -- ONLY ONE OTHER SHARES THIS GRADE AND ONLY ONE HAS GRADED HIGHER TO DATE.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (OGh, XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $3,650.00 as 95, $6,450.00 as 98). The stamp graded 98 is offered in the previous lot.
2c Brown (113). Original gum, barely hinged, wonderfully fresh with bright color, exceptionally well-centered, Very Fine and choice
2c Brown (113). Essentially perfectly centered, dark color on white paper, fairly light circular datestamp, Extremely Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $265.00)
3c Ultramarine (114). Mint N.H., exceptionally fresh and Fine, Scott Retail as hinged
3c Ultramarine, Split Grill (114 var). Mint N.H., pristine color and as fresh as the day it was printed, Fine, with photocopy of 2000 P.F. certificate for a horizontal pair (left stamp), Scott Retail as hinged
3c Ultramarine (114). Block of nine, original gum, bottom right vertical pair lightly hinged, other seven stamps Mint N.H., bright and freshVERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE BLOCK OF NINE OF THE 3-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE, WITH SEVEN MINT NEVER-HINGED STAMPS.
With 2002 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as hinged block of four, two pairs and a single.
3c Ultramarine (114). Fine centering, bold Beer Mug fancy cancel, Extremely Fine strike
3c Ultramarine (114). Fine centering, complete bold West Meriden Conn. Padlock fancy cancel, Very Fine and choice strike
3c Ultramarine, Without Grill (114a). Original gum, fresh and bright, lovely colorFINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE WITHOUT GRILL. THE LOWER-VALUE 1869'S WITHOUT GRILL ARE MUCH RARER THAN THE HIGH VALUES, AND THEY ARE SELDOM ENCOUNTERED IN CHOICE CONDITION.
We have only offered thirteen other unused examples in our computerized records, which includes all of our Rarities sales plus 14 years of auctions.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate
10c Yellow (116). Original gum, uncommonly wide margins, vivid color and handsomely centeredEXTREMELY FINE. A PARTICULARLY CHOICE ORIGINAL GUM 10-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL GRADED XF 90 BY P.S.E..
With 2003 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (OGh, XF 90; SMQ $6,400.00)
10c Yellow (116). Original gum, lightly hinged, exceptionally well-centered with lovely bright glowing colorEXTREMELY FINE. A DIFFICULT STAMP TO FIND WITH ORIGINAL GUM IN THIS DESIRABLE GRADE OF XF 90.
With 1992 and 2008 P.F. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $6,400.00)
10c Yellowish Orange (116). Original gum, lightly hinged, fresh and bright strong color, Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, Fine 70; SMQ $1,450.00)
10c Yellow (116). Exceptionally well-centered, bright color remarkably clear "Hiogo Japan" double-circle cancel, Very Fine, with 2004 P.F. certificate
12c Green (117). Original gum, clear impression and nicely centered, Fine and attractive, with 2002 P.F. certificate
12c Green (117). Choice wide margins and exceptionally well-centered, incredibly deep color, cork cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2008 P.F. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $425.00)
12c Green (117). Wide margins, rich color and small cork cancel, Very Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. I (118). Incredibly wide Jumbo margins with exceptionally handsome centering, bright colors on fresh paper, cork duplex circular datestamp and a trace of red transit at bottom leftEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL JUMBO-MARGINED USED EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL TYPE I.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90 Jumbo; SMQ $1,850.00 as 90, $4,850.00 as 95)
15c Dark Brown & Blue, Ty. II (119). Unusually strong colors, target cancel, Very Fine, with 1980 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates
24c Green & Violet (120). Uncharacteristically wide margins and well-centered, rich colors, cork cancel, Very Fine, an eye-catching stamp that most would consider a Jumbo for the issue, with 1978 and 2008 P.F. certificates
24c Green & Violet (120). Nice margins, fairly transparent rosette cancel, Very Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate
30c Ultramarine & Carmine (121). Exceptionally well-centered, lovely pastel colors cancelled by a light red circle of wedges, Extremely Fine, a wonderful stamp, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate
30c Ultramarine & Carmine (121). Radiant colors on bright paper, unobtrusive strike of cork cancel, wide margins, Very Fine and choice, a huge stamp, with 2006 P.F. certificate
30c Ultramarine & Carmine (121). Bright colors, exceptionally wide margins all around, neat cork cancel, most recent certificate notes a tiny thin at left at the 5th perforation up from the bottom (infinitesimal in our view), appears Extremely Fine, with 1999 and 2007 P.F. certificates, the earlier not mentioning any faults
30c Ultramarine & Carmine, Flags Inverted (121b). Cork cancel, bright color, flaws incl. thin spots, small repairs and reperfed at left and bottomFINE APPEARANCE. A RARE AND PRESENTABLE EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL INVERT.
Our published census of 30c 1869 Invert (with unpublished updates) contains a total of 45 stamps, including 7 unused and 38 used.
Census No. 121b-CAN-CW09. With 1998 P.F. certificate
90c Carmine & Black (122). Original gum, deep rich colors and proof-like impressions, unusually choice centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE FOR AN ORIGINAL-GUM SCOTT 122 TO DATE.
With 1991 P.F. and 1991 and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $82,500.00). This is the highest grade awarded to date. Only one other stamp has equaled this grade, and it realized $90,000 hammer in our auction of the Scarsdale collection.
90c Carmine & Black (122). Exceptionally well-centered, clear impression and light cancelEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
With 2006 P.F. certificate
90c Carmine & Black (122). Strong colors, bold Maltese Cross cancellation, couple tiny thin specks and couple trivial nibbed perfs, otherwise Fine, fancy cancels are scarce on this Pictorial Issue high value