Sale 1014 — Outstanding United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Friday, 12-14 October, 2011
Category — 1861-66 Issue (Scott 72-78b)
90c Blue (72). Unused (no gum), wide margins and choice centering, lovely color with clear impression, Extremely Fine, with 1983 P.F. certificate
90c Blue (72). Beautiful wide margins and choice centering, nicely complemented by blue cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 90-CENT BLUE CANCELLED IN BLUE.
P.S.E. encapsulated (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $4,000.00)
90c Blue (72). Rich color on bright paper, beautifully centered, deep rich color nicely contrasted by red grid cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A COLORFUL EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1861 ISSUE WITH RED GRID CANCEL, MAGNIFICENT MARGINS AND SUPERB CENTERING.
With 1996 and 2005 P.F. certificates
90c Blue (72). Very wide almost perfectly balanced margins, certainly near Jumbo proportions for this value, bright color, vertical bars cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, the 90c is seldom seen with such wide margins, with 1999 P.F. certificate
90c Blue (72). Rich color, bold strike of grid cancel with part of red transit cancel at bottom, wide margins, Very Fine and choice, with 1982 P.F. certificate
2c Black (73). Original gum, faintly hinged, appears Mint N.H., unusually well-centered, Extremely Fine, with 2003 P.F. certificate
2c Black (73). Horizontal pair, original gum, right stamp diagonal crease, couple other inconsequential flaws, otherwise Fine
2c Black (73). Fine centering, excellent strike of green quartered cork cancel, rare colored cancel on Black Jack, also incl. 3c Rose No. 65 with light green target cancel, 2002 and 2000 P.F. certificates respectively
3c Scarlet (74). Unused (regummed), bright color, small thin spot, nearly Fine appearance, with 1990 P.F. certificate
3c Scarlet (74). Four neat pen strokes, vibrant color, horizontal crease at topFINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE SCARCE 3-CENT SCARLET TRIAL PRINTING.
As has been documented by Jerome S. Wagshal in a series of Chronicle articles (Nos. 56, 60, 61 and 62), Carl F. Rothfuchs, a Washington D.C. stamp dealer, obtained a supply of the 3c Scarlet in 1893 -- probably from the Post Office Department in exchange for his assistance with the Columbian Exposition -- and sold them with pen marks and original gum.
With 1982 P.F. and 1999 P.S.E. certificates
5c Red Brown (75). Warm color in the true Red Brown shade, nicely contrasted by green "Paid" in circle" handstamp, small paper wrinkle at top right not mentioned on either accompanying certificateVERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT RED BROWN 1862 ISSUE CANCELLED IN GREEN.
It is not widely known that the late Marc Haas, who amassed one of the largest and most valuable U.S. cover collections of all time, also collected classic U.S. stamps in superb used condition. His collection was offered under the title "Distinguished Connoisseur" in our Sale 418, and we frequently refer to that sale catalogue to see what exists. Haas also had a penchant for green cancels, and, if he were able to obtain a green cancel on any of the 5c 1861 shades, it would have been in that sale. Not only is an example missing from the Haas sale, it is also missing from the Rohloff, Grunin and Klein sales, all of which had a significant number of 5c 1861-63 Issues.
With 2004 P.S.E. and copy of 2005 P.F. certificates as a pair. The other stamp in the pair realized $7,500 hammer in the 2005 Rarities sale.
5c Red Brown (75). Perfectly centered with perfs clear of design all around, magnificent depth of color, neat grid cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1999 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown (75). Intense shade and impression, vivid red grid cancel, Very Fine and choice, exceptionally colorful example of the 5c Red Brown, with 1991 and 2005 P.F. certificates
5c Red Brown (75). Exceptionally wide margins, perfs clear the design on all sides, especially wide top, left and bottom, vivid color with crisp impression, light blue circular datestamp, Very Fine and choice, with 2003 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown (75). Handsome centering with perfs essentially clear all around, sensational color and sharp impression, light red grid cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 1985 and 2005 P.F. certificates
5c Red Brown (75). Warm shade, light strike of red grid cancel, fresh and Fine, with 2005 P.F. certificate
5c Dark Brown (76). Block of four, original gum, magnificent deep rich color and clear impression, perfs slightly in at left, attractive example of this rare unused block of which there are very few known, with 1982 P.F. certificate
5c Brown (76). Perfectly centered with unusually wide margins, brilliant color and sharp proof-like impression, light cancel, Extremely Fine, with 1995 P.S.E. certificate
5c Black Brown (76a). Handsome centering with choice margins clear of design all around, intense color, proof-like impression, unobtrusively cancelled by two tiny bits of target rings, Extremely Fine, scarce shade, with 2003 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $900.00)
15c Black (77). Wide margins with precise centering, neat central target cancel, Extremely Fine, with 1992, 2004 and 2008 P.F. certificates
15c Black (77). Bright shade on brilliant paper, proof-like impression, perfect strike of blue target cancel, fresh and Extremely Fine
24c Lilac (78). Block of four, original gum, lightly hinged, excellent color, light gum bends, couple light toning specks, short perfs at bottom, Very Good appearance, a rare block
24c Dark Lilac (78). Exceptionally wide margins and choice centering, strong color, light cork cancel mostly hidden in design and non-obtrusive, Extremely Fine, with 2011 P.F. certificate
24c Lilac (78). Lovely margins and incredibly well-centered with perforations entirely clear of design all around, quartered cork and red transit cancels, Extremely Fine, with 2005 P.F. certificate
24c Gray (78b). Part original gum, excellent color, short perf at top and some tiny toned spots on face, otherwise Fine, with 2008 P.F. certificate