Sale 1096 — The Robert R. Hall Collection of Outstanding United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 28-30 April, 2015
Category — 1869 Pictorial Issue (Scott 112-122)
30c Black, Burgoyne Plate Essay on Thin Surface-Tinted Paper (121-E1p). Seven, each on different paper, large margins to clear, Fine-Very Fine group
30c Black, Burgoyne Plate Essay on Thin Surface-Tinted Paper (121-E1p). Block of four on Salmon paper, large margins incl. top sheet margin, left essays faint vertical crease, Very Fine appearance, Scott Retail as singles
24c Green & Reddish Lilac, Trial Color Plate Proof on India (120TC3). Bottom right corner imprint and plate no. 24 block of ten with Reddish Lilac vignette plate no. 24, tiny pinhole and thin spot in selvage well away from designEXTREMELY FINE. A RARE AND DESIRABLE IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF TEN OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL TRIAL COLOR PLATE PROOF ON INDIA.
Ex Eagle. Scott Retail $6,280.00 as a plate block of eight and two singles of the normal color plate proof on India (Scott 120P3)
1c Buff (112). Original gum, h.r., bright color, unusually wide side margins, Very Fine
2c Brown (113). Original gum, h.r., rich color, Fine, small red backstamp, with 1989 P.S.E. certificate
2c Brown (113). Mint N.H. block of four, deep rich color and proof-like impressionVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A SCARCE MINT NEVER-HINGED BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 2-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
With 1997 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as hinged block of four
3c Ultramarine, Split Grill (114 var). Mint N.H., wide margins, bright shade, fresh and Very Fine, with 1996 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as hinged
3c Ultramarine (114). Mint N.H. block of six, rich color and proof-like impression, clearly-defined grills which are not split, the left stamps are especially well-centeredVERY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED BLOCK OF SIX OF THE 3-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
Most Mint N.H. examples of this issue have split grills. With copy of 2002 P.F. certificate for block of twelve. Scott Retail as hinged block of four and pair
6c Ultramarine (115). Original gum, lightly hinged, brilliant color on crisp paperVERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
With 1987 P.F. certificate
6c Ultramarine (115). Block of four, full original gum, bottom stamps very lightly hinged, bright colorFINE-VERY FINE. A RARE BLOCK OF THE 6-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
Jonathan Rose estimates that there are 7-8 unused blocks of the 6c 1869 Pictorial Issue. Of these, most have perfs significantly into the design.
Ex Argentum. With 1989 P.F. certificate
10c Yellow (116). Original gum, lightly hinged, brilliant color, fresh and Very Fine, with 1997 P.F. certificate
10c Yellow (116). Vertical block of six, original gum, hinge marks (bottom left stamp missing some gum and hinge remnant on top pair), vivid color on fresh paper, trimmed outside perforations at right and bottom, few minor perf separations sensibly reinforcedVERY FINE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF SIX OF THE 10-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE. THIS IS THE LARGEST MULTIPLE WE HAVE OFFERED SINCE KEEPING COMPUTERIZED RECORDS. THERE IS ONLY ONE LARGER BLOCK RECORDED.
This block of six was the better part of a block of nine offered in our 1984 Rarities sale (the three straight-edge stamps at left were subsequently removed). The census of 10c 1869 multiples by Michael Laurence (Chronicle, February 1974) showed the largest recorded block (15 stamps with imprint) and listed the block of nine (now reduced to six) as the second largest multiple. Two other blocks of six were recorded by Laurence, but one of them (ex Burrus) was reduced to a block of four (ex Bechtel and Zoellner). Therefore, this vertical block of six and a horizontal block of six are the two second-largest multiples after the block of 15, which is currently in the William H. Gross collection.
With 1984 P.F. and 1985 A.P.S. certificates mentioning only the perf separations. Scott Retail as block of four and pair
10c Yellow (116). Vibrant color, choice centering, bold strike of "X" Chop cancel found on mail from U.S. post offices in Japan, Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp, with 1985 P.F. certificate
12c Green (117). Original gum, rich color, intense shade and impression, Very Fine, with 1991 P.F. certificate
12c Green (117). Block of four, original gum, rich color, well-centered, some rejoined and reinforced vertical perfsVERY FINE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 12-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE
The Rose book on the 1869 Pictorial Issue notes eight unused blocks, including blocks of twelve (ex Col. Green and Rust), nine (ex Wunderlich and Ishikawa) and three blocks of six. We have offered two additional blocks of nine, in our 2009 and 2013 Rarities sales. Nearly all of the unused blocks are more or less off center. This well-centered block is one of the most attractive of all 12c 1869 multiples.
With 1998 P.F. certificate.
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. I (118). Large part original gum, well-centered, brilliant colors and extremely freshVERY FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT TYPE I 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
With 1995 P.S.E. certificate as "large part o.g." and 1996 P.F. certificate as "part o.g."
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. I (118). Wide margins, rich colors, lightly cancelled by circle of wedges, Very Fine and choice, with 1999 P.F. certificate
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II (119). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich colors and proof-like impressions, well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT TYPE II 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
With 1988 P.F. certificate
24c Green & Violet (120). Slightly disturbed original gum described on certificate as "sweated", intense colors and beautiful sharp impressions, well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE. SCARCE WITH SUCH CHOICE CENTERING.
With 1985 P.F. certificate
24c Green & Violet (120). Unused (regummed), bright color, with significant vignette shift, Very Fine and interesting printing variety
30c Ultramarine & Carmine (121). Original gum, lightly hinged, bright and fresh colors, wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SPECTACULAR HIGH-QUALITY ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
With 1986 and 2002 P.F. certificates
30c Ultramarine & Carmine (121). Brilliant colors and paper nicely complemented by red cork cancel, Very Fine and choice, scarce cancelled solely by a red cancel and usually indicative of use of supplementary mail from New York City, with 1979 and 2003 P.F. certificates
90c Carmine & Black (122). Original gum, intense color and impressions, clear grill, centered to bottom left but with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL WITH EXTRAORDINARILY WIDE MARGINS.
With 2002 P.F. certificate
90c Carmine & Black (122). Rich colors, bold cork cancel, fresh and Very Fine, with 1994 P.F. certificate