Sale 1106 — 2015 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Thursday, 25 June, 2015
Category — 1869 Pictorial Issue and Re-Issue
1c Buff (112). Rich color on bright paper, centered to top right, cancelled by a perfect strike of Waterbury Conn. 3-Leaf Clover fancy cancel (Rohloff F-13), small corner crease at top right of little consequence, Extremely Fine and extraordinary strike, our computerized records show that we previously offered strikes of this cancel on a 1c 1869 in our Laehder sale (Sale 1013, lot 146) and on two 2c 1869's in our Heimburger (Sale 1054, lot 472) and Eubanks (Sale 1004, lot 19) sales, with 2009 P.F. certificate
2c Brown (113). With bottom right corner sheet margin showing end roller grill along edge, stamp Mint N.H., h.r. in selvage only, bright color and detailed impressionVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED 2-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL WITH FULL CORNER SHEET-MARGIN SHOWING A BIT OF END-ROLLER GRILL.
With 1990 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as hinged.
3c Ultramarine (114). Mint N.H., deep rich color, unusually choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
P.S.E. encapsulated (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $2,500.00). We believe this should have been graded 98 or 95 Jumbo. Only two Mint N.H. stamps have graded higher to date. Scott Retail as hinged
15c Dark Brown & Blue, Ty. II (119 var). Original gum, deep rich colors and proof-like impressions on crisp paper, wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT TYPE II 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE WITH THE FRAME PRINTED IN THE DISTINCTIVE DARK BROWN SHADE.
With 2007 P.F. certificate as normal shade (VF-XF 85)
90c Carmine & Black (122). Original gum, deep rich colors and proof-like impressions, unusually choice centering with wide and balanced margins, clearly-defined grillEXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF 90 BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION. AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT ISSUE TO OBTAIN IN SUCH SUPERB CONDITION.
The 90c 1869 Pictorial is widely admired for its beautiful engraving and dignified portrait of Abraham Lincoln. However, collectors have been frustrated in their efforts to acquire choice examples of this issue. Used 90c stamps are typically heavily cancelled, because the high denomination was cause for postal clerks to thoroughly obliterate any chance for re-use. Naturally, the significant monetary value of 90c in 1869 limited the number of unused stamps that would be saved for future collectors. Therefore, the collector ideals of "well-centered with original gum" and "lightly cancelled" are seldom obtainable in the available supply of 90c 1869's. The stamp offered here, with lightly hinged original gum and choice centering, probably ranks among the top 1% of surviving 90c 1869's in unused state.
With 1987 and 2008 P.F. certificates (XF 90).
30c Ultramarine & Carmine, Flags Inverted (121b). Unused (no gum), deep rich colors and detailed impressions, single pulled perf at bottom, faint staining mostly on backVERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF SEVEN RECORDED UNUSED EXAMPLES OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL INVERT. ONE OF THE GREATEST RARITIES OF UNITED STATES PHILATELY.
Only seven unused examples of the 30c 1869 Pictorial Issue with inverted flags are known. Only one has original gum (recently sold in our auction of the "Beverly Hills" collection for $600,000 hammer). The other six have no gum. Of the seven unused copies, the original-gum example is sound. One other is confirmed as sound (our 2014 Rarities sale) and one other may potentially be sound.
Census No. 121b-UNC-06. Ex Ward, Sinkler, Heathcote, Shafer and "Newport." With 1967 and 2007 P.F. certificates.
Our census of the unused 30c 1869 Pictorial Issue Inverts is available at: http://siegelauctions.com/2013/1052/30c_Unused.pdf
6c Blue, Re-Issue (126). Perfect centering with wide margins all around, bright color, lightly struck target cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. GRADED SUPERB 98, THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADED EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE IN ANY CONDITION -- EITHER UNUSED OR USED -- AND USED IS SIGNIFICANTLY RARER. ONE OF THE FINEST 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE STAMPS EXTANT.
The 6c is one of the rarest of the 1869 Pictorial Re-Issues in used condition. SMQ estimates that approximately 30 exist, and our own informal count concurs. Most are either off-center or have flaws. This superb stamp is certainly the finest of the used population. There are no other 6c Re-Issues graded higher than 95 in any gum condition - original gum, no gum or used (four original gum, one no gum and one used are graded 95).
With 2015 P.F. (Superb 98) and 2015 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 95, SMQ $17,500.00 as 95). By way of comparison, in the instances where SMQ prices unused 1869 Pictorial Re-Issues at a 98 grade, it prices them approximately twice the value of a 95 (only the 1c is priced at 98 used and it is also double the 95 price). If that were to hold for this stamp, SMQ would be approximately $35,000.00
10c Yellow, Re-Issue (127). Wide margins, excellent centering, wonderfully bright and fresh, lightly struck New York City duplex datestamp and oval grid cancelEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE.
SMQ estimates that approximately 30 used examples are known. We estimate that between 30 and 50 are known used. However, it is surprisingly difficult to obtain in such select condition.
With 2012 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $3,500.00).
12c Green, Re-Issue (128). Deep rich color and proof-like impression, unusually wide margins, neat strike of duplex cancelEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE.
The 12c 1869 Pictorial Re-Issue is the second rarest of the set in used condition (the 3c is the rarest). The Rose book estimates 15-25 extant used copies, and SMQ estimates 20 extant.
With 2015 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85 XQ). The XQ in the grade is used for stamps of extraordinary quality.
30c Blue & Carmine, Re-Issue (131). Original gum, h.r., deep rich colors, choice centering with wide and balanced margins all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MARVELOUS ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
With 1993 and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (OGh, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $9,000.00).
90c Carmine & Black, Re-Issue (132). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich colors on bright paper, choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE.
With 1976 P.F. and 2014 P.S.E. certificates