Sale 1240 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 20-21 July, 2021
Category — 1869 Pictorial Issue and 1875 Re-Issue (Scott 112-133)
1c Buff (112). Horizontal strip of three with huge straddle-pane margin at right, showing part of adjoining stamp and arrow at top right, choice centering with wide to huge margins, Very Fine-Extremely Fine, an attractive position piece, with 1998 P.F. certificate, Scott value as pair and single
2c Brown (113). Huge Jumbo margins and perfectly centered, fresh color, neat target cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING USED EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
Ex Dr. Dauer. With 2006 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95)
3c Ultramarine, Split Grill (114 var). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression on bright paper, gorgeous centering with unusually wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE WITH SPLIT GRILL, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY THE P.F.
Illustrated in May 1991 1869 Times. With 1990 and 2019 P.F. certificates (Superb 98). By way of comparison, P.S.E. has issued only two at this grade (we haven't offered them) and only one higher (at 98J). Scott value as hinged
6c Ultramarine (115). Block of twelve (4 by 3), original gum, lightly hinged, at least one stamp Mint N.H., rich color, vertical crease in third columnFINE AND EXTREMELY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM LARGE BLOCK OF THE 6-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE. THIS IS THE SECOND LARGEST RECORDED MULTIPLE.
Our records contain only this unused block of twelve, with just two larger -- both blocks of sixteen (one ex Zoellner and the other ex Dr. Heimburger). This block was featured in our 1970 Rarities sale.
Scott value $43,500.00 as two blocks of four and two pairs
6c Ultramarine (115). Horizontal strip of four, original gum, rich color on fresh paper, light horizontal crease at bottom of all stamps, Fine appearance, with 1997 P.S.E. certificate for the strip of five from which this came, Scott value $10,500.00 as two pairs
1c Buff, 10c Yellow (112, 116). Single 1c and two 10c, each with "Hiogo, Japan" double-circle handstamp, few small faults, Fine appearing trio with this desirable cancel, which is very scarce on the 1c 1869 Pictorial, the U.S. Post Office opened in Hiogo in 1868, one year after those in Yokohama and Nagasaki, and was in operation until December 1874; the rate was 10c to the U.S., 3c or 6c between Treaty Ports and additional rates to Europe, one 10c with P.F. certificate, Scott value $1,750.00
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10c Yellow (116). Extra wide margins including huge interpane margin at right, showing part arrow at top, tied on small blue piece by exceptionally bold and clear strike of "Hiogo, Japan" double-circle handstamp, Extremely Fine sound stamp and one of the finest strikes of this desirable Japan cancel we have encountered, with 2020 P.F. certificate
12c Green (117). Unused (no gum), excellent centering, fresh color, small thin spot, Very Fine and choice appearance
12c Green (117). Block of nine, original gum, some hinge reinforcing of separated perfs, strong color, top right stamp with top perfs trimmed away at top, right middle stamps with trivial creaseFINE APPEARANCE. A VERY RARE BLOCK OF NINE OF THE 12-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
The Rose book notes only six unused blocks larger than four stamps, including off-center blocks of twelve and nine and three blocks of six. We have offered two other blocks of nine apart from this one. All but one of the blocks of six or larger are off center to varying degrees.
With 1993 P.F. certificate. Scott value $23,850.00 as a block of four, two pairs, and a single
90c Carmine & Black (122). Wide margins and choice centering, bold "prison bar" roller cancel, Extremely Fine, with 1982 A.P.S. certificate
1c Buff, Re-Issue (123). Deep rich color on bright paper, choice centering with wide and balanced margins, bold cork cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM USED EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE.
Ex Curtis. With 1982, 2001 and 2019 P.F. certificates. With 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $2,900.00). Only one grades higher (at 98) and four others share this grade
24c Green & Violet, Re-Issue (130). Original gum, lightly hinged, huge margins and choice centering though one of two certificates states reperfed at top, crisp impression and rich colors on bright white paper, Extremely Fine appearance, with clear 2000 P.F. certificate, with 2021 P.S.E. certificate stating reperfed -- the gauge and hole shapes are perfect, but the top and bottom are not precisely parallel