Sale 1304 — The Brian M. Bleckwenn Collection of United States First Issue Revenues
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 12-13 December, 2023
Category — First Issue Imperforate ($1.90-$3.50)
$1.90 Foreign Exchange, Purple, Imperforate (R80a). Large margins all around, bright color, neat May 22, 1863 manuscript cancel, negligible pinhole at bottom left
extremely fine APPEARANCE. A RARE FOUR-MARGINED EXAMPLE OF THE $1.90 IMPERFORATE FOREIGN EXCHANGE FIRST ISSUE REVENUE.
No multiples are known of this issue. We have offered perhaps 12-15 unduplicated examples since keeping computerized records. The example offered here has great eye appeal. Pencil notations on back including "Eagle" (Clarence Eagle collection) and New England Stamp Co.
$2.00 Conveyance, Red, Imperforate (R81a). Huge margins including bottom left corner sheet margin, rich color, Dec. 10, 1862 manuscript cancel, trivial crease at bottom right corner does not touch design, Extremely Fine, a huge stamp
$2.00 Conveyance, Red, Imperforate (R81a). Large even margins, cancelled by bold strike of red "S.D.H. Feb. 27, 1863" oval datestamp, Very Fine, a Power Search review of this issue failed to locate any other examples cancelled solely with a handstamp (let alone in red)
$2.00 Conveyance, Red, Imperforate (R81a). Huge margins including sheet margin at top, bright color, neat Feb. 1863 manuscript cancel, trivial scissor cut at bottom right, still Extremely Fine
$2.00 Conveyance, Red, Imperforate (R81a). Three huge margins and large at top including portion of adjoining stamp at left, rich color on bright white paper, neat Mar. 1863 manuscript cancel, Extremely Fine
$2.00 Conveyance, Red, Imperforate (R81a). Horizontal pair, large margins all around including bottom sheet margin, March 9, 1863 manuscript cancel, fresh and Extremely Fine pair
$2.00 Conveyance, Red, Imperforate (R81a). Horizontal strip of five, ample margins to just in, radiant color, March 2, 1863 manuscript cancel, horizontal crease, Fine-Very Fine appearance, a multiple of five is the largest recorded multiple, one irregular block of five is known (offered in lot 1294), Scott value $1,650 as pairs and single
$2.00 Conveyance, Red, Imperforate (R81a). Block of five, large even margins, rich color, each with neat March 24, 1863 manuscript cancel, trivial scissors-cut between block and single at left, Very Fine, this is the largest recorded multiple, Scott value $2,050 as block and single
$2.00 Mortgage, Red, Imperforate (R82a). Huge balanced margins, rich color on brilliant white paper, neat Aug. 1863 manuscript cancel, Extremely Fine Gem
$2.00 Mortgage, Red, Imperforate (R82a). Block of four, clear to very large margins, attractive color and light March 1863 manuscript cancels, small scissors cut between stamps at bottom, few minor light thin spots, Fine-Very Fine appearance, ex Joyce, The Curtis Collection website lists a block of six and block of four rejoined into a block of ten plus five other blocks of four (two are repaired)
$2.00 Mortgage, Red, Imperforate (R82a). Large margins all around including top right corner sheet margin, Dec. 31, 1863 manuscript cancel, right stamp internal tear, still Extremely Fine, scarce position piece, ex Whitman, Fay, "Cathedral" and Kingsley, Scott value $800 as pair and single
$2.00 Probate of Will, Red, Imperforate (R83a). Large margins to barely touched at top left, vivid color, 1863 manuscript cancel
VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE SOUND AND CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE IMPERFORATE $2.00 PROBATE OF WILL FIRST ISSUE.
This is a difficult issue to obtain in sound condition and is generally plagued with faults and tight margins.
$2.00 Probate of Will, Red, Imperforate (R83a). Horizontal pair, large margins to clear, vibrant color, March 1, 1867 manuscript cancel, small scissors-cut and sealed tear at top left
VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE PAIR OF THE $2.00 IMPERFORATE PROBATE OF WILL FIRST ISSUE.
The Curtis Collection website lists an irregular reconstructed block of four, two strips of three, four horizontal pairs and two vertical pairs. Ex Joyce and Cunliffe.
$2.50 Inland Exchange, Purple, Imperforate (R84a). Large margins all around, deep rich color on bright paper, Nov. 4, 1863 manuscript cancel, completely sound
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THE $2.50 IMPERFORATE INLAND EXCHANGE FIRST ISSUE REVENUE IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT STAMPS TO FIND IN SUCH SUPERB CONDITION.
A review using Power Search shows that the last time we offered a sound four-margin copy was in our 2016 Inman sale. The example offered here has wider margins than any other we have offered.
$2.50 Inland Exchange, Purple, Imperforate (R84a). Horizontal pair, large margins to clear, rich color, cancelled by July 23, 1864 manuscript cancels on deed for sale of a house in Chelsea Mass. for $3,400, pre-use vertical crease, some minor wrinkling from document
VERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONLY TWO PAIRS OF THE $2.50 IMPERFORATE INLAND EXCHANGE FIRST ISSUE REVENUE ARE RECORDED, AND A PAIR IS THE LARGEST RECORDED MULTIPLE. THIS IS ALSO THE ONLY MULTIPLE ON A DOCUMENT. ONE OF THE GREAT RARITIES OF FIRST ISSUE REVENUES.
Prior to August 1, 1864, the tax rate for transactions between $2,500 and $5,000 was $5.00 per thousand, so this correctly paid the tax. The other recorded pair, also horizontal, is ex Joyce and Cunliffe. Scott value $45,000 without premium for use on document.
$3.00 Charter Party, Green, Imperforate (R85a). Large to huge margins, rich color, three neat strikes of "Miller & Houghton N.Y. Oct 16 1863" circular datestamp, Very Fine and choice, particularly desirable with a handstamp
$3.00 Charter Party, Green, Imperforate (R85a). Large balanced margins including sheet margin at bottom, deep rich color, 1863 manuscript cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2003 P.S.E. certificate
$3.00 Charter Party, Green, Imperforate (R85a). Huge balanced margins, rich color on unusually bright white paper, neat 1863 manuscript cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a superlative stamp in every respect
$3.00 Charter Party, Green, Imperforate (R85a). Large margins all around including left part imprint and "No. 300 D" plate number, deep rich color, bold strike of 1866 county court double-circle datestamp struck so strongly it breaks thru the paper, few creases, Extremely Fine appearance, rare and desirable with the plate number
$3.00 Charter Party, Imperforate (R85a). Block of six, large margins to just in at upper right, deep rich color on bright paper, March 28, 1868 manuscript cancels, faint pressed-out vertical crease at right (left block of four is sound)
FINE-VERY FINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS THE LARGEST RECORDED MULTIPLE OF THE IMPERFORATE $3.00 CHARTER PARTY.
The next largest multiples are strips of three. Ex Joyce, Cunliffe and Curtis. Scott value $8,550 as block and pair.
$3.00 Manifest, Green, Imperforate (R86a). Huge margins including portions of adjacent stamps at bottom and right, deep rich color, neat strike of "Macondray & Co. Jan. 15 1867" circular datestamp cancel, Extremely Fine Gem
$3.00 Manifest, Green, Imperforate (R86a). Margins large to huge including sheet margin at top, neat 1864 manuscript cancel, Extremely Fine
$3.00 Manifest, Green, Imperforate (R86a). Block of four, large margins to barely touched at bottom right, intense color and impression, June 22, 1863 manuscript cancels, completely sound
VERY FINE. A BLOCK OF FOUR IS THE LARGEST RECORDED MULTIPLE OF THE $3.00 IMPERFORATE MANIFEST, AND ONLY TWO ARE RECORDED.
Ex Joyce.
$3.00 Manifest, Green, Imperforate, Counterfeit (R86a CF1). Unused (no gum), huge margins including bottom left corner sheet margins, unused, light creases mostly in margin
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A RARE AND STUNNING CORNER SHEET MARGIN EXAMPLE OF THE $3.00 MANIFEST COUNTERFEIT. PERHAPS A HALF DOZEN ARE KNOWN.
Illustrated in the Scott U.S. Specialized Catalogue.
$3.50 Inland Exchange, Blue, Imperforate (R87a). Large margins all around, deep rich color, neat manuscript cancel, faint horizontal crease at bottom right in margin
EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE FOUR-MARGIN AND ESSENTIALLY SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE $3.50 INLAND EXCHANGE IMPERFORATE.
Only 1,430 were issued imperforate. A review using Power Search found perhaps three others in sound and well-centered condition comparable to this example.
$3.50 Inland Exchange, Blue, Imperforate (R87a). Horizontal pair, large margins to ample, deep rich color, light manuscript cancel, completely sound
VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A PAIR IS THE LARGEST RECORDED MULTIPLE FOR THIS ISSUE. ONLY TWO HORIZONTAL AND TWO VERTICAL PAIRS ARE RECORDED. ONE OF THE GREAT RARITIES OF THE ISSUE.
The Curtis Collection website records no blocks, and only four pairs. This is the first horizontal pair we have offered since the 1993 Sheriff sale. Ex Joyce.