Sale 1089 — The Curtis Collection: U.S. Revenues, Part 1
Sale Date — Tuesday, 16 December, 2014
Category — Third Issue Inverts
2c Orange & Black, Third Issue, Center Inverted (R135b). Unused (no gum), rich colors, detailed impressions, Very Fine and choice, a pretty stamp, Scott Retail as used
2c Orange & Black, Third Issue, Center Inverted (R135b). Rich color, neat strike of blue Sep. 2, 1872 handstamp cancel, fresh and Very Fine, ex Twigg-Smith
2c Orange & Black, Third Issue, Center Inverted (R135b). Horizontal pair, original gum, h.r., tiny thin spot at top left, Fine appearance, a scarce multiple, ex Cunliffe, Scott Retail as used
5c Orange & Black, Third Issue, Center Inverted (R137a). Intense colors and impressions, two strikes of blue handstamp cancel, light creasesVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT THIRD ISSUE INVERT WITH EXTRAORDINARILY WIDE MARGINS AND CHOICE CENTERING. ONLY 21 EXAMPLES ARE KNOWN IN TOTAL.
In his privately published census, Larry Lyons records 20 examples. Of these, three are on a part document. Of the 17 off-document copies, 13 have faults of varying degrees, the most common being creases (9). Most copies of this invert are off-center -- the example offered here has far better centering than most.
Ex Cunliffe. With 1983 P.F. certificate
15c Brown & Black, Third Issue, Center Inverted (R139a). Rich colors, bold strike of blue numeral handstamp cancel ("36" in circle), minor surface scuffs at rightVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT THIRD ISSUE REVENUE INVERT. ONLY THIRTEEN SINGLES AND ONE PAIR ARE RECORDED.
Larry Lyons, in his privately published census, records 13 singles and a pair, for a total of 15 stamps. Approximately half have cut cancels and most are poorly centered.
Ex Cunliffe. With 1983 P.F. certificate.
15c Brown & Black, Third Issue, Center Inverted (R139a). Vertical pair, detailed impressions, neat 1872 manuscript cancels, also with waffle iron grid cancelFINE AND RARE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED MULTIPLE OF THE 15-CENT THIRD ISSUE REVENUE INVERT. ONLY THIRTEEN SINGLES AND THIS ONE PAIR ARE RECORDED.
Larry Lyons, in his privately published census, records 13 singles and a pair, for a total of 15 stamps. Approximately half have cut cancels and most are poorly centered.
Ex Joyce (where illustrated on the front cover of the catalogue) and Cunliffe. Scott Retail as two singles $32,000.00. Scott Retail as two singles with cut cancel $18,000.00
30c Orange & Black, Third Issue, Center Inverted (R140a). Radiant colors, herringbone and blue cancels, light horizontal crease, Very Fine appearance, Scott Retail with cut cancel
$1.00 Green & Black, Third Issue, Center Inverted (R144a). Deep rich colors, unobtrusive cut cancels, light creasesVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 THIRD ISSUE REVENUE WITH INVERTED CENTER. ONE OF THE GREAT REVENUE RARITIES.
In his privately published census, Larry Lyons records a total of 26 copies. The example offered here is not included in the census and becomes No. 27. Of these five are on one document and one is on another, leaving 21 copies not on documents. At least 14 of the 21 have faults, leaving only seven sound or potentially sound copies, most of which have mixed centering. The example offered here, without an obscuring cancel, with nice centering and with minimal faults, is a great rarity.
Ex Cunliffe.
$2.50 Claret & Black, Third Issue, Center Inverted (R146a). With wide top sheet margin (imperforate horizontally at top), rich colors, almost uncut herringbone cancel, some soiling, tiny thin speck at top mostly in marginFINE APPEARANCE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE $2.50 THIRD ISSUE REVENUE INVERT. ONLY FOURTEEN ARE RECORDED.
Larry Lyons in his privately published census records only fourteen copies of this invert rarity. Two are repaired and one has perfs trimmed away on two sides.
Ex Cunliffe. With 1967 P.F. certificate.
2c Orange & Black on Green Paper, Third Issue, Center Inverted (R151a). Rich colors, neat 1865 manuscript cancel, tiny thin speck, Very Fine appearance