Sale 1120 — Outstanding United States Stamps
Sale Date — Thursday-Friday, 17-18 March, 2016
Category — 1875 Re-Issue of 1869 Pictorial Issue (Scott 123-133a)
1c Buff, Re-Issue (123). Well-centered, rich color, blue cancel top left corner, Very Fine, with 1975 and 2004 P.F. certificates, Scott Retail with no premium for the colored cancel
1c Buff, Re-Issue (123). Exceptional centering within wide margins, strong rich color and impression, neat Starburst cancel which differs from the typical heavy duplex associated with these Re-Issues, Extremely Fine, a choice used example
3c Blue, Re-Issue (125). Lightly hinged, deep rich color, exceptionally choice centering for this difficult issue with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THE 3-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE WE HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED. THIS IS THE MOST DIFFICULT DENOMINATION TO OBTAIN IN SUCH SUPERB CONDITION.
Original sales figures show that among the 1869 Pictorial Re-Issues, the 3c and 90c stamps accounted for the smallest number of units sold (1,406 and 1,356, respectively). Overall, the 1869's were popular with stamp collectors, far outselling the 1851-60 and 1861-66 Re-Issue sets. However, the 90c stamp's high denomination and the availability of ordinary 3c stamps limited demand. Today, both are rare, and handling over the years has not been kind to most of the surviving examples. The stamp offered here is one of the finest we have ever encountered.
With 2016 P.F. certificate (XF 90). By way of comparison, only two stamps graded by P.S.E have been awarded a 90 grade, along with two at 95. We feel this is a very strong 90 and could have received a 95
6c Blue, Re-Issue (126). Original gum, deep rich color and detailed impression, essentially perfect centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION.
With 2015 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95)
10c Yellow, Re-Issue (127). Wide margins, excellent centering, wonderfully bright and fresh, oval registry cancelEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE.
With 1985 P.F. certificate
15c Brown & Blue, Re-Issue (129). Beautifully centered with wide and balanced margins, deep rich colors and sharp impressions on bright paper, light strike of Cleveland oval registry cancel frames the vignette leaving the entire design clearly visibleEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SENSATIONAL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE IN THE FINEST ATTAINABLE CONDITION, WITH WIDE MARGINS, RICH COLOR, AND A BEAUTIFULLY-PLACED CANCEL.
The Type III design of the 15c Re-Issue is similar to the Type I, except it lacks shading lines around the vignette. According to SMQ approximately 70 used examples are known. Our experience has been that most are either faulty or off-center.
Ex "Natalee Grace". With 1992 P.F. and 2015 P.S.A.G. certificates (95 used).
90c Carmine & Black, Re-Issue (132). Rich colors on bright paper, huge right margin, wide margins top and bottom and full at left, face-free cork cancel leaves Lincoln vignette totally unobscuredFRESH AND VERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND SCARCE SOUND USED EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE.
SMQ estimates that approximately 40 used copies exist. Most are either off-center or have small faults. With 2008 P.S.E. certificate