Sale 1150 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday, 1 March, 2017
Category — 1875 Re-Issue of 1869 Pictorial Issue (Scott 123-133a)
1c-15c 1869 Pictorial Re-Issue (123-124, 126-127, 129, 133). Unused (no gum) or regummed except No. 133 original gum, h.r., rich colors, few faults, overall appear Fine
3c Blue, Re-Issue (125). Part original gum, bright color, light crease, tiny thin speck at top left, Fine appearance, ex Slawson, with 1965 P.F. certificate
3c Blue, Re-Issue (125). Unused (no gum), rich color, couple short perfs at top left, otherwise Fine, with 2016 P.F. certificate
3c Blue, Re-Issue (125). Exceptional depth of color and proof-like impression, bold New York City duplex oval grid cancel, completely soundVERY FINE. THIS NEWLY DISCOVERED STAMP IS ONE OF THE FINEST USED EXAMPLES OF THE RARE 3-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE. ONLY SIXTEEN ARE RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS AND ONLY FIVE ARE CONFIRMED AS SOUND.
Our census of Scott 125 in used condition, available at our website at http://siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/125/125.pdf , contains only 16 copies, including one on piece and one on the recently re-emerged Caspary cover. Of the used off-cover copies, only five are confirmed as sound, including the example offered here and the one on piece. One other stamp is potentially sound but needs to be re-examined as it has an old certificate. This stamp, the ex-"Golden Oak" stamp offered in our Sale 1062 and the ex-Zoellner and "Natalee Grace" stamp offered in our Sale 1027 are the finest centered of the few sound examples.
Census No. 125-CAN-16. With 2017 P.S.E. certificate. The Scott Catalogue notes "Very few authenticated sound used copies of No. 125 are recorded. The used value is for an attractive example with minimal faults"
6c Blue, Re-Issue (126). Original gum, lightly hinged, rich color on brilliant paper, wide margins and choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE. A FRESH AND BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE.
With 2017 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $2,500.00)
6c Blue, Re-Issue (126). Neat New York registry oval cancels, natural inclusion at left, light perf creases at top, otherwise Fine, scarce in used condition
10c Yellow, Re-Issue (127). Vibrant color, perfect strike of New York registry oval cancel, well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY 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 choice condition.
With 1962 and 2014 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85)
10c Yellow, Re-Issue (127). Vibrant color, bold strike of registry oval cancel, fresh and Fine, scarce in used condition, with 1975 P.F. certificate
12c Green, Re-Issue (128). Unused (no gum), intense shade and impression, thin spot at center, Fine appearance
12c Green, Re-Issue (128). Intense shade and impression, bold strike of oval grid duplex cancel, expert repair at bottom left, otherwise Very Fine, scarce in used condition
15c Brown & Blue, Re-Issue (129). Rich colors, unobtrusive strike of registry oval cancel, fresh and Very Fine, small purple backstamp
15c Brown & Blue, Re-Issue, Imperforate Horizontally (129a). Original gum, deep rich colors and proof-like impressions, wide nicely proportioned marginsEXTREMELY FINE. AN INCREDIBLY FRESH ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 15-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE IMPERFORATE HORIZONTALLY. A TRUE CONDITION RARITY AND AMONG THE FINEST EXTANT.
In United States Postage Stamps of 1869, the late Jonathan Rose states that only one sheet of 100 was issued. A significantly smaller group are still known to exist. Many are without gum, not well-centered, or faulty. The stamp offered here is one of the finest we have ever encountered, and it is comparable to the Whitman copy sold in our Sale 968 for $32,500 hammer.
With 1982 and 2002 P.F. certificates
24c Green & Violet, Re-Issue (130). Large part original gum, intense colors and impressions, light corner perf creases at right, Fine appearance
24c Green & Violet, Re-Issue (130). Bold registry oval cancels, reperfed, Fine appearance, light purple backstamp
30c Blue & Carmine, Re-Issue (131). Original gum, beautiful color and proof-like impressions on bright paper, almost perfect centering with wide margins all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE.
With 2001 P.F. certificate
30c Ultramarine & Carmine, Re-Issue (131). Part original gum, Very Fine, with 1984 P.F. certificate
30c Ultramarine & Carmine, Re-Issue (131). Large part original gum, h.r., rich colors, fresh and Very Fine, ex Slawson, with 1965 P.F. certificate
30c Ultramarine & Carmine, Re-Issue (131). Rich colors, neat strikes of registry oval cancel, reperfed, Very Fine appearance, scarce in used condition
90c Carmine & Black, Re-Issue (132). Original gum, deep rich colors and proof-like impressions, unusually choice centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (OGh, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $12,500.00). Only four have graded higher.
90c Carmine & Black, Re-Issue (132). Unused (no gum), deep rich colors, trivial perf crease at top center not mentioned on accompanying certificate, Very Fine, ex Slawson, with 1965 P.F. certificate
90c Carmine & Black, Re-Issue (132). Unused (no gum), deep rich colors on bright paper, single pulled perf at bottom, otherwise Very Fine
90c Carmine & Black, Re-Issue (132). Bright colors, unobtrusive cancel, tears at right and light diagonal creases at top right, otherwise Fine, scarce in used condition, with 2017 P.F. certificate
1c Buff, 1880 Re-Issue (133). Original gum, lightly hinged, rich color and bright paper, fresh and Very Fine, with 1984 P.F. certificate
1c Brown Orange, 1881 Re-Issue (133a). Without gum as issued, rich color, wide and balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, a surprisingly difficult issue to find with such choice centering, ex Whitman, with 2001, 2009 and 2016 P.F. certificates (XF 90), with 2015 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $625.00)
1c Brown Orange, 1881 Re-Issue (133a). Without gum as issued, radiant color, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 2001 P.F. certificate for block of four