Sale 1166 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 24-26 October, 2017
Category — 1869 Pictorial Issue (Scott 112-122)
1c Buff (112). Unused (no gum), brilliant color, unusually wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2017 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $850.00), this is a difficult issue to obtain in the higher grades
2c Brown (113). Original gum, lightly hinged, with part right arrow selvage, bright shade, well-proportioned margins, Extremely Fine, with 2017 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, VF-XF 85; SMQ $1,000.00), for the smart collector who wants to get an XF 90 stamp based on an 85 SMQ value, here it is
2c Brown (113). Original gum, lightly hinged, with right part imprint selvage, bright color, fresh, Very Fine and choice, with 2017 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, VF 80; SMQ $625.00), in our opinion this is a solid 85 and possibly 90
2c Brown (113). Original gum, rich color, Very Fine, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate
2c Brown (113). Intense shade on bright paper, near perfect centering, beautifully struck blue target cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp in every respect, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $775.00 for ordinary black cancel)
2c Brown (113). Rich color on bright white paper, wide margins and wonderfully well-centered, neat quartered cork cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 P.F. and 2017 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $250.00)
6c Ultramarine (115). Original gum, lightly hinged, lovely color on bright paper, Fine, scarce in sound original-gum condition, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate
6c Ultramarine (115). Unused (no gum), choice centering with well-proportioned margins, bright color, tiny corner perf tip thin, Extremely Fine appearance, ex Curtis
6c Ultramarine (115). Mostly complete and clear "Hiogo, Japan" double-circle cancel, few creases, Fine, very scarce use on the 6c 1869 Issue
10c Yellow (116). Wide margins and outstanding centering, neat strike of waffle grid cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,050.00), only five have graded higher
10c Yellow (116). Excellent centering, wide margins, bright color, circle of wedges cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $425.00)
12c Green (117). Part original gum, well-centered within unusually wide margins, fresh color, couple tiny thins at bottom left, Very Fine appearance, with 1993 P.F. certificate
12c Green (117). Gorgeous centering with unusually wide and balanced margins, intense shade and impression, neat cork cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp in every respect, with 1993 P.S.E. certificate
12c Green (117). Near perfect centering with wide margins, strong impression and color, light cancel with traces of red transit, Extremely Fine, with 1994 P.F. certificate
12c Green, Double Grill (117 var). Clear second grill applied slightly to the lower left of the other, rich color, wide margins and well-centered, cork cancel, couple shorter perfs at lower right, appears Extremely Fine, with 1986 P.F. certificate
12c Green (117). Light but readable "Hiogo, Japan" double-circle cancel, minute corner perf repair at top left, Fine appearance, an exceptionally scarce use
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. I (118). Original gum, lightly hinged, unusually choice centering with wide margins, sharp impressions with perfectly aligned vignette and frame, bright colors and overall freshness rarely encountered in this issueVERY FINE AND CHOICE. THE 15-CENT 1869 TYPE I IS VERY RARE IN THIS ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.
The 15c Type I comes from the first 1869 printing; in May 1869 the 15c went to press using the second frame plate, which produced Type II. In a condition census, both Type I and II would show similar numbers known in the top tier of original-gum condition -- probably 8 to 10 of each. However, Type I is generally a rarer stamp and carries a much higher Scott Catalogue value.
Ex "Laila". With 2000 P.F. certificate
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. I (118). Disturbed original gum, bright colors, Fine, with 2017 P.F. certificate
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. I (118). Part disturbed original gum, vignette showing unusual shift to the right, fresh colors, Fine, Scott Retail as original gum
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. I (118). Unused (no gum), bright colors, downward vignette shift, tiny thin speck not mentioned on certificate, Fine appearance, with 1978 P.F. certificate
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. I (118). Unusually wide and even margins all around, deep rich colors and proof-like impressions, unobtrusive cork cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A GORGEOUS USED EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT TYPE I 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE. ONE OF THE FINEST WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED.
With 2017 P.S.A.G. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo). With 2017 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $4,000.00). This looks like a Jumbo to us.
24c Green & Violet (120). Original gum, lightly hinged, rich colors on bright paperVERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
The 24c 1869 Pictorial, even in original-gum condition, is not a rare stamp. However, centering and soundness are elusive qualities among examples of this issue.
24c Green & Violet (120). Unused (no gum), deep rich colors and proof-like impressions on bright and crisp paper, outstanding centering for this high value with well-proportioned marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE. A RARE STAMP IN THIS CHOICE CONDITION.
With 1981, 1996 P.F. and 2016 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $4,600.00). Only two unused Scott 120's have been graded higher by P.S.E. (one each no gum and original gum at 95)
30c Ultramarine & Carmine (121). Large part original gum which covers most of the back and missing slightly along edges, h.r., centered a bit to top, Fine
30c Ultramarine & Carmine (121). Deep rich colors, bold cork cancel, vignette shifted strongly to left, Very Fine and choice, this is one of the most dramatic shifts on the 30c 1869 Pictorial we have ever encountered
30c Ultramarine & Carmine (121). Excellent centering with wide margins, fresh colors, Extremely Fine
90c Carmine & Black (122). Unused (no gum), accompanying certificate notes pressed-out grill, which is curious considering that Scott 132 catalogues significantly less than Scott 122, Very Fine, with 2017 P.F. certificate
90c Carmine & Black (122). Well-centered, segmented cork cancel, couple light creases, Very Fine appearance
15c-90c 1869 Pictorial Inverts, Plate Proofs on Card (120aP4, 121aP4, 122aP4, 129aP4). Large margins all around, deep rich colors on bright cardsVERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL SET OF 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE INVERT PLATE PROOFS. ONLY ONE SHEET OF 100 OF EACH WAS PRODUCED.
All known examples of these invert proofs come from the sheets in the Earl of Crawford collection. The 30c with 1980 P.F. certificate