Sale 968 — The Alan B. Whitman Collection of Outstanding United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 27-28 January, 2009
Category — 1869 Pictorial Issue (Scott 112-122)
1c Buff (112). Mint N.H., rich color, long and full perforations, Very Fine and choice, with 2000 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as hinged
2c Brown (113). Original gum, lightly hinged, intense shade and impression, Very Fine and choice, with 1993 P.F. certificate
3c Ultramarine, Split Grill (114 var). Mint N.H. with selvage at right, brilliant color on post-office fresh paper, beautiful centering and extra wide margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1991 and 1995 P.F. certificates, Scott Retail as hinged
6c Ultramarine (115). Original gum, lightly hinged, rich color on bright paper, well-defined grill, unusually choice centering with well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE, WHICH BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. A STUNNING STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT.
With 2000 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF-Superb 95). This is the highest grade awarded to date and only three others share this grade.
10c Yellow (116). Original gum, vivid color and impression, wide margins and choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE. A PARTICULARLY FRESH ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
With 2000 P.F. certificate
12c Green (117). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich color and sharp proof-like impression, beautifully centered with unusually wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE. THIS MARVELOUS STAMP, WITH GORGEOUS CENTERING, WIDE MARGINS, LONG AND FULL PERFORATIONS AND STRONG COLOR, HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
With 1971 and 2001 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF-Superb 95). Only two others share this grade and only three have graded higher to date.
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. I (118). Original gum, deep rich colors and proof-like impressions on crisp paper, beautiful centering with well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
With 1995 P.F. certificate
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II (119). Mint N.H. with selvage at right, deep rich colors and proof-like impressions, choice centeringVERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT TYPE II 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE. THIS IS THE FIRST MINT NEVER-HINGED SINGLE WE HAVE OFFERED SINCE KEEPING COMPUTERIZED RECORDS. A PHENOMENAL RARITY OF THE ISSUE.
Large multiples of this issue do exist, and we have surveyed or sold most of them. Several contain Mint N.H. examples, but they are invariably off-center. Most of the blocks containing Mint N.H. stamps are significantly off-center, with perfs at least touching or well into the designs. The one exception is a left selvage block of fifteen which contains eight Mint N.H. stamps. This is unlikely to be broken as it usually forms the linchpin of a great 1869 Pictorial collection.
With 1985 and 2000 P.F. certificates. Scott Retail as hinged does not even remotely reflect the rarity of this item.
24c Green & Violet (120). Original gum, strong grill impression, rich colors on bright paper, choice centering, unusual and distinctive additional printing ink from the vignette at bottom which may have been caused by a partial "kiss" as it was being taken off of the printing pressEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE. SCARCE IN THIS SUPERIOR GRADE.
The 24c 1869 Pictorial is readily available in original-gum condition. However, choice centering and sound paper are elusive qualities among examples of this issue. This stamp has color, centering and margins that appear more like its re-issue counterpart.
With 1985 and 1994 P.F. certificates which do not mention the additional ink.
30c Ultramarine & Carmine (121). Original gum, single hinge mark, brilliant colors, unusually wide and balanced margins, long and full perforations all aroundEXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE. A REMARKABLY FRESH STAMP WITH TREMENDOUS VISUAL APPEAL.
Ex "Alford". With 1984 and 1998 P.F. and 1994 P.S.E. certificates
90c Carmine & Black (122). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich colors and detailed impressions, choice centering with well-proportioned marginsEXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE IN EXISTENCE. A MAGNIFICENT STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT.
The 90c 1869 Pictorial is widely admired for its beautiful engraving and dignified portrait of Abraham Lincoln. However, collectors have been frustrated in their efforts to acquire choice examples of this issue. Used 90c stamps are typically heavily cancelled, because the high denomination was cause for postal clerks to thoroughly obliterate any chance for re-use. Naturally, the significant monetary value of 90c in 1869 limited the number of unused stamps that would be saved for future collectors. Therefore, the collector ideals of "well-centered with original gum" and "lightly cancelled" are seldom obtainable in the available supply of 90c 1869's. The stamp offered here, with lightly-hinged original gum, rich color and choice centering, probably ranks among the top 1% of surviving 90c 1869's in unused state.
With 1996 P.F. certificate