Sale 1024 — The Natalee Grace Collection of Used Stamps of the United States, Part One: 1847-1868 Issues
Sale Date — Thursday, 7 June, 2012
Category — 10c-90c 1861-66 Issue (Scott 68-72)
10c Green (68). Mathematically perfect centering with Jumbo margins, bright color and crisp impression, neat strike of grid cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS PHENOMENAL STAMP HAS BEEN GRADED GEM 100 JUMBO BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE POSSIBLE ON THE GRADING SCALE. THIS IS ALSO THE ONLY PERFORATED STAMP PRIOR TO SCOTT 148 TO ACHIEVE THIS PERFECT GRADE. A TRULY REMARKABLE STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT.
The 10c is the only denomination of the 1861-66 Issue that was actually issued in two types. Type I, Scott 62B, was printed from Plate 4. Type II STAMPS -- Scott 68 and its grilled counterparts -- were printed from Plates 15 and 26. It has been surmised that Type I was pressed into service to help fill strong demand for 10c stamps after demonetization of the earlier issue. The 10c stamps paid the transcontinental rate, the ship-letter rate and certain rates to foreign countries.
Despite the high production numbers this is a difficult denomination to obtain in superb quality. Of the 145 used copies sent to P.S.E. for grading, only six have graded higher than a 95 (including the stamp offered here). Another denomination produced in even greater quantity, the 3c, has none graded 100J and only one at 100, despite more than 400 submissions. Submissions tend to be skewed towards higher-quality stamps, so this statistic is even more significant.
With 1997 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (Gem 100 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $2,750.00 as 98). This is the highest grade awarded to date. This is also the earliest perforated Scott number to achieve this grade -- none have graded 100J for the 1857-60 Issue, and this is the only example for the entire issue (plus the next three issues) to achieve this grade. The next perforated stamp to achieve this grade is the 6c Bank Note Issue, Scott 148.
10c Dark Green (68a). Deep rich color and proof-like impression, gorgeous centering with balanced Jumbo margins, unobtrusive cork cancel leaves entire design clearly visible, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb used example of this distinct shade, Scott Catalogue lists the basic shade for this issue as Green and also lists a Yellow Green sub-shade, the stamp offered here is closer in color to the First Design, Scott 62B, ex Hinrichs, with 1987 and 2004 P.F. certificates
12c Black (69). Intense shade and detailed impression, unusually choice centering with wide and balanced margins, bold strike of "Washington D.C. May" circular datestamp, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful stamp, with 1991 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $875.00)
24c Red Lilac (70). Perfectly centered with wide and balanced margins, deep rich color and proof-like impression beautifully complemented by blue "Chicago Ills. Oct. 15" double-circle datestamp, long and full perforationsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS STUNNING USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 24-CENT RED LILAC ISSUE HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE.
With 1997 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $3,500.00). This is the highest grade awarded to date (ten others share this grade).
24c Brown Lilac (70a). Radiant color and crisp impression on bright paper, neat strike of quartered cork cancel, long and full perforations all around, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp in every respect, with 2006 P.F. certificate (XF 90) and 2002 and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $775.00)
24c Steel Blue (70b). Incredibly rich color in the unmistakable true Steel Blue shade, very well-centered with extra wide margin at top, perfectly struck red grid cancel seems to "float" above the stampEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A TRULY OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1861 STEEL BLUE COMBINING THE ELEMENTS OF CENTERING, COLOR AND CANCELLATION.
The Steel Blue is the most distinctive of all the 24c shades. The example offered here, with unusually wide margins, gorgeous color and a beautiful cancel, is a condition rarity.
Ex Ishikawa and Sevenoaks. With 2001 P.F. certificate
24c Violet, Thin Paper (70c). Intense color and proof-like impression nicely contrasted by well-struck blue grid cancel, bright paper, beautiful centering with well-proportioned marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT VIOLET 1861 ISSUE ON THIN PAPER. AMONG THE FINEST COPIES OF THIS STAMP IN EXISTENCE.
The 24c 1861 exists in four basic shades of Violet: Dark Violet (August 1861 trial printing, formerly Scott 60); Violet on Thin Paper (August-September 1861 regular issue, Scott 70c -- the shade offered here); Pale Gray Violet (1861 regular issue, Scott 70d) and Blackish Violet (ca. 1863 printing, Scott 78c).
With 2003 P.F. certificate
24c Pale Gray Violet, Thin Paper (70d). Remarkably choice centering for this difficult issue, intense shade and proof-like impression on crisp paper, neat strike of circle of wedges within circle cancelEXTREMELY FINE. A STUNNING USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 24-CENT IN THE PALE GRAY VIOLET COLOR.
The 24c Pale Gray Violet shade, Scott 70d, comes from an early 1861 printing on thin paper, a characteristic shared by the Violet and Steel Blue stamps. Scott 70d's rarity has been more widely recognized in recent years -- we have only sold two with original gum since keeping computerized records, and we have sold very few sound used copies in Extremely Fine condition.
Ex Zoellner. With 1994 P.F. certificate.
30c Orange (71). Perfectly centered with Jumbo margins, vivid color and impression as fresh as the day it was printed, bright paper, bold strike of quartered cork cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION THE FINEST USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 30-CENT ORANGE IN EXISTENCE. THIS PHENOMENAL STAMP, WITH JUMBO MARGINS, GORGEOUS COLOR AND A CLEAR CANCEL, HAS BEEN GRADED SUPERB 98 JUMBO BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE AND THE ONLY EXAMPLE TO ACHIEVE THIS GRADE.
The 30c is known used very early after the series was issued; the earliest documented use is August 20, 1861. The narrowly-spaced 30c 1861 plate left very little room for the 12-gauge perforations between stamps. Brookman notes "coupled with the fact it is very hard to find a well-centered copy, this color, which always cancels badly, makes a truly superb used copy almost a rarity. I consider it the most difficult stamp of the 1861 Series to obtain in choice used condition". Scott Catalogue also acknowledges the difficulty of obtaining this issue in better condition, stating "Values for No. 71 are for examples with small margins, especially at sides. Large-margined examples sell for much more".
Ex Filstrup, Koppersmith and Hinrichs. With 1986 and 2004 P.F. certificates. With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $5,550.00 as 98). This is the highest grade awarded to date, and it is the only example to achieve this grade.
90c Blue (72). Radiant color, crisp impression, wide margins, bold strike of unusual square grid cancel, Extremely Fine, a pretty stamp, with 1998 P.F. certificate
90c Pale Blue (72a). Beautiful color in the distinct Pale Blue shade, unusually choice centering with wide and balanced margins, unobtrusive cancel leaves entire design clearly visibleEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 90-CENT IN THE PALE BLUE SUB-SHADE. A GORGEOUS EXAMPLE OF THIS SHADE, AND ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE.
A review using Power Search found that we have only offered six unused and used examples of this shade since keeping computerized records. A review of the Philatelic Foundation's online records found a slightly greater supply, but most tend to be either defective or poorly centered.
With 1991 P.F. certificate.
90c Dark Blue (72b). Intense color and proof-like impression in the distinct Dark Blue shade, nicely complemented by red grid cancel, gorgeous centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 90-CENT IN THE DESIRABLE DARK BLUE SUB-SHADE. THIS IS PROBABLY THE FINEST EXAMPLE OF THIS SHADE IN EXISTENCE. A MARVELOUS STAMP IN TERMS OF COLOR, CANCELLATION, CENTERING AND OVERALL EYE APPEAL.
The Dark Blue shade of the 90c is the only shade which trends towards the deeper end of the color spectrum, while the other shades--Blue, Dull Blue and Pale Blue--all trend towards the brighter end of the spectrum. In our opinion this is the most difficult shade to obtain in such choice condition. We have offered only seven unused and used examples since the mid-1990's, and most of those were faulty. The Philatelic Foundation has certified less than a dozen unused or used in the past decade, and most have either heavy cancels or flaws. The example offered here, with unusually choice centering, rich color, a colored cancel and in sound condition, is possibly the finest used copy in existence.
With 1988 and 2001 P.F. certificates.