Sale 968 — The Alan B. Whitman Collection of Outstanding United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 27-28 January, 2009
Category — 1869 Pictorial Issue - Complete Set Without Grills (Scott 112b-122a)
1c Buff, Without Grill (112b). Large part original gum, deep rich colorVERY FINE AND EXTREMELY RARE. NO MORE THAN THREE EXAMPLES OF THE ONE-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL WITHOUT GRILL ARE KNOWN, ACCORDING TO THE ROSE BOOK.
We have offered only two since our 1997 Rose sale -- one other and this copy, which appeared in our sale of the Coulter collection in 2006.
Ex Coulter. With 2006 P.F. certificate
2c Brown, Without Grill (113b).Original gum, deep rich color and fine impression, attractive centeringVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE WITHOUT GRILL.
Most examples of this stamp are significantly off-center. As an indication of rarity, we have only offered seven others since keeping computerized records, and most of those are off-center.
With 1997 P.F. certificate
3c Ultramarine, Without Grill (114a). Original gum, fresh and bright, lovely colorVERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN EXTREMELY RARE SOUND AND CENTERED EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE WITHOUT GRILL. THE LOWER-VALUE 1869'S WITHOUT GRILL ARE MUCH RARER THAN THE HIGH VALUES, AND THEY ARE SELDOM ENCOUNTERED IN CHOICE CONDITION.
We have only offered fourteen other unused examples in our computerized records, which includes all of our Rarities sales plus 15 years of auctions.
With 1994 and 2004 P.F. certificates
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. I, Without Grill (118a). Original gum, deep rich colors and detailed impressions, beautiful centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A STUNNING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 15-CENT TYPE I WITHOUT GRILL. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION THE FINEST WE HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED. A RARITY OF THE HIGHEST ORDER.
Our survey of the Philatelic Foundation records produced 24 examples certified as genuine, of which approximately half have faults. Of the sound copies, we have encountered only one other comparable stamp, which was offered in our 2000 Rarities sale.
With 1979 and 1990 P.F. certificate
24c Green & Violet, Without Grill (120a). Original gum, few tiny disturbances, well-centered with wide margins all around, the most intense colors and impressions we have ever encountered in a 24c 1869, long full perforations, bright white paperEXTREMELY FINE. ONLY 22 EXAMPLES OF THE 24-CENT 1869 WITHOUT GRILL ARE KNOWN TO US -- THIS IS AMONG THE THREE FINEST STAMPS EXTANT.
Our survey of auction catalogues and Philatelic Foundation records produced 22 examples of the 24c 1869 without grill. Approximately half of the known copies have faults. Only three are Extremely Fine and sound with original gum.
With 2000 P.F. certificate
30c Ultramarine & Carmine, Without Grill (121a). Original gum, beautiful rich colors on bright paper, choice centering for this difficult issueEXTREMELY FINE. A SCARCE SOUND AND CENTERED EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE WITHOUT GRILL.
With the recent reclassification of certain copies of Scott 121a as the 30c 1869 double-paper essay, the rarity of stamps that will receive current certificates as Scott 121a has increased significantly. This stamp shows the sharper impression and crisper blue shade of Scott 121a on normal paper.
Small blue Colson backstamp. With 1991 P.F. certificate.
90c Carmine & Black, Without Grill (122a). Fresh original gum, intense colors and proof-like impressionsEXTREMELY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE WITHOUT GRILL. ONLY 23 EXAMPLES HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED AS GENUINE BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION.
Of the 23 copies certified as genuine by the Philatelic Foundation, only sixteen have either part or full original gum. Only nine of these original-gum stamps are completely sound.
With 2000 P.F. certificate