Sale 968 — The Alan B. Whitman Collection of Outstanding United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 27-28 January, 2009
Category — 1875 Re-Issue of 1869 Pictorial Issue (Scott 123-133a)
1c Buff, Re-Issue (123). Original gum, lightly hinged, intense shade and impression, well-proportioned margins, full and well-formed perfs, Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp, with 1993 P.F. certificate
1c Buff, Re-Issue (123). Block of four, typical brownish original gum, deep rich color and proof-like impression, well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF THE 1875 RE-ISSUE OF THE ONE-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL -- NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH THE MORE COMMON 1880 SPECIAL PRINTING.
Although the 1c 1880 Special Printing (Scott 133, 133a) exists in large multiples, the 1875 Re-Issue is extremely rare in block form. Using Power Search, we located three other blocks, but this appears to be the finest of all.
With 1972 and 2001 P.F. certificates. In our opinion, the 35% Scott premium for a block versus four singles does not accurately reflect its scarcity, nor is it commensurate with the double and triple premiums assigned to the higher-denomination blocks.
2c Brown, Re-Issue (124). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich color on bright paper, well-balanced and very wide margins, Extremely Fine, a stamp with great visual appeal, with 1997 P.F. certificate
3c Blue, Re-Issue (125). Full original gum, deep rich color, unusually choice centering for this difficult issue with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THE 3-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE IN EXISTENCE. THIS IS THE MOST DIFFICULT DENOMINATION TO OBTAIN IN SUCH SUPERB CONDITION. A STAMP OF THE HIGHEST CALIBER, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
Original sales figures show that among the 1869 Pictorial Re-Issues, the 3c and 90c stamps accounted for the smallest number of units sold (1,406 and 1,356, respectively). Overall, the 1869's were popular with stamp collectors, far outselling the 1851-60 and 1861-66 Re-Issue sets. However, the 90c stamp's high denomination and the availability of ordinary 3c stamps limited demand. Today, both are rare, and handling over the years has not been kind to most of the surviving examples. The stamp offered here is the finest we have ever encountered.
With 1986 and 1994 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF-Superb 95). This is the highest grade awarded to date and the only example to achieve this grade. The SMQ does not even price this issue above the grade of 90, which is the next-highest grade awarded to date.
6c Blue, Re-Issue (126). Original gum, brilliant color and detailed impression on crisp paper, beautiful centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE.
With 1986 and 1995 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF-Superb 95)
10c Yellow, Re-Issue (127). Original gum, lightly hinged, vibrant color, choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE.
With 1990 P.F. certificate
10c Yellow, Re-Issue (127). Block of four, original gum, radiant color as fresh as the day it was printed, choice centering throughout, two or three trivial perf separations at bottom expertly reinforced (not mentioned on accompanying certificate)EXTREMELY FINE. ONLY FOUR BLOCKS OF THE 10-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE ARE RECORDED. THIS IS ONE OF THE TWO FINEST, AND IT IS THE FIRST WE HAVE OFFERED IN MORE THAN A DECADE.
Our records (confirmed with Michael Laurence) contain four 10c Re-Issue blocks, including one other with Extremely Fine centering (ex Zoellner), one with nice centering but with a small repair, and one centered to upper left.
With 1981 and 2000 P.F. certificates
12c Green, Re-Issue (128). Original gum, lightly hinged deep rich color and sharp proof-like impression, superb centering with wide margins, well-formed perforations all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE.
With 1991 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, Superb 98). This is the highest grade awarded to date and only one other shares this lofty grade.
15c Brown & Blue, Re-Issue (129). Original gum, intense colors and detailed impressions, well-proportioned marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE.
With 1992 P.F. certificate
15c Brown & Blue, Re-Issue, Imperforate Horizontally (129a). Full original gum, deep rich colors and proof-like impressions, unusually choice centering with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS VARIETY IS EXTREMELY RARE WITH ORIGINAL GUM. THE EXAMPLE OFFERED HERE IS WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE.
Jonathan W. Rose, in his book United States Postage Stamps of 1869, estimates that no more than five to ten copies of this error exist (our own estimate is 20-30; two are known used). Only one sheet of 100 was issued, and all were cut into singles by a clerk in the Third Assistant Postmaster General's office. It is not known how many were sold. The last example with original gum we located with Power Search was sold in 2003. Many seem to lack gum.
With 1981 and 2000 P.F. certificates
24c Green & Violet, Re-Issue (130). Original gum, lightly hinged, intense colors and detailed impressions on bright paper, unusually choice centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE IN PRISTINE CONDITION. THIS MARVELOUS STAMP HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
With 1974 and 2000 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF-Superb 95). Only one has graded higher to date and only one other shares this grade.
30c Blue & Carmine, Re-Issue (131). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich colors on post-office fresh paper, wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE IN A REMARKABLE STATE OF FRESHNESS.
With 1993 P.S.E. certificate
90c Carmine & Black, Re-Issue (132). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich colors and proof-like impressions on bright paper, marvelous centering with Jumbo marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SENSATIONAL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 JUMBO BY P.S.E.
With 1993 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF-Superb 95 Jumbo). Only three have graded higher to date and no other shares this desirable grade -- it is difficult to find stamps that qualify as Jumbos in this issue. In fact, many collectors would prefer this 95 Jumbo over a 98 stamp with smaller margins.
1c Buff, 1880 Re-Issue (133). Original gum, lightly hinged, intense shade on crisp paper, well-proportioned margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1993 and 2008 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF 90)
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, with 2001 P.F. certificate