Sale 1089 — The Curtis Collection: U.S. Revenues, Part 1
Sale Date — Tuesday, 16 December, 2014
Category — First Issue Imperforate, $2.00-$200.00
$2.00 Conveyance, Imperforate (R81a). Huge margins including sheet margin at bottom and part of adjoining stamp at top, bright color, neat 1863 manuscript cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Kingsley, with 2003 P.F. certificate
$2.00 Conveyance, Imperforate (R81a). Horizontal strip of three, large margins including sheet margin at top, bright color, 1863 manuscript cancels, Extremely Fine, a choice and attractive strip, Scott Retail as pair and single
$2.00 Probate of Will, Imperforate (R83a). Large margins to full, radiant color, neat May 14, 1863 manuscript cancelVERY FINE. A RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 PROBATE OF WILL IMPERFORATE ISSUE.
Sound four-margin examples of this revenue stamp are exceedingly rare.
$2.00 Probate of Will, Imperforate (R83a). Reconstructed strip of three consisting of three singles, two with manuscript cancels of Aug. 11 and May 12, 1863, center stamp with Aug. 11, 1863 oval datestamp cancel, bright color, few small faultsFINE APPEARANCE. A RARE RECONTRUCTED STRIP OF THREE OF THE $2.00 PROBATE OF WILL IMPERFORATE ISSUE. THIS IS THE SECOND-LARGEST RECORDED MULTIPLE OF THIS ISSUE.
The largest recorded multiple is a reconstructed irregular block of four consisting of a pair and two singles. Scott Retail as singles $23,250.00.
$2.00 Probate of Will, Imperforate (R83a). Horizontal pair, large margins to clear, vibrant color, Sep. 1, 1866 manuscript cancel, unusual extraneous printer's ink at right, scissors-cut at top between stamps, right stamp small tear at bottom rightFINE APPEARANCE. A RARE PAIR OF THE $2.00 PROBATE OF WILL IMPERFORATE ISSUE.
The largest recorded multiple of this issue is a reconstructed irregular block of four, followed by a reconstructed strip of three and a single intact strip of three. Four horizontal and two vertical pairs are known.
Ex Dean, Turner and Joyce. Scott Retail $16,500.00
$2.50 Inland Exchange, Imperforate (R84a). Large margins to full, rich color and detailed impression on bright paper, neat Oct. 6, 1864 manuscript cancelVERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE SOUND FOUR-MARGIN EXAMPLE OF THE $2.50 INLAND EXCHANGE IMPERFORATE ISSUE.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate
$2.50 Inland Exchange, Imperforate (R84a). Large to ample margins, deep rich color and detailed impression, perfect strike of blue "J.P. Morgan & Co., May 21, 1863" circular datestamp cancel, few small flaws at bottom rightVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE $2.50 INLAND EXCHANGE IMPERFORATE CANCELLED SOLELY BY A HANDSTAMP.
Scott Retail with no premium for the handstamp cancel.
$3.00 Charter Party, Imperforate (R85a). Large margins to full including top sheet margin, neat 1864 manuscript cancel, deep rich color on bright paper, Extremely Fine, a gorgeous stamp, ex Floyd, with 1999 P.F. certificate
$3.00 Manifest, Imperforate (R86a). Unused (no gum), large margins to full, intense shade and impression, trivial diagonal crease at top right, Extremely Fine appearance, rare in unused condition, this is the first we have offered since keeping computerized records, with 2012 P.S.E. certificate, Scott Retail as used
$3.00 Manifest, Imperforate (R86a). Large margins all around, deep rich color, light manuscript cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; Revenues are unlisted in SMQ)
$3.50 Inland Exchange, Imperforate (R87a). Large margins to clear, rich color, lightened manuscript cancel, horizontal crease ending in tear at top, small thin spot, otherwise Very Fine and rare
$3.50 Inland Exchange, Imperforate (R87a). Vertical pair, large to huge margins including sheet margin at bottom, deep rich color, neat May 20, 1864 manuscript cancel, two trivial sealed tears affect top stamp and small margin corner crease at bottom rightEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE PAIR OF THE IMPERFORATE $3.50 INLAND EXCHANGE. ONLY TWO VERTICAL AND TWO HORIZONTAL PAIRS ARE RECORDED. A PAIR IS THE LARGEST RECORDED MULTIPLE -- NO BLOCKS OR STRIPS ARE KNOWN.
Ex Joyce and Zoellner. With 2000 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail $30,000.00
$5.00 Charter Party, Imperforate (R88a). Huge margins, lovely rich shade, 1871 manuscript railroad cancel, Extremely Fine, ex Mayer, with 2000 P.F. certificate
$5.00 Charter Party, Imperforate (R88a). Sheet margin at left, enormous margins other sides, attractive color, Aug 29, 1871 manuscript cancel (late usage), some mild trivial margin toning and minor corner crease in bottom left corner margin, otherwise Extremely Fine, this example is about as large as can be found, ex Tolman
$5.00 Manifest, Imperforate (R90a). Unused (no gum), large margins to clear, radiant color, light horizontal crease at bottom, Very Fine appearance, Scott Retail as used
$5.00 Manifest, Imperforate (R90a). Horizontal and vertical pairs, large margins, bright colors, manuscript cancels, Very Fine and choice pair of pairs
$5.00 Mortgage, Imperforate (R91a). Horizontal pair, large to huge margins, bright color, neat manuscript cancels leave portrait and "Mortgage" clearly visible, Extremely Fine, a rare pair, ex Zoellner
$5.00 Probate of Will, Imperforate (R92a). Huge margins including trace of adjoining frameline at bottom right, bright color, light 1864 manuscript cancel, Extremely Fine Gem
$5.00 Probate of Will, Imperforate (R92a). Horizontal pair, huge margins all around, fresh and bright color, neat March 25, 1864 manuscript cancels leave both portrait and "Probate of Will" clearly visible, light horizontal crease, otherwise Extremely Fine and rare, one of only ten recorded multiples, ex Zoellner
$10.00 Charter Party, Imperforate (R93a). Lightened manuscript cancel at upper right but retaining much of its original gum, h.r., small thin spots, light natural gum bend, Extremely Fine appearance
$10.00 Charter Party, Imperforate (R93a). Horizontal pair, large margins to ample, rich color, manuscript cancels, light vertical crease mostly between stamps, Very Fine appearance, only one multiple is larger (a block of four, offered in lot 374), ex Cunliffe
$10.00 Mortgage, Imperforate (R95a). Original gum, huge balanced margins, intense color, slight wrinkling from gum and two tiny pinholes, otherwise Extremely Fine, very difficult to find in original-gum state, especially with margins of this breadth, ex Tolman, with 2007 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as used
$10.00 Mortgage, Imperforate (R95a). Huge margins, bright shade, neat April 1, 1863 manuscript cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a huge stamp, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; Revenues are unlisted in SMQ), we are surprised this did not grade 95
$10.00 Mortgage, Imperforate (R95a). Large margins, rich color, neat handstamp cancel, small sealed tear at bottom left, Very Fine appearance, ex Cunliffe
$10.00 Mortgage, Imperforate (R95a). Horizontal pair, large margins, unobtrusive Aug. 7, 1863 manuscript cancels, left stamp small sealed tear at left, Very Fine appearance, there are only three multiples larger than a pair
$10.00 Probate of Will, Imperforate (R96a). Huge to ample margins including part of adjoining frameline at top and part of imprint and plate number at bottom, showing "(En)graved by Butler & C(arpenter), Plate (?)", deep rich color, light unobtrusive manuscript cancelVERY FINE AND CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE IMPERFORATE $10.00 PROBATE OF WILL ISSUE WITH PART IMPRINT.
Evidence points to an imperforate supply of 856, as 792 others (11 sheets) were returned for perforating. That leaves 11 or 12 sheets, from which very few plate number examples can exist.
$10.00 Probate of Will, Imperforate (R96a). Large margins, intense color, neat manuscript cancelEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE IMPERFORATE $10.00 PROBATE OF WILL FIRST ISSUE REVENUE.
Evidence points to an imperforate supply of 856, as 792 others (11 sheets) were returned for perforating.
$15.00 Mortgage, Imperforate (R97a). Large margins to full, deep rich color and proof-like impression, faint magenta cancel, Very Fine, a handsome example of this scarce First Issue Imperforate
$15.00 Mortgage, Imperforate (R97a). Horizontal pair, large to full margins all around, deep rich color, horizontal crease ending in a sealed tear at rightVERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN INCREDIBLY RARE MULTIPLE OF THE $15.00 IMPERFORATE MORTGAGE FIRST ISSUE REVENUE.
This is the first $15.00 Mortgage Imperforate multiple that we have offered since we first began keeping computerized records in 1992. We offered the only recorded block in our 1974 Rarities of the World sale.
$20.00 Conveyance, Imperforate (R98a). Horizontal pair, large part original gum, h.r., large margins to full including top sheet margin, vivid color, Extremely Fine, a rare original-gum pair in superb condition, with 2010 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as used
$20.00 Probate of Will, Imperforate (R99a). Unused (no gum), large margins, radiant color, tiny crease at bottom ending in small tear (all entirely in margin), Very Fine appearance, a beautiful stamp and rare in unused condition, with 1992 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as used
$20.00 Probate of Will, Imperforate (R99a). Large margins including bottom sheet margin, vibrant color, neat 1864 manuscript cancelEXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE $20.00 PROBATE OF WILL IMPERFORATE.
With 2005 P.F. certificate (XF 90; Revenues are unpriced in SMQ)
$20.00 Probate of Will, Imperforate (R99a). Large margins to just clear at bottom, vibrant color, well-struck Feb. 3, 1863 datestamp cancels, faint corner crease at top right visible only in fluid, Very Fine appearance, ex Cunliffe
$20.00 Probate of Will, Imperforate (R99a). Horizontal pair, large margins all around, rich color, neat "M. J. Surrogate July 11th 1863" manuscript cancel, light creasesVERY FINE APPEARING PAIR OF THE IMPERFORATE $20.00 PROBATE OF WILL.
Aside from the spectacular block of 27 offered in lot 380, www.thecurtiscollection.com records a reconstructed block of four, a strip of three on document, three horizontal pairs and an unspecified number of vertical pairs.
Ex Tolman
$25.00 Mortgage, Imperforate (R100a). Huge margins all around, intense shade and impression, neat 1865 manuscript cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB AND SPECTACULAR EXAMPLE OF THE IMPERFORATE $25.00 MORTGAGE FIRST ISSUE REVENUE STAMP.
A Power Search review located a few Extremely Fine sound examples of the $25.00 Mortgage Imperforate in our past sales, but none have four huge margins to match this stamp (the one stamp that does has a tear). This could arguably be the finest extant.
$25.00 Mortgage, Imperforate (R100a). Huge margins to ample, intense shade and impression, neat July 25, 1863 datestamp cancel, tiny tear at right, Very Fine appearance, ex Cunliffe
$25.00 Mortgage, Imperforate (R100a). Horizontal pair, large margins to clear, rich color, neat Jan. 5, 1865 manuscript cancels, light horizontal creases, Very Fine appearance, a very rare multiple of this First Issue Imperforate -- a block of eight, two blocks of four and a strip of three are the only larger multiples
$200.00 U.S.I.R., Imperforate (R102a). Large even margins, rich colors, neat manuscript cancel, tiny corner crease at top right, vertical crease at right, Very Fine and choice appearance, with 1980 P.F. certificate
$200.00 U.S.I.R., Imperforate (R102a). Vertical pair, large margins to close, rich colors, Feb. 18, 1865 manuscript cancels, few thins and creases, Fine appearing pair of this colorful issue, ex Dean and Judge Fay, Scott Retail $7,000.00