Sale 1185 — 2018 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Wednesday, 27 June, 2018
Category — St. Louis Postmaster's Provisional, 1847 Issue and Reproduction
St. Louis, Missouri, 5c Black on Greenish (11X1). Type III, Position 3, unused (no gum), large margins to clear at left, bit of faint toning at top right called "minor stains" on accompanying certificate (barely noticeable)VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE FULL-MARGIN UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT ST. LOUIS POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL ON GREENISH PAPER.
The St. Louis "Bears" provisionals are rare in unused (or uncancelled) condition. Only a few of the 5c value are known unused and almost all are on Greenish paper. This is only the second with four margins we have offered since 2010.
With 1985 P.F. certificate
St. Louis Missouri, 10c Black on Greenish (11X2). Type III, Position 6, unused (no gum), full to large margins all around, some non-obvious faults including small thin in margin, couple toned spots removed at left and not visible, small corner crease at bottom left entirely in marginVERY FINE APPEARNCE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT ST. LOUIS PROVISIONAL ON GREENISH PAPER WITH FULL TO LARGE MARGINS. THIS IS ONLY THE FIFTH UNUSED EXAMPLE WE HAVE OFFERED AND THE FIRST SINCE 2014.
We have offered four unused examples of the 10c on Greenish paper in our sales since 1993 and in our Rarities sales since 1964, including the incomparable original-gum corner-margin copy from the Frelinghuysen collection; a no-gum copy with top sheet margin in our 2012 Rarities sale (pre-printing creases); a no-gum copy with a large repair and margin tear in our 2014 Rarities sale; and a no-gum copy with margins into the frameline at top right and small sealed tear in our 2014 sale of the Fekete collection.
Ex Hind and traced by us to a 1957 Greg Mozian sale. With 2018 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown (1). Original gum, large to huge margins all around, rich color on fresh paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE IN SUPERB CONDITION.
Ex Weill Brothers. With 1994 P.F. certificate for a pair. With 2018 P.F. certificate as this single (OG, XF-Superb 95 XQ). The "XQ" denotes "Extraordinary Quality". By way of comparison, the highest P.S.E. grade for Scott 1 (Red Brown or Brown) is a single example at 98 for OGph, and three at 95 for NG/RG/POG categories
5c Red Brown, Crack in "T" Variety (1 var). Plate crack from "T" of "Post" to top of design clearly visible, original gum, full margins to ample at top and bottom, attractive shade and impressionVERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE WITH THE CRACK IN "T" PLATE FLAW.
The Crack in "T" plate flaw was first reported by Wade Saadi in the May 1994 Chronicle, where he identifies eleven copies.
Ex Weill Brothers. With copy of 1994 P.F. certificate for a pair
5c Red Brown (1). Horizontal pair, original gum with characteristic crackly texture, large to huge margins including part of adjoining stamps at top, bright color, right stamp small toned spot at bottom left of little consequenceEXTREMELY FINE. A RARE AND DESIRABLE ORIGINAL-GUM PAIR OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE.
With 2005 P.S.E. certificate
5c Dark Brown (1a). Horizontal pair, unused (no gum), large to full margins, gorgeous rich color and sharp early impressionVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL UNUSED PAIR OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE IN THE EARLY DARK BROWN SHADE.
Ex Mirsky. With 1989 and 2012 P.F. certificates. Scott Retail as no gum singles
10c Black (2). Large part original gum, large to huge margins all around, intense shade and impression, P.S.E. capsule notes "light gum crease" which is natural and typical of 1847's with original gumEXTREMELY FINE. A RARE SOUND, LARGE-MARGIN ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE. A STAMP WITH FANTASTIC VISUAL APPEAL.
1969 and 1994 P.F. certificates no longer accompany (latter states previously hinged with large part o.g. and a light vertical crease). P.S.E. encapsulated (OGh, VF-XF 85; SMQ $75,000.00). It is important to note that this stamp still graded very highly despite the light natural gum crease and received an "OGh" designation from P.S.E. Based on centering the base numerical grade on this was probably XF 90. Only one has graded higher (at XF 90) and none share this grade.
10c Black (2). Unused (no gum), large and even margins all around, crisp impression, unusual plate scratches in right marginEXTREMELY FINE. A RARE AND VERY ATTRACTIVE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE.
P.S.E. Encapsulated (VF-XF 85; SMQ $17,000.00)
5c Red Brown, Reproduction (3). Without gum as issued, enormous margins all around including top left corner margins and significant parts of all three adjoining stamps, rich colorEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A PHENOMENAL EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1875 REPRODUCTION OF THE 1847 ISSUE. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION THE FINEST SINGLE WE HAVE EVER OFFERED.
This stamp is an extraordinary example of the "Jumbo" category. By way of comparison, P.S.E. has graded one at 100J and two at 98J. We have offered both of the 98J's (in our Whitman and Kirke auctions), and this has far larger margins.
5c Red Brown, 10c Black Reproductions (3, 4). Without gum as issued, each with wide corner margins, large margins other sides, rich colorsEXTREMELY FINE GEMS. A MAGNIFICENT MATCHED PAIR OF CORNER SHEET MARGIN 5-CENT AND 10-CENT 1875 REPRODUCTIONS OF THE 1847 ISSUE.
These remarkable matching corner-margin stamps were cut from a set of sheets of 50 broken up years ago. They are the perfect pair of 5c and 10c 1847 Reproductions.
5c Red Brown, 10c Black, Reproductions (3, 4). Without gum as issued, blocks of four, each from Positions 3-4/13-14 in the sheets of 50 (pencil numbers on back), large even margins, rich colorsVERY FINE. A RARE SET OF BLOCKS OF FOUR OF THE 1875 REPRODUCTIONS OF THE 1847 ISSUE.
These were printed in sheets of 50. Multiples (especially blocks) are rare.