Sale 946 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Monday, 12 November, 2007
Category — Postmasters` Provisionals
Brattleboro Vt., 5c Black on Buff (5X1). Position 1, large margins with complete guideline at right, light red pen mark at upper left, proof-like impression, thin spotsVERY FINE APPEARANCE. THE CONDITION OF THIS STAMP IS FAR SUPERIOR TO MANY OF THE 32 RECORDED OFF-COVER EXAMPLES OF THE BRATTLEBORO PROVISIONAL. AN OUTSTANDING RARITY FROM THE ORIGINAL CHUBBUCK SHEET AND LAPHAM-COLSON-WALL RECONSTRUCTION.
This stamp comes from the sheet retained by the printer, Thomas Chubbuck, who sold three stamps to collectors before selling the remaining block of seven to L. H. Bragg in September 1870. Bragg, in turn, sold the block to John W. Scott. The stamps from the Chubbuck block were eventually cut apart and sold to different collectors. In the 1920's Raymond W. Lapham, with the professional help of Warren H. Colson, reconstructed the Brattleboro plate positions, including some stamps from the Chubbuck sheet.
Ex Waud. With 1974 P.F. certificate as "repaired" but it is not (usual thins only)
New York N.Y., 5c Black, "ACM" Initials (9X1). Unused (no gum), beautiful balanced margins all around, sharp impression, Very Fine and choice, with 2007 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85; unpriced in SMQ)
New York N.Y., 5c Black, "ACM" Initials (9X1). Position 20, large margins to clear, crisp impression, blue ms. cancel, Very Fine, with 2001 P.S.E. certificate
New York N.Y., 5c Black, "AC M" Initials (9X1a). Large even margins, face-free strike of red circular datestamp, minute margin crease at right, appears Very Fine
Providence R.I., 5c Gray Black (10X1). Position 1, original gum, large to huge margins incl. top left corner margin, intense shade, Extremely Fine, with 2000 P.F. certificate
Providence R.I., 5c Gray Black (10X1). Original gum, large margins incl. sheet margin at right, bright shade, Very Fine and choice
Providence R.I., 10c Gray Black (10X2). Unused (no gum), ample to large margins, fresh, Very Fine, with 2007 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as original gum
Providence R.I., 5c & 10c Gray Black, Bogert & Durbin First Reprint Sheet of Twelve (10X1-10X2R). With printing on reverse and printed in 1898 by Livermore & Knight Co., large margins, bright shade, fresh and Very Fine, only 130 sheets printed
St. Louis Mo., 5c Black on Greenish (11X1). Type I, Position 1, three clear to large margins, just clear to slightly in at left, neat ms. cancel, heavy vertical crease, appears Very Good
St. Louis Mo., 10c Black on Greenish (11X2). Type I, Position 2, margins to slightly in, cancelled solely by red St. Louis circular datestamp, slight thinning, Very Good appearance
St. Louis Mo., 5c Black on Gray Lilac (11X4). Type III, Position 5, three large margins, in at left, small ms. cancel and traces of red St. Louis circular datestamp, minute thin speckVERY GOOD APPEARANCE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT ST. LOUIS POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL ISSUE ON GRAY LILAC PAPER.
The layout of the plate was altered just before the paper was changed from Greenish to Gray Lilac paper. The original layout contained three 5c stamps at left and three 10c stamps at right. The plate was altered, and the top two 5c stamps were converted to 20c stamps. Only one position, the bottom left position of the plate, yielded 5c stamps. The new plate layout, combined with limited production from the altered plate before it was converted back again to its original format, accounts for the rarity of the 5c on Gray Lilac paper.
St. Louis Mo., 5c Black on Gray Lilac (11X4). Type III, Position 5, three ample margins, in at bottom, faint or lightened ms. cancelVERY GOOD. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT ST. LOUIS POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL ISSUE ON GRAY LILAC PAPER.
The layout of the plate was altered just before the paper was changed from Greenish to Gray Lilac paper. The original layout contained three 5c stamps at left and three 10c stamps at right. The plate was altered, and the top two 5c stamps were converted to 20c stamps. Only one position, the bottom left position of the plate, yielded 5c stamps. The new plate layout, combined with limited production from the altered plate before it was converted back again to its original format, accounts for the rarity of the 5c on Gray Lilac paper.
St. Louis Mo., 10c Black on Gray Lilac (11X5). Type I, Position 2, large even margins all around, cancelled solely by red St. Louis circular datestamp, bright and freshEXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT ST. LOUIS POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL ON GRAY LILAC PAPER IN THE FINEST CONDITION ATTAINABLE.
With 2007 P.F. certificate
St. Louis Mo., 20c Black on Gray Lilac (11X6). Type II, Position 3, three ample to huge margins, in at left, light diagonal ms. pen stroke cancelsVERY GOOD. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 20-CENT ST. LOUIS POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL ON GRAY LILAC PAPER.
Very few sound examples of the 20c on Gray Lilac paper exist.
St. Louis Mo., 10c Black on Bluish (11X8). Type II, Position 4, large margins to full, intense shade and impression, blue and black manuscript cancels, light wrinkles characteristic of pelure paper and not noted on certificateVERY FINE. ONE OF THE FINEST KNOWN EXAMPLES OF THE 10-CENT ST. LOUIS POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL ON PELURE PAPER. THIS PRINTING ON PELURE IS THE RAREST OF THE ST. LOUIS "BEARS", AND IT IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND EXAMPLES OF THIS QUALITY.
With 2007 P.F. certificate