Sale 1205 — 2019 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Wednesday, 26 June, 2019
Category — Revenues, Private Die Proprietary Stamps
B. & H. D. Howard, 1c Blue, "Benoni Howard" Counterfeit (RO112a var). Pale color which is a hallmark of this counterfeit, an engraved production that is very similar to the issued stamp but with subtle differences including perforation, small faultsVERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE FAMOUS "BENONI HOWARD" COUNTERFEIT, WHICH WAS CREATED BY THE PROPRIETOR OF NEW YORK MATCH COMPANY AS A RESULT OF A FEUD WITH THE GOVERNMENT. A PHENOMENAL MATCH STAMP RARITY.
According to the Feb. 20, 1875 issue of The American Journal of Philately, in 1865 Benoni Howard became proprietor of New York Match Co. on 42nd Street, which was one of the largest such companies. Howard was known as a highly principled person, whose honesty was never questioned. He bought $700,000 worth of revenue stamps, with a contract that allowed him a certain percentage on these drawbacks. By his reckoning the government did not follow though on their part of the contract, and he vowed to get even. The government noted his purchases of stamps dropped precipitously, so they raided his establishment after seeing unstamped boxes in the marketplace. His business was broken up and his factory was shut.
About a year later, a fisherman in the East River found a printing plate covered with wax with Howard's name on it, and also the name of the plate's manufacturer. The police secured the plate, and the maker betrayed Howard and implicated him as the forger. He was sentenced to five years of hard labor.
Ex Bulkley. With 2008 P.F. certificate. Copy of article accompanies. Scott Catalogue lists this at $4,500.00
John J. Macklin & Co., 1c Black, Old Paper, Rouletted (RO129a). Better condition than most for this issue which is printed on fragile white paper, few small imperfectionsVERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN ATTRACTIVE EXAMPLE OF THE EXTREMELY RARE ONE-CENT ROULETTED JOHN J. MACKLIN & CO. MATCH STAMP.
The history of this stamp is recorded in the book Private Die Match Stamps by Christopher West, the nom-de-plume of Elliott Perry. In the book, he notes that the stamps were printed by American Phototype Co. When other match manufacturers saw the inferior workmanship of the stamp, they called it to the attention of Butler, Carpenter & Co., who reported it to the authorities as a stamp easy to counterfeit. Butler & Carpenter refused to print from the same plate. Macklin refused to have a new plate made due to the cost (he had lost his business several times due to fire) and used 1c Proprietary stamps for a period of time.
Ex Tolman and "Scarsdale". With 2012 P.F. certificate. Ten examples are recorded on this paper, and virtually all have faults.
N.Y. Match Co., 1c Vermilion, Silk Paper (RO137b). Vivid color, numerous silk fibers readily visible from front, small flaws, including small thin spots and light creaseFINE APPEARANCE. THE ONE-CENT VERMILION NEW YORK MATCH COMPANY ON SILK PAPER IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL PRIVATE DIE PROPRIETARY ISSUES.
The Aldrich book records only eight examples of the 1c N.Y. Match Co. Issue on Silk Paper, six of which are faulty. This example with only minor flaws is very desirable.
Ex Col. Green (Part XXIII, lot 971) and "Scarsdale". With 2011 P.F. certificate
Fleming Bros. Liver Pills, 1c Ultramarine, Old Paper (RS90u). Bright color, large margins to touched at right, completely soundFINE. A RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE FLEMING BROTHERS LIVER PILLS ONE-CENT ULTRAMARINE.
This is only the second example we have offered since keeping computerized records. Ex "Scarsdale" and Inman. With 2012 P.F. certificate
Dr. D. Jayne & Son, 4c Green, Pink Paper (RS146c). Large margins, rich color on deep Pink paper, Extremely Fine, only 28 are recorded in the Aldrich book, ex "Scarsdale", with 2005 P.F. certificate
Jacob Lippman & Brother, 4c Blue, Old Paper (RS163a). Original gum, rich color, Fine, a very scarce stamp, especially in this sound condition, only 22 recorded in the Aldrich book, with 2014 P.F. certificate
Ring's Vegetable Ambrosia, 2c Blue, Silk Paper (RS199b). Large to huge margins, deep rich colorEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT EXAMPLE OF THE RING'S VEGETABLE AMBROSIA 2-CENT ON SILK PAPER.
Only 20 examples are recorded in the Aldrich census.
Ex Tolman and "Scarsdale". With 2012 P.F. certificate
Ring's Vegetable Ambrosia, 4c Black, Perforated, Silk Paper (RS203b). Slightly disturbed original gum, pretty shadeVERY FINE. A CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE RING'S VEGETABLE AMBROSIA 4-CENT PERFORATED ON SILK PAPER.
Only 24 are recorded in the Aldrich book. It is unknown how many retain their original gum, but several do not have gum and are faulty.
Ex "Scarsdale". With 2008 P.F. certificate
Ring's Vegetable Ambrosia, 4c Black, Silk Paper, Part Perforated (R203bp). Full perfs at sides, large margins to clear at top and bottomVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A WONDERFUL AND RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE RING'S 4-CENT PART-PERFORATED ISSUE ON SILK PAPER.
Only 15 are recorded in the Aldrich census, of which at least half are faulty.
Ex Tolman and "Scarsdale". With 2012 P.F. certificate
Scheetz's Celebrated Bitter Cordial, 4c Black, Imperforate (RS211b). Large margins, intense shade and impression, two faint vertical creases visible only in fluidVERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE RARE SCHEETZ'S 4-CENT IMPERFORATE ISSUE.
Of the nine examples recorded in the Aldrich census, four are faulty. This example, with minor creases, is one of the finest.
Ex Tolman and "Scarsdale". With 2006 P.F. certificate
Seabury & Johnson, 1c Lake, Watermarked (RS218d). With usual penstroke crossing out "Porous" at right, wide margins three sides, just clear at leftFINE AND RARE. A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE ELUSIVE ONE-CENT LAKE SEABURY & JOHNSON ISSUE.
The Boston Revenue Book reports that only one sheet was issued. Only 17 are recorded in the Aldrich census and over half are faulty.
Ex "Scarsdale". With 2012 P.F. certificate
Jas. Swaim, 8c Orange, Old Paper, Die Cut, Manuscript Signature (RS233ah). Clear manuscript signature which is easily distinguishable from the printed signature, faults, including creases and tearsFINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 8-CENT JAMES SWAIM DIE CUT ISSUE WITH MANUSCRIPT SIGNATURE. ONLY NINE ARE RECORDED.
Of the nine examples recorded in the Aldrich book, not a single one is sound, with creases and tears the norm.
Ex "Scarsdale". With 2009 P.F. certificate
United States Proprietary Medicine Co., 6c Black, Old Paper (RS244a). Well-balanced margins, bright shade, light vertical crease at left centerVERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE SCARCE UNITED STATES PROPRIETARY MEDICINE COMPANY 6-CENT ISSUE.
Only 20 examples are recorded in the Aldrich book, the majority of which are faulty.
Ex Tolman and "Scarsdale". With 2012 P.F. certificate
U.S. Proprietary Medicine Co., 1c Black on Orange Red Wrapper, Old Paper (RS248a). Huge margins on three sides, bright color, soundVERY FINE. A DESIRABLE AND RARE EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT UNITED STATES PROPRIETARY MEDICINE COMPANY ISSUE ON ORANGE RED WRAPPER.
Only 16 are recorded in the Aldrich book, of which 10 are reported as faulty. Given the nature of this paper, its size and use, we would be surprised if there were truly six examples that are completely sound.
With 2014 P.F. certificate
Corning & Tappan, 1c Black, Watermarked, Imperforate (RT2d). Large margins all around, intense shade on bright paperVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE IMPERFORATE ONE-CENT CORNING & TAPPAN ISSUE. ONLY 16 ARE RECORDED.
The Aldrich book records 16 examples, of which 6 are faulty. We have offered only one other since keeping computerized records.
Ex Tolman, "Scarsdale" and Inman. With 2007 P.F. certificate
E. W. Hoyt & Co., 1c Black, Silk Paper, Imperforate (RT6b). Large margins, intense shade, faint vertical crease at rightVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE RARE E. W. HOYT & CO. IMPERFORATE ONE-CENT BLACK ISSUE ON SILK PAPER. ONLY EIGHT ARE RECORDED.
Of the 8 examples of this issue recorded in the Aldrich census only 5 are reported to be sound.
Ex Tolman and Inman. With 2007 P.F. certificate