Sale 1219 — The Edward Morton Collection of Outstanding Quality U.S. Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 8-9 April, 2020
Category — 1c-3c 1869 Pictorial Issue (Scott 112-114)
Lot
Symbol
Photo/Description
Cat./Est. Value
Realized
268
1c Buff (112). Unusually choice centering with Jumbo margins, radiant color, neat strike of grid cancel struck so Franklin's eye is clearly visible between bars of the gridEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB JUMBO USED EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
Ex "Natalee Grace". With 1994 and 2019 P.F. certificates. With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $2,750.00). Only one used example grades higher (at 98) and only four others share this desirable grade
130
1,800
269
1c Buff (112). Well-centered, spectacular bold green quartered cork cancelEXTREMELY FINE AND RARE. THIS IS THE BOLDEST GREEN CANCEL WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED ON A ONE-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL.
A Power Search review reveals many Scott 112s with green cancels, but none are as clearly struck and in this bright color.
Ex Dr. Morris and "Golden Oak". With 1986, 1994 and 2018 P.F. certificates
830
1,500
Back to Top270
1c Buff (112). Wide margins and precise centering, rich color, light strike of circle of wedges cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1997 P.F. and 2012 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,450.00), only six used stamps grade higher
130
800
Back to Top271
1c Buff (112). Brilliant color and unusually choice centering, cancelled by neat strike of purple grid cancel, fresh and Extremely Fine, this value is very scarce with a purple cancel, ex Saadi and Eubanks, with 2011 P.F. certificate
305
550
Back to Top272
1c Buff (112). Attractive centering and margins, clear strike of ultramarine cork cancel, Very Fine, a rare cancel on an 1869 Issue stamp, with 1998 and 2016 P.S.E. certificates
730
375
Back to Top273
1c Buff (112). Choice centering, deep rich color, neat strike of blue circle of wedges cancel, fresh and Extremely Fine, ex Mayer, with 1988, 2003 and 2007 P.F. certificates (XF 90)
155
250
Back to Top274
1c Buff (112). Outstanding centering with balanced margins top-to-bottom and side-to-side, rich color, neat strike of blue cork cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1998 P.S.E. and 2012 P.F. certificates
155
400
Back to Top275
1c Buff (112). Fresh color, "Hiogo, Japan" double-circle handstamp struck twice, one strike nearly complete and the other partial, Fine example of this cancel which is very scarce on the 1c 1869 Pictorial Issue, even more unusual to find a double strike -- all other 1c examples we have encountered bear single strikes, the U.S. Post Office opened in Hiogo in 1868, one year after those in Yokohama and Nagasaki, and was in operation until December 1874; the rate was 10c to the U.S., 3c or 6c between Treaty Ports and additional rates to Europe, small pencil notations on back, with 2015 P.F. certificate
1,130
250
Back to Top276
1c Buff (112). Strip of three, tied to yellow piece by hollow 5-Point Star in Circle fancy cancel (or perhaps in octagon) with Springfield Mass. duplex, fresh and Very Fine, with 1997 P.F. certificate
E. 400-500
225
Back to Top277
2c Brown (113). Intense shade and detailed impression, choice centering with wide and balanced margins, neat strike of rosette cancel at left leaves design clearly visible, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful stamp, the 2c is difficult to obtain in such choice condition, ex "Natalee Grace", with 1996 and 2019 P.F. certificates, with 2012 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $900.00)
80
850
Back to Top278
2c Brown (113). Outstanding centering with balanced margins, deep rich color, very light cork cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful stamp, ex Kirke, with 2003 (as a strip of three) and 2015 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95)
80
1,200
Back to Top279
2c Brown (113). Deep rich color, cancelled by "Hiogo, Japan" double-circle handstamp, Extremely Fine example of this cancel which is scarce on the 2c 1869 Pictorial Issue, the U.S. Post Office opened in Hiogo in 1868, one year after those in Yokohama and Nagasaki, and was in operation until December 1874; the rate was 10c to the U.S., 3c or 6c between Treaty Ports and additional rates to Europe, some covers exist with large frankings of the 2c so this denomination must have been readily available in Hiogo; however, we have offered only about ten unduplicated off-cover examples since keeping computerized records and almost all are faulty or off-center, ex Eubanks, with 1989 and 2011 P.F. certificates
E. 750-1,000
650
Back to Top280
2c Brown (113). Choice centering and margins, beautiful strike of bright green cork cancel, Extremely Fine, a very desirable centered 2c 1869 with a vivid green cancel, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85; unpriced in SMQ with green cancel)
580
2,100
Back to Top281
2c Brown, 3c Ultramarine (113, 114). Choice small balance of six stamps, three of 2c and three of 3c, 2c includes one with a red target cancel, 3c includes two with vivid blue cancels, including one with "Paterson Creek B & O R.R. Apr. 25, 1870" railroad route agent's double-circle datestamp, last 3c with a beautifully clear 5-Point Star fancy cancel, Very Fine-Extremely Fine, a high-quality group, each with P.F. or P.S.E. certificate
373
475
Back to Top282
3c Ultramarine (114). Wide margins and near perfect centering, beautiful color and impression, bold strike of red cork cancel which "pops" off the paper, part of circular datestamp at upper leftEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL 3-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL WITH NEAR PERFECT CENTERING AND A VIVID RED CANCEL.
Despite the 3c 1869 stamp's status as the most common denomination, used examples in the highest grades with colored cancels are very rare. A review using Power Search located only one other example graded at least 95 with a red cancel.
Ex Dr. Morris and "Natalee Grace". With 1996 and 2019 P.F. certificates. With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,200.00 for normal cancel).
31
3,250
Back to Top283
3c Ultramarine (114). Essentially Jumbo margins and beautifully centered, marvelous color and impression, dark blue Cincinnati circular datestamp and target cancels, Extremely Fine Gem, as discussed in lot 282, despite the 3c 1869 stamp's status as the most common denomination, used examples in the highest grades with colored cancels are very rare, a review using Power Search located only one other example graded at least 95 with a blue cancel, with 2007 and 2015 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,200.00 for normal cancel)
21
1,900
Back to Top284
3c Ultramarine (114). Wide margins and choice centering, bold strike of green cork cancel fills up nearly the entire design -- which remains fully visible beneath the cancel, Extremely Fine, a lovely stamp, with 2003 P.F. certificate
316
2,100
Back to Top285
3c Ultramarine (114). Rich color, outstanding clear strike of Wasp fancy cancel of Kansas City Mo. (Skinner-Eno PA-I 6), fresh and Extremely Fine strike on a sound 3c 1869 Pictorial, very rare, a review using Power Search failed to find another example of a wasp from Kansas City or any other town, with 2020 P.F. certificate
E. 1,000-1,500
5,000
Back to Top286
3c Ultramarine (114). Wide margins and choice centering, pretty pastel color, clear strike of small Masonic Square and Compass fancy cancel (Skinner-Eno FR-M4a 4), Extremely Fine stamp and strike, with 2018 P.F. certificate
E. 500-750
2,700
Back to Top287
3c Ultramarine (114). Rich color, beautifully clear strike of Four Hearts Pointing Inwards fancy cancel, very similar to Rohloff J-6 but accompanying certificate states it is genuine but not the Waterbury J-6, an Extremely Fine strike regardless of its origin, with 1995 P.F. certificate
E. 500-750
325
Back to Top288
3c Ultramarine (114). Fresh color, clear strike of black Horsefly fancy cancel of Freeport Ill. (Skinner-Eno PA-I 15), Very Fine strike on a sound stamp, this is listed in Skinner-Eno as struck in blue only, with 2019 P.F. certificate
E. 500-750
275
Back to Top289
3c Ultramarine (114). Rich color on bright paper, tied by perfectly clear strike of Mask with Sawtooth Grin fancy cancel, matching "Jackson Mich. Oct. 1" (1869) circular datestamp on yellow cover to New York, original year-dated letter enclosure, missing small part of bottom flap, Very Fine strike of this unusual fancy cancel, ex Laehder, with 1995 and 2018 P.F. certificates
E. 300-400
650
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