Sale 1219 — The Edward Morton Collection of Outstanding Quality U.S. Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 8-9 April, 2020
Category — 6c-15c 1869 Pictorial Issue (Scott 115-119)
6c Ultramarine (115). Beautifully centered, unusually clear and complete strike of "Hiogo, Japan" double-circle handstamp, completely soundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS EASILY THE FINEST 6-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL BEARING THE HIOGO, JAPAN U.S. POST OFFICE CANCEL.
The 6c 1869 Pictorial is rarely found with the Hiogo, Japan U.S. Post Office cancel. 6c paid the interconsular rate, which is far less frequently encountered than the 10c rate to the United States. We have offered only five unduplicated examples of the 6c with a Hiogo cancel since keeping computerized records. All were either off-center, faulty or both. This superb stamp stands far above any other we have encountered.
Ex Zoellner and Rose. With 1991 P.F. certificate
6c Ultramarine (115). Gorgeous centering with balanced Jumbo margins, radiant color on bright paper, neat strike of unusual Geometric cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a huge stamp, ex "Natalee Grace", with 1997 P.F. and 2012 P.S.E. certificates (ungraded but was previously XF 90 Jumbo; SMQ $1,050.00), this seems undergraded to us
6c Ultramarine (115). Choice centering with wide margins, bright color complemented by blue cork cancel, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2015 P.F. and P.S.E. certificates (both (XF 90; SMQ $650.00 for normal cancel)
6c Ultramarine (115). Perfectly centered with wide and balanced margins, bold deep red cork cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Dr. Morris, Senchuk and "Golden Oak", with 1989 and 2010 P.F. certificates, the latter as "blackish red" cancel
6c Deep Ultramarine (115 var). Exceptional depth of color in the deepest Ultramarine we have encountered, well-centered, neat blue target cancel, Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp, ex Saadi, with 1988, 1991, 2002 and 2013 P.F. certificates (1991 and 2013 certificates state "Deep Ultramarine"), Scott Retail as normal Ultramarine
6c Ultramarine (115). Brilliant color, cancelled by perfect strike of Solid Star fancy cancel of New York City, trace of red cancel at left, Very Fine and choice, a stamp of wonderful eye appeal, ex Eubanks, with 2000 P.F. certificate
10c Yellow (116). Unusually choice centering with wide and balanced margins, brilliant color, clear strike of "X" cancel of Nagasaki, Japan, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp in every respect, with 1999 and 2011 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95 XQ), the "XQ" stands for extraordinary quality
10c Yellow (116). Exceptional centering with wide margins, vivid color on fresh paper, bold strike of "N. York Steamship" circular datestamp cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, wonderful quality, with 2016 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95)
10c Yellow (116). Fresh color and outstanding centering, clear strike of "Hiogo, Japan" double-circle handstamp, Extremely Fine, an unusually choice example of the 10c 1869 Pictorial Issue with the Hiogo cancel, the U.S. Post Office opened in Hiogo in 1868, with 2016 P.F. certificate (XF 90)
10c Yellow (116). Brilliant color, cancelled solely by French Anchor in Diamond of Dots, small thin spot, Very Fine appearance, a scarce use of this French maritime cancellation on a 10c 1869, from a cover sent by French transatlantic packet between the U.S. and France, with 2014 P.F. certificate
10c Yellow (116). Two, vivid color, tied on small blue piece by "N. York Steamship Jan. 20" circular datestamp, right stamp also tied by part of red transit marking, left stamp faint vertical crease not mentioned on accompanying certificate, Extremely Fine strike of this desirable steamship marking, which was applied to mail entering New York, primarily from South and Central America and the Caribbean, ex Eubanks (as a three-stamp piece), with clear 2016 P.F. certificate
10c Yellow (116). Superbly centered, intense shade, tied by perfect strike of segmented circular cork cancel on blue folded letter to Bordeaux, France, sender's blue double-circle datestamp, red "New York Mar. 12" (1870) circular datestamp, Calais arrival datestamp and "GB/40c" Anglo-French accountancy handstamp, French "5" decimes due handstampEXTREMELY FINE USE OF THE 10-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ON A LETTER TO FRANCE, PREPAID FOR THE 10-CENT DIRECT RATE BUT SENT BY BRITISH OPEN MAIL.
The 1857 U.S.-French postal treaty expired on Dec. 31, 1869, making it difficult to fully prepay postage between the two countries, and impossible to fully prepay postage to France with U.S. stamps alone (with the exception of the unannounced Phantom Rate from New York via British mails). This cover was prepaid for the 10c direct rate to France (with French postage due), but was sent by British Open Mail, which required only 4c.
Ex Caspary -- the $210 realization in the 1956 Caspary sale caused Ashbrook to muse about what factors could have driven up the price to such an extraordinary level (Special Service, page 561, photo 277) and "European Connoisseur"
12c Green (117). Rich color and detailed impression, essentially perfect centering, neat rosette cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
With 2010 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $2,250.00). Only one stamp grades higher
12c Green (117). Jumbo margins and choice centering, deep rich color, neat circle of wedges cancel leaves design fully visible, Extremely Fine Gem, a huge 12c Adriatic, ex Kirke, with 2003 P.F. and 2011 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $1,400.00)
12c Green (117). Bright shade and crisp impression, well-proportioned margins, neat central strike of purple cork cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, desirable with the distinctive colored cancel, ex Eubanks and "Golden Oak", with 1999 and 2019 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95)
12c Green (117). Tied by 5-Point Solid Star fancy cancel with purple "Phila Paid All May 11" (1869) circular datestamp on Leicester Knitting Mills corner card cover to London, England, red London receiving datestamp, Philadelphia Station backstamp, carried on Cunarder Scotia from New York on May 12, arriving Queenstown May 21, Very Fine, a scarce combination of a fancy star cancel and corner card cover bearing the 12c Adriatic, ex Haas, with 2002 and 2019 P.F. certificates
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. I (118). Exceptional centering with wide margins, deep rich colors and proof-like impressions, unobtrusive cancel with rim of circular datestamp at edge -- leaves design clearly visibleEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT TYPE I 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
In his book on the 1869 Pictorial Issue, Jonathan Rose noted that essays were made for both the Type I and Type II designs prior to the time the stamps were issued. The stamps were fed through the press twice -- first for the vignette and then for the frame. The challenge for the printers was to properly align the vignette when printing the frame. Apparently, the addition of the diamond marker at top center of the Type II design made it easier to accomplish this task. It also made any misalignment less noticeable. Type II stamps appeared within days of the EDU for Type I and are much more common.
With 2003 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $12,000.00). This is the only Scott 118 at this grade with just two graded higher (both 98J and both more heavily cancelled).
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. I (118). Well-centered with balanced margins, rich colors, bold strike of ultramarine target cancel, very freshVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT TYPE I 1869 PICTORIAL CANCELLED IN ULTRAMARINE.
A Power Search review failed to find another Scott 118 cancelled in ultramarine. This would make an excellent mate to the stamp offered in lot 311, which is the only 15c Type II we have encountered with an ultramarine cancel.
With 2008 P.S.E., 2009 and 2014 P.F. certificates. This cancel color is unlisted.
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. I (118). Bright colors, wide margins, bold strike of blue cork cancel, Very Fine and choice, a stamp with great visual appeal, ex Klein, with 1981, 2002 and 2016 P.F. certificates
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II (119). Choice margins and centering, deep rich colors, neat cork cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1987 P.F. and 2011 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $2,300.00), only one grades higher (at 98), incredibly, the population of 15c Type II stamps in the highest grades is smaller than the population of Type I stamps (similar quantities have been submitted for grading)
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II (119). Wide margins and choice centering, deep rich colors and proof-like impressions, neat strike of target cancel at bottom leaves entire design clearly visibleEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT TYPE II 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE WITH WIDE MARGINS, AN UNOBTRUSIVE CANCEL AND FRESH COLOR. EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST WE HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED.
Ex "Natalee Grace". With 2002 and 2019 P.F. and 2012 P.S.E. certificates -- the 2012 certificate at one time stated "XF 90", but the certificate was replaced with one without the grade, probably because giving this magnificent stamp a 90 grade is insulting
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II (119). Rich colors nicely complemented by ultramarine target cancel, Very Fine and choice, an exceedingly rare cancel on a bi-color 1869 Pictorial, this is the only example we have offered on Scott 119 since keeping computerized records and would make a wonderful mate to the 15c Type I offered in lot 307, with 2010 and 2016 P.F. certificates, this color cancel is listed but unpriced in Scott