Sale 1188 — United States Stamp Treasures: The William H. Gross Collection
Sale Date — Wednesday, 3 October, 2018
Category — 1861-66 Issue, including Lincoln-Related, Sanitary Fair and Adams Express
This is the unique plate number block of the 10¢ 1861 Type I “First Design”--the lower left stamp is the Erased 90¢ Entry variety, which is also unique as an unused example and one of only two or three extantDESCRIPTION
10¢ Dark Green, Type I (58/62B), Positions 84-85/94-95R4, block of four from the bottom of the right pane of Plate 4 with “ENGRAVED BY THE NATIONAL BANK” part imprint and plate “NO. 4” in selvage at bottom, the lower left stamp--Position 94R4--shows traces of a previous entry from the 90¢ 1861 transfer roll, original gum, deep rich color in the characteristic dark “August” shade
PROVENANCE
* Philip H. Ward, Jr. (bought privately, estate sold to Weills, 1963)
* Benjamin D. Phillips (bought from Weills out of Ward estate, 1964; collection sold privately to the Weills, 1968)
* Siegel Auction Galleries, 1969 Rarities of the World, 3/25/1969, Sale 350, lot 64
* Stephen D. Bechtel, Sr. (probably bought in 1969 Rarities of the World sale; collection sold privately in 1993)
* Siegel Auction Galleries, 1993 Rarities of the World, 11/20/1993, Sale 755, lot 105, to Levitt for Chapin
* John C. Chapin (collection sold privately to William H. Gross, 2002)
CENSUS, LITERATURE AND EXHIBITION REFERENCES
* Lester G. Brookman, United States Postage Stamps of the 19th Century, Vol. II, p. 42
CONDITION NOTES
* Fine centering; some gum disturbance from hinge removal, short perfs and lightly creased along right side, slight thinning which does not affect Position 94R4, small hole in selvage clear of imprint
VIEW PDF OF HISTORY AND COMMENTARY at https://siegelauctions.com/2018/1188/55.pdf
This magnificent pair of the rare 24¢ 1861 Steel Blue with full corner sheet selvage and original gum is so extraordinarily fresh and of such superb quality, it has often been used as the gold standard for the shade and issueDESCRIPTION
24¢ Steel Blue (70b), Positions 1-2L6, horizontal pair with full top left corner sheet selvage, original gum, very lightly hinged, incredibly deep rich color and proof-like impression, each stamp perfectly centered with wide and well-balanced margins
PROVENANCE
* Siegel Auction Galleries, 1982 Rarities of the World, 4/24/1982, Sale 596, lot 210, to Robinson as agent for Klein
* Walter C. Klein, Christie’s Robson Lowe sale, 6/15-16/1988, lot 48, to Chang as agent for Drucker
* Drucker Family, Siegel Auction Galleries, 10/9/2002, Sale 851, lot 79, to William H. Gross
CENSUS, LITERATURE AND EXHIBITION REFERENCES
* World Stamp Show 2016 Court of Honor (Gross)
CERTIFICATION
* British Philatelic Association (1962--no longer accompanies)
* Giulio Bolaffi (3/21/1966)
* The Philatelic Foundation (1982 and 2002)
CONDITION NOTES
* Extremely Fine Gem pair--superb and flawless
VIEW PDF OF HISTORY AND COMMENTARY at https://siegelauctions.com/2018/1188/56.pdf
One of two recorded Abraham Lincoln “Split Rail and Flat Boat” Campaign covers to a foreign country--an outstanding cover from several perspectives: Lincoln, Transatlantic Mail, 1857 Issue and the Civil WarDESCRIPTION
12¢ Black, Plate 1 (36), horizontal pair, tied by “Dubuque Iowa. Aug. 18” (1860) circular datestamp with “PAID/24” rate handstamp on light salmon cover with Beardless Lincoln Portrait, Split Rail Fence and Riverboat Scene, 1860 Campaign design, Baker imprint, “‘Honest Abe Lincoln’ on his flat boat” slogan at bottom, addressed to a Miss Teat in Waltham on the Wolds, England, red “19” credit handstamp also ties pair, Melton-Mowbray backstamp (September 3)
PROVENANCE
* Siegel Auction Galleries, 1995 Rarities of the World, 6/5/1995, Sale 767, lot 142, to William H. Gross
CENSUS, LITERATURE AND EXHIBITION REFERENCES
* Dr. James W. Milgram, Abraham Lincoln Illustrated Envelopes and Letter Paper 1860-1865, design AL-81
CONDITION NOTES
* Very Fine cover with negligible slight wear in corners
VIEW PDF OF HISTORY AND COMMENTARY at https://siegelauctions.com/2018/1188/57.pdf
The only known Lincoln campaign cover actually signed by Abraham Lincoln--it is difficult to imagine a more historic presidential campaign coverDESCRIPTION
Abraham Lincoln, autograph five-line signed referral:Surgeon General..Appt. Submitted to Sec. of War. A. Lincoln, July 25, 1864 Boldly and clearly written by Lincoln on white envelope addressed to “His Excellency, President Lincoln, Washington,” purple seven-line Lincoln-Johnson 1864 Campaign corner card in frame at upper left, “Key Note --‘UNION & LIBERTY’”, “UNION PARTY PLATFORM” text on all four backflaps, Lyon & Whittemore imprint on bottom flap, hand-delivered to the White House without entering the mails, neat red docketing
PROVENANCE
* Siegel Auction Galleries, 5/5/1995, Sale 766A, lot 1639, to William H. Gross
CENSUS, LITERATURE AND EXHIBITION REFERENCES
* Dr. James W. Milgram, Abraham Lincoln Illustrated Envelopes and Letter Paper 1860-1865, design AL-161
CERTIFICATION
* Charles Hamilton (3/9/1995 letter of authentication)
CONDITION NOTES
* Extremely Fine
VIEW PDF OF HISTORY AND COMMENTARY at https://siegelauctions.com/2018/1188/58.pdf
A beautiful and rare Prang & Co. campaign design with three-quarter portraits of Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson, the National Union Party candidates in the 1864 wartime electionDESCRIPTION
3¢ Rose (65), two, bright shade, tied by quartered cork cancels, red “Boston Mass. Oct. 17” (1864) double-circle datestamp on cover to Elgin, Minnesota, with beautiful 1864 Campaign design in light purple, Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson three-quarter portraits facing left in circular frames with campaign slogan at left--“With these true hearts, through Victory to Union and Peace”--and stamp collar at right, L. Prang of Boston imprint
CENSUS, LITERATURE AND EXHIBITION REFERENCES
* Dr. James W. Milgram, Abraham Lincoln Illustrated Envelopes and Letter Paper 1860-1865, design AL-154
CERTIFICATION
* The Philatelic Foundation (1994)
CONDITION NOTES
* Extremely Fine
VIEW PDF OF HISTORY AND COMMENTARY at https://siegelauctions.com/2018/1188/59.pdf
This cover depicting Lincoln’s assassin, John Wilkes Booth, and imploring the public to “Hunt the villain down,” is one of two known--a visually striking and historically significant artifact of postal history and the Civil WarDESCRIPTION
3¢ Rose (65), tied by “Lewis Del.” circular datestamp (date unclear) on cover addressed in pencil to Dr. Seth Arnold, Woonsocket, R.I., with John Wilkes Booth “Hunt the Villain Down” Wanted Design with woodcut engraving of Booth, engraver’s imprint “J. D. EHLERS ENG.”, lengthy caption imploring citizens to search for the assassin with final encouragement “It may be by your means that a benignant Government shall mete out justice to one for whom there should be no mercy.”, publishers imprint “Sold by C. H. Anderson, Bookseller & Stationer, 458 7th St., near cor. F, Washington, D.C.”
PROVENANCE
* Siegel Auction Galleries, 1995 Rarities of the World, 6/5/1995, Sale 767, lot 147, to William H. Gross
CONDITION NOTES
* Fine; cover with some slight wrinkling, corner nick at top right and small toned spot at right edge, stamp has tiny margin flaw
VIEW PDF OF HISTORY AND COMMENTARY at https://siegelauctions.com/2018/1188/60.pdf
This beautiful Civil War Sanitary Fair cover is one of four recorded with a combination of Great Central Fair and regular postage stamps, and it is the only one with the stamps used on a Great Central Fair illustrated envelopeDESCRIPTION
3¢ Rose (65), tied by duplex target cancel and “Phila. Pa. Jun. 15, 1864” circular datestamp, used with Great Central Fair, Philadelphia, 10¢ Blue (WV11), cancelled by “Great Central Fair. June 15, 1864” circular datestamp--strongly impressed, leaving indentation through interior of envelope, effectively tying stamp--two additional strikes on red illustrated Great Central Fair cover, battlefield scene with fallen soldier and return address imprint at side, to A. B. Hall, M.D., at 89 Salem Street in Boston, “P.O. Phila. A Jun. 15 4th” circular datestamp on back
PROVENANCE
* George Walcott, Robert Laurence sale 1/14/1935, lot 3090
* Possibly Robert S. Emerson
* Elliott Perry (collection sold privately to Kantors)
* Alvin R. and Marjorie Kantor, Siegel Auction Galleries, 5/5/1995, Sale 766A, lot 1263, to William H. Gross
CENSUS, LITERATURE AND EXHIBITION REFERENCES
* Alvin R. and Marjorie Kantor, Sanitary Fairs: A Philatelic and Historical
* Study of Civil War Benevolences, fig. 112, p. 127
* ANPHILEX 1971 (Kantor)
CONDITION NOTES
* Very Fine cover; cover slightly reduced at right and 3¢ has trimmed perfs at right, ink spot matching address (thus contemporary) Pencil “Walcott Sale 1935, 40.00, L3090” (appears to be Emerson’s source code)
VIEW PDF OF HISTORY AND COMMENTARY at https://siegelauctions.com/2018/1188/61.pdf
A colorful and pristine folded letter to France, carried across the lines by Adams Express and stamped with the new 30¢ 1861 Issue--the use of this stamp on a Civil War express cover was possible for only one week in August 1861DESCRIPTION
30¢ Orange (71), vivid early color, beautifully centered with interpane margin at left, tied by bold strike of blue grid cancel and matching “Louisville Ky. Aug. 22” (1861) double-circle datestamp on blue folded letter to Paris, France, letter datelined “New Orleans La. 7 Aug. 1861” and addressed to “Monsieur G. d’Arnaud de Vitrolles”, perfect strike of “Adams Ex. Co. * Louisville, Ky. * Aug. 21, 1861” circular datestamp, red “New York Paid 24 Aug. 18”(date error) 24¢ credit datestamp overstruck by red grid, same red credit datestamp re-applied with August 28 date--carried on the Cunarder Persia, which sailed on August 28, arriving in Queenstown on September 7--bold red boxed “P.D.” handstamp and red Calais arrival datestamp (September 9), receiving backstamp, pencil “40” express rate (with code letters and pencil “30”)
PROVENANCE
* Robert A. Paliafito, Christie’s Robson Lowe sale, 6/12/1990, lot 2045
* “Sevenoaks” collection, Siegel Auction Galleries, 11/15/2000, Sale 831, lot 2300, to Hagendorf/Columbian for Schwartz
* Barry K. Schwartz, Siegel Auction Galleries, 12/10/2009, Sale 981, lot 4124, to William H. Gross
CENSUS, LITERATURE AND EXHIBITION REFERENCES
* Scott R. Trepel, “United States Classic Covers” (special color feature for AMERIPEX 1986), Chronicle 130, May 1986
* Steven Walske and Scott R. Trepel, Special Mail Routes of the American Civil War, p. 49
* World Stamp Show 2016 Court of Honor (Gross)
CERTIFICATION
* The Philatelic Foundation (2001)
CONDITION NOTES
* Extremely Fine
VIEW PDF OF HISTORY AND COMMENTARY at https://siegelauctions.com/2018/1188/62.pdf
A rare single-franking use of the 90¢ 1861 Issue to pay the double rate to China on a colorful cover to Shanghai sent via Southampton, EnglandDESCRIPTION
90¢ Blue (72), beautifully centered, deep shade, tied by two strikes of Philadelphia 12-bar grid in circle cancel on buff cover addressed to John M. Nixon, Jr., care of Blain, Tate & Co. in Shanghai, China, red Philadelphia “Paid” foreign-mail office circular datestamp very faintly struck (as often for this office in this period), magenta “48/2” double 24¢ credit to Great Britain at top center--carried on the Inman Line’s Glasgow from New York on May 9, 1863, arriving in Queenstown on May 22 and Liverpool the next day--red “London Paid BB MY 23 63” transit datestamp, red “1d” handstamp crossed out in red crayon and re-rated with manuscript “2” for double 1p British Colonial rate--carried on Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co. steamers from Southampton to Alexandria (Egypt), then overland to Suez, and from there to Hong Kong via Galle (Ceylon), “Hong-Kong C JY 19 63” receiving datestamp on back, the last leg from Hong Kong to Shanghai was made on another P&O steamer
PROVENANCE
* Edward S. Knapp, Parke-Bernet Galleries, May 5-10, 1941, lot 2873
* Louis Grunin (sold privately)
* Sotheby Parke Bernet sale, 10/30/1979, Sale 38, lot 192
* Siegel Auction Galleries, 1991 Rarities of the World, 4/20/1991, Sale 737, lot 397
CENSUS, LITERATURE AND EXHIBITION REFERENCES
* William K. Herzog and Charles J. Starnes, “Cover Usages of the 90¢ 1861 and 1868 Issues,” Chronicle 140, November 1988, no. 13 in the census
CERTIFICATION
* The Philatelic Foundation (1980)
CONDITION NOTES
* Extremely Fine appearance; stamp has a small sealed tear at top and the cover is lightly cleaned (neither noted on certificate, but the tear is described in the 1941 Knapp sale catalogue)
* Signed in pencil by Stanley B. Ashbrook, October 21, 1951
VIEW PDF OF HISTORY AND COMMENTARY at https://siegelauctions.com/2018/1188/63.pdf