Sale 1227 — Outstanding United States Stamps and Gold Coins
Sale Date — Monday-Friday, 19-23 October, 2020
Category — 1875 Re-Issue of 1869 Pictorial Issue (Scott 123-133a)
1c Buff, Re-Issue (123). Rich color on bright paper, bold strikes of target cancel, fresh and Very Fine, with 2001 P.F. certificate
2c Brown, Re-Issue (124). Unused (no gum), deep rich color and proof-like impression, mathematically perfect centering with unusually wide margins, long and full perforations all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS STUNNING STAMP IS GRADED GEM 100 BY P.S.E. -- IT IS BY FAR THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
P.S.E. encapsulated (NG, Gem 100; SMQ $4,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded and the only example to achieve this grade. Two used copies grade 95J, and beyond that the highest grade in any category (OG, NH or NG) is 95.
2c Brown, Re-Issue (124). Original gum, wide margins, rich color, Very Fine, with 2004 P.S.E. certificate
2c Brown, Re-Issue (124). Original gum, h.r., intense shade and impression, Fine, with 1984 P.F. certificate
2c Brown, Re-Issue (124). Block of four, original gum, lightly hinged, rich color and crisp impressionVERY FINE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 2-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE.
We estimate no more than seven or eight blocks of the 2c 1869 Re-Issue exist.
From our 1973 Rarities of the World sale.
2c Brown, Re-Issue (124). Deep rich color, neat cork cancel, well-proportioned margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1993, 2015 and 2016 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85)
2c Brown, Re-Issue (124). Choice centering and margins, registry oval cancel, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1991 P.F. and 2019 P.S.E. certificates
2c Brown, Re-Issue (124). Deep rich color on bright paper, attractive centering and margins, bold "6" oval grid duplex cancel, Very Fine, with 1967 and 2008 P.F. certificates
2c Brown, Re-Issue (124). Crisp impression on bright paper, neat cork cancel, Very Fine and attractive, with 1997 P.F. certificate
3c Blue, Re-Issue (125). Original gum, deep rich color and detailed impressionVERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE.
Original sales figures show that among the 1869 Pictorial Re-Issues, the 3c and 90c stamps accounted for the smallest number of units sold (1,406 and 1,356, respectively). Overall, the 1869s were popular with stamp collectors, far outselling the 1851-60 and 1861-66 Re-Issue sets. However, the 90c stamp's high denomination and the availability of ordinary 3c stamps limited demand. Today, both are rare, and handling over the years has not been kind to most of the surviving examples.
With 1998 P.F. certificate
3c Blue, Re-Issue (125). Unused (no gum), well-centered with balanced margins, rich Re-Issue color, accompanying certificate notes a stain has been removed, Very Fine appearance, with 1992 P.F. certificate
3c Blue, Re-Issue (125). Unused (regummed), filled thin spot, appears Very Fine, small Stanley Gibbons backstamp
6c Blue, Re-Issue (126). Original gum, h.r., bright color and paper, unusually wide margins, Very Fine, with 2016 P.F. certificate
6c Blue, Re-Issue (126). Part original gum, rich color, well-balanced margins, Very Fine, with 1974 and 2000 P.F. certificates
10c Yellow, Re-Issue (127). Original gum, h.r., vibrant color, wide margins, Very Fine, with 2003 P.F. certificate
10c Yellow, Re-Issue (127). Unused (no gum), well-centered, just a hint of oxidation, still Very Fine, with 1986 P.F. certificate
10c Yellow, Re-Issue (127). Virtually perfect centering with wide margins, vivid color, New York City registry oval cancel, very freshEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE.
SMQ estimates that approximately 30 used examples are known. We estimate that between 30 and 50 are known used. However, it is surprisingly difficult to obtain in such choice condition.
Ex Zoellner. With 1987 and 2002 P.F. certificates
10c Yellow, Re-Issue (127). Vibrant color, unusually wide and balanced margins, well-struck Washington D.C. registry oval cancelEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE.
SMQ estimates that approximately 30 used examples are known. We estimate that between 30 and 50 are known used. However, it is surprisingly difficult to obtain in such choice condition.
With 2017 P.S.E. certificate
12c Green, Re-Issue (128). Original gum, deep rich color and proof-like impression, Very Fine, with 1974 P.F. certificate
15c Brown & Blue, Re-Issue (129). Part original gum covering the bottom third of the stamp, rich colors, tiny thin spot not mentioned on certificate, Very Fine appearance, with 1994 P.F. certificate, Scott value as original gum
15c Brown & Blue, Re-Issue (129). Part original gum described on accompanying certificate as "previously hinged" (full original gum), deep rich colors, Very Fine and choice, with 1995 P.F. certificate
15c Brown & Blue, Re-Issue (129). Horizontal pair, original gum, h.r., deep rich colors and detailed impressions, on the left stamp the vignette is shifted to the right, on the right stamp the vignette is shifted to the left, which indicates the transfers were misaligned when the plate was madeVERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM PAIR OF THE 15-CENT TYPE III 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE.
The largest recorded multiple is a block of four with two known (one has no gum). This is the only original-gum pair of which we are aware.
Ex Price. With 2002 P.F. certificate. Scott value as singles
15c Brown & Blue, Re-Issue (129). Deep rich colors, beautifully centered on fresh paper, lighter cancel than often found on this issue, Extremely Fine, a very choice used example of the 15c Re-Issue, with 1984 P.F. and 2010 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85; SMQ $1,650.00), the highest grade in the P.S.E. Population Report is XF 90
24c Green & Violet, Re-Issue (130). Original gum, beautiful rich colors, Very Fine and choice, with 2000 and 2006 P.F. certificates, the latter mentions a "tiny inking flaw above the the head of the second standing figure from the left", we cannot fathom why the P.F. felt compelled to make such a statement
24c Green & Violet, Re-Issue (130). Slightly disturbed original gum, rich colors on bright paper, Very Fine, with 2000 P.F. certificate as original gum and not noting any disturbance
30c Ultramarine & Carmine, Re-Issue (131). Slightly disturbed original gum, deep rich colors, Very Fine, with 1991 P.F. certificate as original gum
30c Ultramarine & Carmine, Re-Issue (131). Original gum, h.r., deep rich colors, Fine, with 2015 P.S.E. certificate
30c Blue & Carmine, Re-Issue (131). Choice centering with wide margins, deep rich colors, segmented cork cancel struck so that the eagle and shield designs are fully visibleEXTREMELY FINE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE.
SMQ estimates that approximately 40 examples of the 30c Re-Issue are known used. Our experience has been that many are either off-center or have small faults.
With 1983, 1999 and 2017 P.F. certificate
30c Ultramarine & Carmine, Re-Issue (131). Vivid colors, well-centered, fresh and Very Fine, scarce in sound used condition, SMQ estimates that approximately 40 examples are known used, our experience shows that many are either off-center or have small faults, with 2000 P.F. certificate
30c Ultramarine & Carmine, Re-Issue (131). Choice centering with wide margins, deep rich colors, bold strike of New York registry oval cancel, tiny scuff at top left, Extremely Fine appearance, scarce with such choice centering, SMQ estimates that approximately 40 examples of the 30c 1875 Re-Issue are known used, with 1996 P.S.E. and 2020 P.F. certificates
90c Carmine & Black, Re-Issue (132). Original gum, rich colors, well-balanced marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE.
With 2019 P.S.E. certificate (OGh, VF 80; SMQ $4,100.00)
90c Carmine & Black, Re-Issue (132). Part original gum, deep rich colors on bright paper, fresh and Very Fine, with 1989 P.F. certificate, Scott value as original gum
90c Carmine & Black, Re-Issue (132). Unused (no gum), wonderful depth of color, well-centered with wide margins, small thin spot and some slightly blunted perfs at left, still appears Extremely Fine
90c Carmine & Black, Re-Issue (132). Large part original gum, fresh color, well-centered but reperfed at left, otherwise Very Fine, Scott value as original gum
90c Carmine & Black, Re-Issue (132). Deep rich colors on bright paper, wide and beautifully balanced margins, bold quartered cork cancelEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE WIDE-MARGINED USED EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE.
SMQ estimates that approximately 40 used copies exist and our own experience confirms this estimate. Most are either off-center or have small faults.
With 1978 and 2004 P.F. certificates.
1c Buff, 1880 Re-Issue (133). Rich color, bold strike of San Francisco circular datestamp, tiny toned spot around a dot of cancelling ink at bottom left not mentioned on accompanying certificate, Very Fine, with clear 2002 P.F. certificate
1c Brown Orange, 1881 Re-Issue (133a). Without gum as issued, wide top selvage, rich color, mathematically perfect centering with Jumbo margins but with a single short perf at left, still an Extremely Fine Gem, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate not showing the short perf and graded Gem 100 Jumbo (the only example to have been awarded this highest of grades), with 2020 P.S.E. certificate showing the short perf (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $1,100.00 as 95, $2,100.00 as 98), even with the downgrade this is still the highest graded example of Scott 133a, with none equal