Sale 1174 — The J. R. Helton, Jr. Collection of Used United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday, 7 March, 2018
Category — Revenues, Second and Third Issues
$1.90 Blue & Black, Second Issue (R122). Brilliant colors, well-centered with wide margins, barest trace of a blue cancel at top right, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2003 and 2014 P.F. certificates
$10.00 Blue & Black, Second Issue (R128). Bright colors, wide margins, neat manuscript cancel, Extremely Fine, ex Inman, with 2016 P.F. certificate
$25.00 Blue & Black, Second Issue (R130). Rich colors, manuscript cancel at top leaves entire vignette clear, balanced margins, Extremely Fine, a superb example, with 2016 P.S.E. certificate
$200.00 Red, Blue & Black, Second Issue, "Small Persian Rug" (R132). Bright colors, impressive centering with wide and balanced margins, neat Jun. 27, 1872 manuscript cancelEXTREMELY FINE. A STUNNING EXAMPLE OF THE $200.00 "SMALL PERSIAN RUG" GRADED XF 90 BY P.S.E -- ONE OF THE MOST COLORFUL STAMPS IN UNITED STATES PHILATELY.
Both the Small and Large "Persian Rug" stamps were printed in sheets of one. Because of their size, the large number of perforations on each stamp, and the fact that they were used on documents which were frequently folded across the stamps, sound examples of the multicolored "Persian Rug" issues are extremely rare.
Only 446 of the small "Persian Rug" were issued. With 2012 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; Revenues are unpriced in SMQ).
$500.00 Red Orange, Green & Black, Second Issue, "Large Persian Rug" (R133). Retains most of its original gum, bright colors and detailed impressions, attractive centering, light "R & I C&C I Co., April 1/72" manuscript cancelVERY FINE. ONE OF THE FINEST KNOWN EXAMPLES OF THE CELEBRATED $500.00 "LARGE PERSIAN RUG," WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST COLORFUL AND ELABORATELY ENGRAVED STAMPS IN ALL OF PHILATELY.
Only 210 were issued, and it is safe to say that most examples are faulty to some degree. A document exists from July 24, 1874, detailing the purchaser of each. The Kingsley census records 76 copies, and our expanded census, available at our website, contains 87.
Kingsley Census No. 18-1. Ex Weill. With 1989 and 2014 P.F. certificates. Scott Retail is for an example with small faults
30c Orange & Black, Third Issue (R140). Incredibly wide and balanced margins, light manuscript cancel leaves the entire vignette clear, vibrant color, Extremely Fine, with 2017 P.F. certificate (XF 90)
$20.00 Vermilion & Black, Third Issue (R150a). Brilliant color, Aug. 29, 1872 manuscript cancel, Very Fine and scarce color error, we have offered less than a dozen since keeping computerized records, with 2016 P.F. certificate