Sale 989 — 2010 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Saturday, 19 June, 2010
Category — France
FRANCE, 1850, 10c Bister on Yellowish (1; Yvert 1). Vertical pair, large and even margins all around, tied by perfect strike of large "3043" in diamond of dots cancel, "St. Die-Des-Vosges 22 Fevr. 52" double-circle datestamp on folded printed wedding invitation to Paris, receiving backstamp, Extremely Fine, an immaculate and beautiful cover in every respect
FRANCE, 1849, 10c Dark Bister on Yellowish (1a; Yvert 1a). Block of four, original gum, large margins to clear, pretty colorVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1849 10-CENTIME CERES ISSUE IN THE SO-CALLED BISTER-BROWN SHADE.
Ex Gill-Burrus. With 1967 Robineau-Behr certificate. Yvert e10,800 as singles. If one applies the same multiplier used for the normal shade then this would catalogue e12,265. Scott Retail as singles
FRANCE, 1849, 10c Bister on Yellowish, Tete-Beche (1d; Yvert 1d). Block of nine, the center stamp tete-beche, unused (no gum), large and even margins all around, brilliant color, small thin spot at top center, small purple backstamp barely shows thru at centerEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE BLOCK OF NINE OF THE 10-CENTIMES CERES ISSUE OF FRANCE WITH THE CENTER STAMP ARRANGED TETE-BECHE IN RELATION TO THE OTHERS. A MAGNIFICENT SHOWPIECE.
Most tete-beche multiples are pairs or strips of three. The block offered here, with the center stamp tete-beche, is a magnificent exhibition-quality multiple.
Ex Gill-Burrus. With 1967 Robineau-Behr certificate. Yvert value as seven no gum singles and gummed tete-beche pair e96,300. Scott Retail as tete-beche pair and seven original gum singles
FRANCE, 1849, 15c Light Green on Greenish (2a; Yvert 2a). Original gum, lightly hinged, radiant color, large margins all aroundEXTREMELY FINE. A STUNNING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE FRANCE 1849 15-CENTIMES CERES ISSUE. THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF THE LIGHT GREEN SHADE WE HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED.
Yvert e26,500. Scott Catalogue calls this shade Yellow Green
FRANCE, 1849, 20c Black (3; Yvert 3). Block of 20 with sheet margins at both sides, large margins at top and bottom, original gum with most stamps Mint N.H., intense shade and impression, few light toned spots, few small flaws in sheet margins onlyVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A BEAUTIFUL BLOCK OF TWENTY OF THE 1849 20-CENTIMES CERES ISSUE, WITH SHEET MARGINS AT BOTH SIDES.
Yvert e11,750 as five blocks of four. Scott Retail as singles with no premium for the multiple
FRANCE, 1849, 20c Black (3; Yvert 3). Horizontal pair, large margins to barely in at top left of left stamp, tied by Montauban 1 Janv. 1849" double-circle datestamp, second clear strike at left, on folded cover to Mayenne, also with Bordeaux, Nantes, Laval and receiving backstamps, few age spots, light horizontal file fold at bottom well away from stampsVERY FINE. A RARE FIRST DAY COVER OF THE 1849 20-CENTIME CERES FIRST ISSUE OF FRANCE. A WONDERFUL SHOWPIECE WHICH IS ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH THE ADDITIONAL CLEAR STRIKE OF THE FIRST DAY POSTMARK AT LEFT.
This cover is also desirable because the stamps themselves are also cancelled by the datestamp rather than by an obliterate cancel.
FRANCE, 1849, 20c Black (3; Yvert 3). Five singles, huge margins to clear, one with tiny scissors-cut in margin only, tied by diamond grids on yellow adversity cover made from circular to Culle, neat strike of "Limoges 1 Fevr. 1849" double-circle datestamp, cover with small repaired tear at lower left and on bottom flap, Very Fine, a colorful and scarce early usage
FRANCE, 1849, 20c Black, Tete-Beche Pair (3c; Yvert 3d). Horizontal tete-beche pair with heads back-to-back, large margins all around, bold strikes of diamond grill cancels, faint natural paper wrinkleVERY FINE. A RARE AND DESIRABLE USED TETE-BECHE PAIR OFTHE 1849 20-CENTIME CERES ISSUE.
Yvert e7,500
FRANCE, 1849, 25c Dull Blue (6; Yvert 4b). Original gum, small h.r., attractive shade, huge margins to clear, tiny thin speck is barely noticeableVERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN ATTRACTIVE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1849 25-CENTIME CERES ISSUE IN THE DULL BLUE SHADE.
Yvert e8,000
FRANCE, 1850, 25c Blue on Bluish (6a; Yvert 4). Block of four, original gum, h.r., large margins all around, beautiful color, three stamps small thin spotsVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A SCARCE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1850 25-CENTIME CERES ISSUE.
Ex Gill-Burrus. With 1967 Robineau-Behr certificate. Bottom stamps with small backstamps. Yvert e40,000 as original gum block. Scott Retail as singles with no premium for the multiple.
FRANCE, 1849, 25c Blue on Bluish, Tete-Beche Pair (6c; Yvert 4c). Vertical tete-beche pair, large margins all around, neat strikes of grill cancels, one stamp with small thin spotVERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN ATTRACTIVE VERTICAL TETE-BECHE PAIR OF THE 1849 25-CENTIMES CERES ISSUE.
Yvert e15,000.
FRANCE, 1850, 40c Orange on Yellowish, Ty. I (7; Yvert 5). Block of four, whitish original gum, h.r. at top, large to huge margins incl. sheet margin at right, radiant color as fresh as the day it was printedVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1850 40-CENTIMES CERES ISSUE. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH THE WHITISH GUM
Yvert Catalogue prices this with both clear gum (as offered here) and brown gum. The brown gum is priced at half that of the clear gum. Yvert e27,000 as block. Scott Retail as singles
FRANCE, 1849, 40c Orange Vermilion on Yellowish, Ty. I (7a; Yvert 5a). Original gum which is dark brown over most of the back and unevenly applied as is typical, h.r., large to huge margins all around, vibrant color as fresh as the day it was printedEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1849 40-CENTIMES TYPE I IN THE BRIGHT ORANGE SHADE.
Yvert e5,500.
FRANCE, 1850, 40c Orange on Yellowish, Pair of Types I and II (7c; Yvert 5e). Horizontal pair, the "4" of "40" retouched on right stamp, huge margins to clear, two neat strikes of diamond grid cancel and right stamp with part of red circular datestamp leave the retouched position and denominations clearly visible, vivid color, horizontal crease at bottom near necks, left stamp tiny thin spot in margin at bottomVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE PAIR OF THE 1850 40-CENTIMES CERES ISSUE, WITH ONE STAMP SHOWING THE RETOUCHED "4". ONE OF THE GREAT RARITIES OF THE ISSUE.
Two different plates of 150 were used to print this issue. On these, Positions 146 and 147 of only one of them were retouched to widen the "4" of "40". The pair offered here, from Positions 145 and 146 and with a cancellation that leaves the retouching clearly visible, should be considered desirable.
Yvert e16,000.
FRANCE, 1849, 1fr Vermilion on Yellowish (8; Yvert 7). Horizontal pair, unused (no gum), large margins to barely in at top of left stamp, the right stamp with four clear margins, brilliant color, few tiny flaws that are not clearly evident and are visible in fluidFINE APPEARANCE. A RARE UNUSED PAIR OF THE 1849 ONE-FRANC VERMILION. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT ISSUES IN ALL OF CLASSIC FRANCE TO OBTAIN IN UNUSED CONDITION, ESPECIALLY AS A MULTIPLE. ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE COLLECTION.
Signed several times on back. Small purple backstamp at bottom left barely shows thru. Yvert e120,000 as no gum singles. Scott Retail as with gum
FRANCE, 1849, 1fr Vermilion on Yellowish (8; Yvert 7). Large margins all around, radiant color, tied by diamond grid, "Toulouse 16 JUIN 49" double-circle datestamp on cover to Gaillac, receiving backstamp of the same day, the cover with some slight wear but the stamp is in immaculate conditionVERY FINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 1849 ONE-FRANC VERMILION ON COVER. THE STAMP IS IN PRISTINE CONDITION AND THE MARKINGS ARE ALL PERFECTLY CLEAR -- A GREAT RARITY.
Signed twice near stamp and with two backstamps. With 1966 Hunziker certificate. Yvert e32,500 as on cover. Scott Retail as used with no premium for the cover
FRANCE, 1850, 1fr Pale Vermilion "Vervelle" (8c; Yvert 7A). Unused (no gum), large to huge margins all around, radiant color, few flaws that are not clearly evidentVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-FRANC PALE VERMILLION "VERVELLE" ISSUE.
This issue is named for a French stamp dealer named Ernest Vervelle, who bought an ungummed sheet of the stamps in 1895 from the printer Hulot. Yvert Catalogue notes that these are generally thinned.
With Roumet and Brun backstamps. Yvert e28,000.
FRANCE, 1849, 1fr Brown Carmine (9b; Yvert 6B). Huge margins to clear, tied by diamond grid, matching "Paris 1 Mar. 1849" double-circle datestamp on cover to Orleans, receiving backstamp of the following day, some minor cover wear, Very Fine, an attractive cover and an early use of this shade, for some reason this shade is unpriced as on cover in Yvert