Sale 993 — The Wagshal Collection, Part 1: 1845-69 Issues
Sale Date — Wednesday, 29 September, 2010
Category — 12c-90c 1857-60 Issue Off Cover
12c Black, Plate 1 (36). Intense shade and impression, bold strikes of circular datestamp, Very Fine
12c Black, Plate 1 (36). Position 71R1, unusually choice centering with straddle-pane margin and centerline at left, sharp proof-like impression, face-free strike of circular datestamp, Extremely Fine Gem, a stunning stamp
12c Black, Plate 1, Double Transfer (36 var). Position 63L1, recut at lower left corner and with double transfer clearly visible in lettering at bottom, light strike of grid cancel, thins and perf flaws, still Fine and scarce position
12c Black, Plate 1 (36). Vertical pair, Positions 43/53L1, each stamp recut at lower left corner, intense shade and impression, neat strikes of red cancels including clear "19" credit at bottom, Fine, only five positions on the plate are recut at the lower left corner, rare as a pair, Scott Retail as normal
12c Black, Horizontal Pair, Imperforate Between (36c). Bright shade, bold strikes of segmented cork cancels, lightly stained, few small perf flaws, right stamp two tiny tears at topVERY FINE APPEARANCE. THE 12-CENT 1857 ISSUE IMPERFORATE BETWEEN IS ONE OF THE GREAT RARITIES OF THE ISSUE. ONLY TWO OTHERS ARE KNOWN TO US, ONE OF WHICH WAS STOLEN AND NOT RECOVERED.
The ex-Ishikawa pair was stolen from a Federal Express package several years ago and has never been recovered. We record one other, offered in our 1991 Rarities sale, with perfs partly trimmed.
With 1975 P.F. certificate
24c Gray Lilac (37). Bright color, neat magenta crossed pen lines, detailed impression, Fine, scarce specimen obliteration
24c Gray Lilac (37). Disturbed original gum, h.r., exceptionally wide margins, bright color except where toned at top, otherwise Very Fine
24c Gray Lilac (37). Unused (regummed), radiant color, well-proportioned margins, Extremely Fine
24c Gray Lilac (37). Brilliant color nicely complemented by red grid cancel, Very Fine
24c Gray Lilac (37). Rich color closer to the Gray sub-shade, well-struck "Paid" in circle handstamp, Fine
24c Gray Lilac (37). Deep rich color and proof-like impression, neat strike of red grid cancel, Fine
24c Gray Lilac (37). Rich color, neat magenta manuscript cancel and also part of red circular datestamp at lower right, short perf at right, otherwise Fine
24c Gray Lilac, 30c Orange (37, 38). Balance lot containing five 24c and four 30c, the 24c with several interesting cancels including red "Paid" in circle, red grid, two with red credits, 30c including red grid (2), large Boston "Paid" grid and New Orleans with arrow head at bottom right recut, few flaws, all appear Fine-Very Fine, also including 30c shaved plate proof (not counted)
30c Orange (38). Original gum, single hinge mark, vibrant color, wide margins, Very Fine and choice, a pretty stamp
30c Orange, Double Transfer (38 var). Position 89L1, unused (no gum), radiant color, fresh and Fine example of this plate variety, with 1984 P.F. certificate
30c Orange (38). Block of six, Positions 77-79/87-89L1, both right stamps with double transfer, original gum, vibrant color with just a faint hint of oxidation (easily removed)VERY FINE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF SIX OF THE 30-CENT 1860 ISSUE. ORIGINAL-GUM MULTIPLES LARGER THAN A BLOCK OF FOUR ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH THE TWO DOUBLE TRANSFER POSITIONS.
This block clearly demonstrates why it is so difficult to find this issue with choice centering. The narrow space between subjects on the plate makes it almost impossible for the perforations to clear the design on all four sides.
Ex Lozier, Sinkler and Gibson. Acquired by Mr. Wagshal in 1982 and offered to the market for the first time in 28 years. With 1983 P.F. certificate
90c Blue (39). Unused (no gum), deep rich color, wide and balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, a fabulous stamp for the collector who cares more about centering and margins than original gum
90c Blue (39). Rich color and proof-like impression, choice centering with well-balanced margins, clear strike of Philadelphia circular datestampEXTREMELY FINE. A STUNNING USED EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1860 ISSUE. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT ISSUES IN CLASSIC UNITED STATES PHILATELY TO OBTAIN AS A USED STAMP IN SOUND AND CENTERED CONDITION.
The 90c stamp was issued in 1860, along with the 24c and 30c values, all of which were needed to prepay high international letter rates established by various postal treaties. The basic 24c and 30c rates to England, France and Germany created a large volume of mail franked with those values. However, the 90c saw much more limited use, partly due to the rates in effect, but more because of the American Civil War. When supplies of current postage stamps were declared invalid in the South and ultimately demonetized by the Federal government, the 90c had been in use for only one year. For this reason, genuinely cancelled copies and covers bearing the 90c are extremely rare. Approximately 180 used examples have been certified as genuine by the Philatelic Foundation, of which approximately one-quarter are sound. Of these sound examples, many are off-center.
Accompanied by three covers with 3c stamps bearing the same Philadelphia circular datestamp for comparison. Small red backstamp. With 1979 P.F. certificate
90c Blue (39). Deep rich color on bright paper, neat strike of red New York grid cancel, sealed tear at topFINE APPEARANCE. A RARE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1860 ISSUE.
The 90c stamp was issued in 1860, along with the 24c and 30c values, all of which were needed to prepay high international letter rates established by various postal treaties. The basic 24c and 30c rates to England, France and Germany created a large volume of mail franked with those values. However, the 90c saw much more limited use, partly due to the rates in effect, but more because of the American Civil War. When supplies of current postage stamps were declared invalid in the South and ultimately demonetized by the Federal government, the 90c had been in use for only one year. For this reason, genuinely cancelled copies and covers bearing the 90c are extremely rare. Approximately 180 used examples have been certified as genuine by the Philatelic Foundation, of which approximately one-quarter are sound.
With 2010 P.F. certificate
1851-57 Issue with New York Ocean Mail Cancels. Four stamps, Nos. 7, 11, 14 and 35, each with well-struck New York Ocean Mail circular datestamp, stamps with few flaws, still Very Fine strikes of this desirable cancel
1857 Issue with Mobile Ala. Postmarks. Pair and five singles each with Mobile Ala. double-circle datestamp, including No. 24 (2), 26 (pair and two singles) and 38, better dates including Jan. 30, 1861 as Independent State usage, Feb. 5, 1861 on 30c which was used one day after Alabama joined Confederacy, others from late 1860, few flaws to be expected, the cancels are all Very Fine
1857-61 Issue with Supplementary Mail Ty. A Cancels. Four, on Nos. 37, 68, 71 and 77, each with red Supplementary Mail Ty. A cancel, few flaws, still Fine-Very Fine strikes of this scarce cancel on a nice assortment of issues
1c-90c 1857 Reprints, Plate Proofs on India (40P3-47P3). Huge margins, including 3c with bottom left corner margin and 10c with top sheet margin, brilliant colors, few small flaws as usually associated with this fragile paper, still an Extremely Fine set
12c Greenish Black, Reprint (44). Without gum as issued, bright shade, well-proportioned marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE 1875 REPRINT OF THE 12-CENT 1857 ISSUE.
Only 489 sold. With 1979 P.F. certificate