Sale 989 — 2010 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Saturday, 19 June, 2010
Category — France
FRANCE, 1862, 10c Bister (25; Yvert 21). Block of four, original gum, h.r. where few minor perf separations sensibly reinforced, beautiful color, usual natural gum wrinklesVERY FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1862 10-CENTIMES NAPOLEON III ISSUE.
Ex Schatzkes. Bottom right stamp with Bolaffi and Buhler backstamps. With 1976 Robineau-Calves certificate. Yvert e9,250 as block. Scott Retail as singles
FRANCE, 1862, 20c Blue (26; Yvert 22). Bright color, tied by well-struck red diamond of dots with small numeral cancel, matching "Camp De Chalons 12 Avril 67" double-circle datestamp on cover to Madame de Vatry ParisVERY FINE. A RARE COVER SENT FROM CAMP DE CHALONS, WHICH WAS A CITY CREATED EACH YEAR BETWEEN 1850 AND 1870 FOR JUST PART OF THE YEAR IN THE CHAMPAGNE REGION.
According to Wikipedia, Camp Chalons was a military camp created by Napoleon III. The initial purpose was for military exercises, but it quickly turned into a showcase of the French Imperial Army, where French citizens could meet the army and watch parades. Each year the town was transformed into a town of tents and wooden chalets. It was opened August 30, 1857 and was only in operation for part of the year. The recipient of this cover was active in French society and was friendly with princes of the house of Orleans. She also owned Chaalis Abbey north of Paris and transformed it into a castle.
Ex Schatzkes. With 1976 Robineau-Behr certificate. Calves handstamp at lower right.
FRANCE, 1862, 40c Pale Orange on Yellowish (27; Yvert 23). Block of four, original gum, top stamps h.r., vivid color, bottom stamps light horizontal creaseVERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN ATTRACTIVE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1862 40-CENTIMES ISSUE.
Top right stamp with Roumet backstamp. Yvert e8,250 as block. Scott Retail as singles
FRANCE, 1862, 80c Rose (28; Yvert 24). Block of four with wide selvage at left, original gum, barest trace of what may be hinging (all stamps appear Mint N.H.), brilliant color, top right stamp small natural inclusionVERY FINE. A STUNNING ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1862 80-CENTIMES ISSUE. TRULY REMARKABLE FOR ITS PRISTINE CONDITION.
Yvert e8,000 as block. Scott Retail as singles
FRANCE, 1862, 80c Pale Rose, Tete-Beche (28c; Yvert 24b). Horizontal strip of three, right stamp printed tete-beche in back-to-back arrangement, bright shade, neat strikes of diamond of dots cancel, left stamp few flaws (easily removed and still leaving a tete-beche pair), right stamp small corner creaseVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A SCARCE TETE-BECHE MULTIPLE OF THE 1862 80-CENTIMES NAPOLEON III ISSUE.
Signed in Pencil. Yvert e10,000 as pair. Scott Retail as pair
FRANCE, 1863, 4c Gray, Tete-Beche (31a; Yvert 27 var). Block of nine, center stamp tete-beche, unused (no gum), bright color, center row with light horizontal crease, small thin spots at topVERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN ATTRACTIVE UNUSED BLOCK OF NINE OF THE 1863 4-CENTIMES WITH THE CENTER STAMP PRINTED TETE-BECHE.
Only one position on one of the plates -- Position 25 -- was printed tete-beche.
Yvert e30,100 as tete-beche pair and seven singles with gum. Scott Retail as same
FRANCE, 1863, 40c Pale Orange on Yellowish (35; Yvert 31). Block of four with selvage at left, original gum, lightly hinged, brilliant colorVERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1863 40-CENTIMES NAPOLEON III ISSUE.
Each stamp with backstamp. Yvert e5,000 as block, Scott Retail as singles
FRANCE, 1868, 80c Rose on Pinkish (36; Yvert 32). Block of four, original gum, top stamps h.r., bottom stamps Mint N.H. (the bottom left stamp with pencil "Vif", the bottom right stamp absolutely pristine), brilliant color on crisp paper, top right stamp tiny thin spotVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1868 80-CENTIMES NAPOLEON III ISSUE. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH THE MINT NEVER-HINGED STAMP.
Yvert e6,250 as block with no premium for Mint N.H.. Scott Retail as hinged singles
FRANCE, 1869, 5fr Laureated (37; Yvert 33). Original gum, radiant color, well-balanced margins, small thin spot at topVERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 1869 5-FRANC LAUREATED ISSUE.
Yvert e8,000
FRANCE, 1870, 80c Rose on Pinkish (48; Yvert 49). Block of four, Positions 2-3/12-13 with Position 3 retouched, original gum, h.r. at top, large to huge margins all around, brilliant colorVERY FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1870 80-CENTIMES BORDEAUX ISSUE, WITH POSITION 3 RETOUCHED.
Brun backstamp at bottom right. Yvert e3,500 with no premium for the retouched position. Scott Retail as normal singles
FRANCE, 1870, 10c Bister on Yellowish (54; Yvert 36). Block of four, original gum, h.r. at center, vibrant colorVERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1870 10-CENTIMES PERFORATED BORDEAUX ISSUE.
Yvert 4,250 as block. Scott Retail as singles
FRANCE, 1870, 10c Bister on Yellowish, Tete-Beche Pair (54a; Yvert 36b). Arranged face-to-face, original gum, h.r., few flaws do not detractVERY FINE APPEARING TETE-BECHE PAIR OF THE 1870 10-CENTIMES ISSUE.
Yvert e8,000.
FRANCE, 1870, 10c Bister on Rose, Tete-Beche Pair (55a; Yvert 58c). Horizontal pair arranged face-to-face, part original gum, h.r., pretty colorFINE. AN ATTRACTIVE AND SCARCE TETE-BECHE PAIR OF THE 1873 10-CENTIMES BISTER ON ROSE ISSUE.
Yvert e6,000
FRANCE, 1871, 15c Bister on Yellowish, Tete-Beche (56a; Yvert 59b). Horizontal strip of three, right two stamps face-to-face tete-beche, two perfect strikes of "3325" in diamond of dots cancel, light horizontal crease, right stamp expertly repairedFINE APPEARANCE. A RARE USED TETE-BECHE PAIR OF THE 1871 15-CENTIMES ISSUE.
The tete-beche is only known from Position 80 of the sheet of 150.
With 1975 Calves certificate. Yvert e22,000 for the pair. Scott Retail for the pair
FRANCE, 1870, 20c Dull Blue, Tete-Beche (57b, Yvert 37c). Horizontal pair with tete-beche back-to-back, original gum, bright color, one stamp small thin spot, few minor perf separationsFINE APPEARANCE. A SCARCE TETE-BECHE PAIR OF THE 1870 20-CENTIMES DULL BLUE ISSUE.
Yvert e5,250
FRANCE, 1871, 25c Blue on Bluish, Tete Beche Pair (58b; Yvert 60Ab). Vertical pair arranged head-to-head, neat strikes of "2112" in diamond of dots cancel, unusually choice centering, each stamp with light diagonal creaseVERY FINE APPEARING USED TETE-BECHE PAIR OF THE 1871 25-CENTIMES ISSUE.
Yvert e4,500
FRANCE, 1870, 40c Orange on Yellowish, Ty. I (59; Yvert 38). Block of four, original gum, small h.r. at top, vivid colorVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1870 40-CENTIMES FIRST PERFORATED BORDEAUX ISSUE.
Yvert e3,600 as block. Scott Retail as singles
FRANCE, 1928, 10fr on 90c and 10fr on 1.50fr "Ile De France" (C3-C4). Complete set of two values, single hinge marks, well-balanced marginsVERY FINE. A RARE SET OF THE "ILE DE FRANCE" AIR POST STAMPS.
Only 2,356 and 1,000 issued, respectively. With 1997 P.F. certificates. Each backstamped and signed