Sale 1212 — Superb United States Stamps and Private Die Proprietary Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 20-21 November, 2019
Category — Private Die Medicine Stamps: M thru R
S. Mansfield & Co., 1c Blue, Silk Paper, Block of Four, Imperforate Between (RS154bj). Choice centering, rich color, faint thin spot at bottom right, Very Fine appearance, undercatalogued in Scott which prices a pair imperforate between at $300.00
S. Mansfield & Co., 1c Blue, Pink Paper, Pair, Imperforate Between (RS174ci). Original gum, small h.r., outstanding wide margins and precise centering, deep rich color on fresh paper, completely sound, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb example of this imperforate between S. Mansfield issue and the finest we have encountered, a Power Search review found more than 30 examples on either Silk, Pink or Watermarked paper (both pairs and blocks) and none approach the margins and centering of this example, only 23 of this variety are recorded in the Aldrich book, 1994 P.F. certificate as the old RS174k
S. Mansfield & Co., 1c Blue, Pink Paper, Block of Four, Imperforate Between (RS174cj). Rich color, bottom left stamp thin in margin at left, Fine-Very Fine appearance, ex Bulkley, with 2012 P.F. certificate
Mercado & Seully, 2c Black, Old Paper (RS177a). Large margins all around, intense shade, two or three very small and shallow thin spots but free of the more severe faults from which nearly all examples of this rarity sufferVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 2-CENT MERCADO AND SEULLY PRIVATE DIE PROPRIETARY ISSUE. ONLY FIFTEEN EXAMPLES OF THIS ISSUE FROM THIS SAN FRANCISCO PRODUCER ARE KNOWN AND THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST.
The Aldrich book records 15 copies of this rarity, of which five are stated to be sound. We have never offered a sound example so we suspect that number is actually lower than five. Many examples have severe faults including repairs, holes, stains or large tears. The stamp offered here, with only small thin spots that are not obvious except in fluid, is a true condition rarity. This stamp was designed to be affixed over the cork and down the neck of bottles of Sausevain's Bitters so it is easy to see why most would have been destroyed and survivors would be typically faulty. It is only known on old paper.
Merchant's Gargling Oil, 1c Black, Experimental Silk Paper (RS178e). Wide margins to in at right, tiny thin at top right, Fine and extremely rare, only 12 are recorded in Aldrich book with at least half faulty, the example offered here is in better condition than most and has centering similar to most of the others we have sold, ex "Scarsdale", with 2008 P.F. certificate
Merchant's Gargling Oil, 2c Green, Pink Paper (RS179c). Wide margins to in at right, faulty with tears and thins, still presentable, a rare stamp missing from most advanced collections, only 20 are recorded in the Aldrich census, ex "Scarsdale"
Merchant's Gargling Oil, "Darwin's Grandpa". 80 x 131mm advertising card with a wonderful multicolored satirical design depicting an ape with a bottle of Merchant's Gargling Oil and the caption "I am Darwin's Grandpa, it follows don't you see, that what is good for man and beast, is doubly good for me", back with different advertisement for Koch & Brown's Post Office News Room, Very Fine, an outstanding design
Mette & Kanne, 3c Black, Watermarked (RS180d). Wide and nicely balanced margins, light vertical crease at left, appears Very Fine
Moody, Michel & Co., 4c Black, Silk Paper (RS182b). Choice large margins all around, crisp impression, small thin spot at center, appears Extremely Fine
Dr. C. C. Moore, 2c Black, Pink Paper (RS184c). Detailed impression on deep Pink paper, completely soundFRESH AND FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT DR. C. C. MOORE ISSUE ON PINK PAPER. AN OUTSTANDING PRIVATE DIE MEDICINE RARITY.
Only seven examples of Dr. Moore's 2c on Pink Paper are recorded in the Aldrich book, of which four are reported as sound.
Ex Bulkley. With 2012 P.F. certificate
Morehead's, 4c Black, Old Paper (RS186a). Repaired and some light staining (nearly all examples are quite faulty), rare with only 17 recorded in Aldrich book, with 2013 P.F. certificate
R. V. Pierce, 1c Green, Pink Paper (RS189c). Well-centered, rich color, small tear at top, Very Fine appearance, ex "Scarsdale"
D. Ransom, Son & Co., 2c Black, Pink Paper (RS197c). Massive Jumbo margins, intense shade on bright Pink paper, Extremely Fine, very scarce in this quality
Ring's Vegetable Ambrosia, 2c Blue, Silk Paper, Imperforate (RS199b). Large even margins, deep rich color, completely soundEXTREMELY FINE. A FRESH AND BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE RING'S VEGETABLE AMBROSIA 2-CENT ON SILK PAPER.
Only 20 examples are recorded in the Aldrich census.
Ring's Vegetable Ambrosia, 4c Black, Old Paper, Imperforate (RS200a). Large even margins, detailed impression, few shallow thinsEXTREMELY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE RARE IMPERFORATE 4-CENT BLACK RING'S VEGETABLE AMBROSIA ON OLD PAPER. ONLY NINE ARE RECORDED.
Nine examples are recorded in the Aldrich book. The book also notes that five are sound, but we doubt that as every copy we have encountered has thin spots, including both Joyce copies, the Lilly copy, the Tolman copy, the Inman copy and one in a 1953 Harmer's sale. The P.F. has only certified two examples -- one with thin spots and one seriously defective.
Ring's Vegetable Ambrosia, 4c Black, Silk Paper, Imperforate (RS200b). Ample to huge margins including "Engraved" part imprint in bottom sheet margin, intense shade and impression, completely soundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES EXTANT OF THE RARE 4-CENT RING'S VEGETABLE AMBROSIA ON SILK PAPER, AND THE ONLY EXAMPLE WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED WITH PART OF THE IMPRINT.
Only ten examples of this rarity are recorded in the Aldrich book, about half of which are reported to be sound. A review of the Philatelic Foundation records and Power Search failed to find another example with part of the imprint
Ring's Vegetable Ambrosia, 4c Black, Silk Paper, Perforated (RS203b). Original gum, pretty shade, well-centeredVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL SOUND, ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE RING'S VEGETABLE AMBROSIA 4-CENT PERFORATED ON SILK PAPER.
Only 24 are recorded in the Aldrich book. It is unknown how many retain their original gum, but several we have encountered do not have gum and are faulty.
With 1980 P.F. certificate
Ring's Vegetable Ambrosia, 4c Black, Silk Paper, Part Perforated (RS203bp). Original gum, h.r., intense shade and impression, choice centering, tiny hinge thin speckEXTREMELY FINE APPEARING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE RING'S 4-CENT PART-PERFORATED ISSUE ON SILK PAPER.
Only 15 are recorded in the Aldrich book, which does not note how many are known with original gum. We have offered only one other since keeping computerized records. Ex Weill Brothers Stock (Oct. 1990 Christie's sale) and Inman. With 2018 P.F. certificate
Ring's Vegetable Ambrosia, 4c Black, Watermarked, Perforated (RS203d). Detailed impression, small thins at top are barely noticeable, some lightened manuscript on back (not noted on certificate), Very Fine appearance and rare, only 13 are recorded in the Aldrich book and less than half are reported to be sound, ex Inman, with 2018 P.F. certificate