Sale 1062 — The Golden Oak Collection of Superb United States
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 17-18 December, 2013
Category — 1c 1851-56 Issue (Scott 5-9)
1c Blue, Ty. I (5). Position 7R1E, huge margins including portion of adjoining stamps at sides and part of top sheet margin, barely touched at lower left, rich color and unusually dark shade, two neat strikes of Boston small "Paid" grid cancel, light vertical creases at left and right mostly in side margins are barely noticeableEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE WIDEST-MARGINED EXAMPLES OF THE 1851 ONE-CENT TYPE I IN EXISTENCE. A STAMP OF REMARKABLE PROPORTIONS. THIS IS THE ONLY IMPERFORATE POSITION THAT SHOWS THE ENTIRE DESIGN OF THE STAMP.
The Type I 1c imperforate only comes from one position on the five plates used to print the imperforate stamps -- Position 7R1E, or the seventh position in the top row of the right pane of the first plate. Due to difficulties in creating the plates, all 999 other positions are other types. An explanation of the 1c types can be found in the Siegel Encyclopedia at http://siegelauctions.com/enc/pdf/1c1851.pdf .
The published census compiled by Jerome S. Wagshal and available at our website at http://siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/5/5.pdf contains 90 unduplicated records of Scott 5. There has been one addition to the Wagshal census, and there are probably no more than ten examples existing outside of the census population. Therefore, the 1c 1851 Type I is the rarest of all United States stamps issued regularly prior to the 1868 Grills.
Because of the significance attached to the outer portions of the 1c 1851 design, rare types that have been carefully cut apart, so as not to impinge on any part of the design, are extremely desirable. The narrow spacing between stamps in the sheet and the users' indifference to the outlying ornamentation during separation are factors that contributed to the great rarity of four-margin copies. Examples of Position 7R1E (Scott 5) with large right and bottom margins, where there was very little space between it and the adjoining stamps, are true rarities. Looking at the census data, the stamp offered here has among the widest margins known. It has consistently brought at least twice Scott Catalogue value in past auction sales.
Wagshal Census No. 5-CAN-008. Ex T. Charlton Henry and Lyons. With 1999 P.F. certificate. Scott Catalogue states "Values for No. 5 are for examples with margins touching or cutting slightly into the design, or for examples with four margins and minor faults."
1c Blue, Ty. Ib (5A). Position 3R1E, enormous margins all around including part of adjoining stamp at bottom and top sheet margin, pretty "Robin's Egg" Blue shade characteristic of Plate 1 Early printings, neat strike of "New York Nov. 21" datestamp with four-bar slugEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB LARGE-MARGINED EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 1851 ONE-CENT TYPE Ib IMPERFORATE ISSUE.
Type Ib was produced only as an imperforate stamp. Six positions on Plate 1 Early furnished stamps qualifying as Type Ib -- Positions 3-6R and 8-9R -- distinguished by the complete design at top and nearly complete design at bottom. When first entered on the plate, these six positions (as well as 7R1E) had the complete design at top and bottom. However, unlike 7R, small portions of the bottoms of 3-6R and 8-9R were ironed out when the entries were made below them.
Ex Vineyard. Signed Ashbrook. With 1986 and 2002 P.F. certificates
1c Blue, Ty. Ia (6). Position 94R4, ample to large margins including the all-important bottom sheet margin, rich color on bright paper, neat strike of large Boston "Paid" grid cancelEXTREMELY FINE. A STUNNING USED EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT 1851 IMPERFORATE TYPE Ia WITH A LIGHT CANCEL AND MARGINS THAT ALLOW THE FULL TYPE CHARACTERISITICS TO BE SEEN.
Stamps printed from Plate 4 were issued in April, May and briefly in June 1857 before perforations were introduced. The relatively small number of imperforate Plate 4 stamps issued during this period explains the rarity and desirability of any of the imperforate stamp types produced from this plate (Ia, Ic, II, III and IIIa). The extremely rare Type Ia, showing the full design at bottom, was furnished only by 18 of the 200 subjects on Plate 4 (the remaining two bottom-row positions were sub-type Ic).
With 1977 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. II (7). Position 20R1E with right sheet margin and huge margins all around showing parts of adjoining stamps on three sides, deep shade, blue Charleston S.C. circular datestamp, tiny "dry print" white spots in vignette at right, Extremely Fine Gem, an exceptionally choice Plate 1 Early stamp, ex Dr. Morris and Vogel, with 1996 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. II (7). Plate 1E (unplated), large to huge margins showing parts of adjoining stamps at sides, brilliant Plate 1 Early shade complemented by lightly-struck bright red grid cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, wonderful quality and especially desirable with the red cancel set against the "Robin's Egg" Blue color, ex Vogel
1c Blue, Ty. II (7). Position 4R1L, three huge margins including top sheet margin, just touched at bottom, rich color, unobtrusive strike of black grid cancel, plate bruise at top (a characteristic of this position), Very Fine and choice example of the only Type II position (without recut) on Plate 1 Late, with 1974 and 1994 P.F. certificates
1c Blue, Ty. II (7). Position 1R2 with top left corner sheet margins, other sides large to huge including part of adjoining stamp below, lightly cancelled by town datestamp, bright shade, tiny scissors-cut in top right margin, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Neinken and Wagshal
1c Blue, Ty. II (7). Large margins to in at top, cancelled by deep green grid cancel, Fine, scarce with a green cancel, with 1978 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. II, Plate 2 Crack (7 var). Position 2L2 with crack along right side, full to large margins, dark shade, cancelled by vivid paint-red Mobile datestamp and black French due handstamp, minute corner crease in extreme top left margin (could be trimmed, leaving a large margin), Extremely Fine, ex Neinken and Wagshal
1c Blue, Ty. II, Plate 3 (7). Positions 28/38R3, vertical pair, large margins to barely in at top left including part of adjoining stamps at top and bottom, light strike of circular datestamp, Very Fine-Extremely Fine, a beautiful pair from Plate 3, ex Neinken and Wagshal
1c Blue, Ty. II (7). Position 2L4 with clear break in outer line at bottom, which meets the definition of Type IIIa, large margins all around, light strike of circular datestamp, also reddish French octagonal datestamp at lower right, small natural inclusion, Extremely Fine, an outstanding top row Plate 4 stamp and one of the "break in bottom line" positions that some specialists argue should be separately classified, ex Wagshal
1c Blue, Ty. III (8). Position 66R4, deep rich Plate 4 color on bright paper, detailed impression, large margins all around, clear breaks in outer lines at top and bottom, face-free cancel leaves the design characteristics clearly visibleEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1851 IMPERFORATE ONE-CENT TYPE III.
Type III is defined as having breaks in the outer lines at both top and bottom. Many Type III stamps have breaks that were created or enlarged by plate wear. Since the wear occurred over a period of time, the majority of stamps of this type (both unused and used) has small breaks in at least one line.
With 1992 P.F. certificate.
1c Blue, Ty. IIIa (8A). Position 38L4, large margins to full, showing wide break in outer line at top, intense shade and impression, unobtrusive strike of circular datestampEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1851 ONE-CENT TYPE IIIa IMPERFORATE.
Type IIIa is defined as having a break in outer lines at either top or bottom. The example offered here, which clearly shows the bottom line complete and top line with wide break, is a superb example of the type.
1c Blue, Ty. IV (9). Position 9R1L, recut once at bottom (only eight such recuts on plate), large margins beautifully frame the design, portion of adjoining stamp at bottom, incredibly deep color, face-free cancel with edges of red circular datestamp, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful stamp, this top-row position from the right pane of Plate 1 produced Type Ib stamps during the early state of the plate, ex Vogel
1c Blue, Ty. IV (9). Position 98L1L with major double transfer, large margins to ample at top, intense shade nicely complemented by red grid cancel, trace of circular datestamp at upper left, fresh and Very Fine, a beautiful stamp, with 1988 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. IV (9). Position 30L1L, recut once at top, huge margins including interpane margin and centerline at right and part of adjoining stamp at top, trace of circular datestamp at left leaves entire design clearly visible, fresh and Extremely Fine, ex Neinken and Wagshal
1c Blue, Ty. IV (9). Position 14R1L, recut once at top and bottom, double transfer, large even margins all around, gorgeous bright shade, face-free strike of circular datestamp, fresh and Extremely Fine, ex Wagshal, with 1999 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. IV (9). Plate 1L, recut once at top and twice at bottom, large margins all around, tied by "South Glastonbury Ct. Sep. 28" circular datestamp on piece, stamp lifted and hinged in place, Extremely Fine, ex Neinken and Wagshal
1c Blue, Ty. IV, Printed "PAID" Precancel (9 var). Horizontal pair, left "PAID" stamp all capital letters, right stamp all lower case, large margins to just in including trace of adjoining stamp at leftFINE. A RARE AND DESIRABLE PAIR OF THE 1851 ONE-CENT TYPE IV, COMBINING TWO DIFFERENT STYLES OF THE "PAID" PRECANCEL. PERHAPS THREE OR FOUR SUCH PAIRS EXIST.
The Ashbrook 1c 1851-57 book illustrates several varieties of actual and supposed precancels. Ashbrook surmised that "the markings... were printed from newspaper type. In all probability the overprinting was done in a newspaper printing plant, and the stamps were used on wrappers enclosing newspapers or more than probable, on the newspapers themselves." His theory was borne out by the discovery of a newspaper wrapper containing a copy of The American Eagle newspaper of Cleveland, Ohio, dated February 2, 1857 (sold in our 2004 Rarities sale).
Ex Neinken and Wagshal. With 1953 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as singles
1c Blue, Ty. IV (9). Positions 21/31R1L, vertical pair, top stamp recut once at top and twice at bottom, bottom stamp recut once at top and bottom, huge margins all around including left straddle-pane margin and centerline, parts of adjoining stamps at top and bottom, bright color nicely complemented by paint-red "Mobile Ala. Jan. 21" circular datestamps on small piece which was probably sent to France, part of French decimes due marking and French transit, Extremely Fine, a gorgeous piece, ex Vogel
1c Blue, Ty. IV (9). Horizontal pair, both recut once at top and bottom, enormous margins all around including parts of nine adjoining stamps, large parts at sides, bright color on fresh paper, two neat strikes of "San Francisco Cal. Aug. 18" circular datestamps, left stamp with straightline "Paid" handstampEXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN OUTSTANDING PAIR OF THE 1851 ONE-CENT IMPERFORATE TYPE IV WITH UNCOMMONLY LARGE MARGINS AND WITH CLEAR STRIKES OF A SAN FRANCISCO CANCELLATION. SUPERB IN EVERY RESPECT.
Ex Vogel. With 1998 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. IV (9). Positions 20/30L1L, vertical pair, top stamp recut once at top and once at bottom, bottom stamp recut once at top, large margins all around including part of four adjoining stamps, neat strikes of orange railroad route agent's circular datestampEXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN ABSOLUTELY STUNNING PAIR OF THE ONE-CENT 1851 TYPE IV IMPERFORATE WITH AN ORANGE RAILROAD ROUTE AGENT'S CANCEL. AN ABSOLUTELY STUNNING PAIR.
Ex Neinken and Wagshal. Scott Retail with no premium for the orange colored cancel which is unlisted in Scott
1c Blue, Ty. IV (9). Positions 23/33R1L, vertical pair, top stamp recut once at top and twice at bottom, bottom stamp recut once at top and bottom, large even margins including part of adjoining stamp at bottom, intense color, neat strikes of circular datestamp, Very Fine-Extremely Fine, ex Vogel