Sale 1096 — The Robert R. Hall Collection of Outstanding United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 28-30 April, 2015
Category — 1c-3c 1857-60 Issue (Scott 18-26A)
1c Blue, Ty. I (18). Plate 12, C Relief, original gum, lightly hinged, beautiful bright shade of this 1861 printingVERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 PERFORATED ONE-CENT TYPE I.
With 1989 and 2006 P.F. certificates, the former for a block
1c Blue, Ty. I-II (18-18/18-20). Positions 27-28/37-38L12, block of four with configuration of types reflecting the odd relief pattern on Plate 12 -- top pair Type I (C Relief), bottom pair Types I-II (C-B Reliefs) -- original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich color and proof-like impression, well-balanced marginsVERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF THE ONE-CENT 1857 ISSUE PRINTED IN 1861 FROM PLATE TWELVE WITH A COMBINATION OF TYPES I AND II.
With 1995 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. I (18). Plate 12, C Relief, well-centered, grid cancel, beautiful shade, Very Fine, with 1989 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. Ia (19). Position 93L4 with bottom sheet selvage, unused (small part of original gum), rich color, showing complete ornaments at bottom (the most important characteristic of the type)VERY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 PERFORATED ONE-CENT TYPE Ia.
Type Ia was produced by only 18 of the 20 bottom-row positions on Plate 4. Although Plate 4 was designed with sufficient space to accommodate perforations, the height of the top row and bottom row positions resulted in the perforations often cutting into the design at either top or bottom. For this reason, stamps from the bottom row of Plate 4 with perforations clear of the design are especially desirable, since the characteristics of the type are complete (Type Ia) or nearly complete (Type Ic) at bottom. The stamp offered here is highly desirable since it shows all the type characteristics in the selvage.
Ex Sheriff as a vertical pair with Type Ic. With 2001 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as original gum $42,500.00. Scott Retail as no gum
1c Blue, Ty. Ia (19). Position 94L4, original gum, h.r., deep rich color and proof-like impression, centered to lower left, small thin spot at top rightFINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 PERFORATED ONE-CENT TYPE Ia.
Type Ia was produced by only 18 of the 20 bottom-row positions on Plate 4. Although Plate 4 was designed with sufficient space to accommodate perforations, the height of the top row and bottom row positions resulted in the perforations often cutting into the design at either top or bottom.
1c Blue, Ty. Ia (19). Position 93R4, deep rich color and proof-like impression on bright paper, light cancel leaves design almost completely visible, perfs just barely into plumes at bottomVERY FINE AND CHOICE USED EXAMPLE OF THE PERFORATED 1857 ONE-CENT TYPE Ia, WHICH CLEARLY SHOWS THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TYPE.
Type Ia was produced by only 18 of the 20 bottom-row positions on Plate 4. Although Plate 4 was designed with sufficient space to accommodate perforations, the height of the top row and bottom row positions resulted in the perforations often cutting into the design at either top or bottom. This stamp shows nearly complete bottom plumes.
With 1981 and 1998 P.F. certificates
1c Blue, Ty. II (20). Plate 12, B Relief, original gum, intense color and impression with characteristic plate mottling, fresh and Very Fine, with 1995 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. II (20). Plate 12, A/B Reliefs from the top two rows of the plate, block of four, regummed, beautiful bright pastel shade, extraordinarily well-centered, small faint soiling specks on bottom left stamp (not mentioned on certificate)VERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE. A MAGNIFICENT QUALITY UNUSED BLOCK OF THE ONE-CENT 1857 ISSUE FROM PLATE TWELVE.
The Neinken book states "A block of 4 or larger, all the stamps Type II, which come from the top and second row of the plate [twelve], is a most desirable item in any collection."
This block of four was part of a block of six sold in the March 15-16, 1989 Christie's sale of the Walter C. Klein collection, where it was described as unused without gum. The Philatelic Foundation issued certificate 207106 (May 1, 1989) to Andrew Levitt as "Unused No Gum." Subsequently, the block was broken, and this block of four was sold to Mr. Hall by another dealer (not Mr. Levitt) with a photocopy of the PFC 207160 with the words "Unused OG" deceptively substituted in the copy. This is a cautionary tale and good reason to use The Philatelic Foundation's searchable database to verify photocopies of certificates.
With altered copy of 1989 P.F. certificate for block of six
1c Blue, Ty. II (20). Plate 12, A Relief, nice margins and centering, beautiful brilliant shade, light blue circular datestamp, Very Fine and choice, with 1999 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. III (21). Position 63R4, original gum, lightly hinged, rich color with a small area of slightly dry printing at top of vignette, fresh and bright paperVERY FINE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE PERFORATED 1857 ONE-CENT TYPE III FROM PLATE FOUR. VERY FEW EXIST IN ANY TYPE OF ACCEPTABLE ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION. THIS STAMP IS A WONDERFUL CONDITION RARITY.
This stamp was printed from Plate 4, which originally produced imperforate stamps and was used only briefly after the introduction of perforations in 1857 before being discontinued. Original-gum examples of stamps from Plate 4 are extremely scarce.
This stamp was the top left position in the vertical block of six from the Grunin and Klein collections, which comprised two Type III and four Type IIIa stamps. After the 1988 Klein sale held by Christie's, the block was divided into two singles and a block of four (offered as lot 47 in this sale).
Ex Grunin and Klein. With copy of 1989 P.F. certificate for block of six and 1990 P.S.E. certificate as single
1c Blue, Ty. IIIa-IIIa/III-IIIa (22-22/21-22). Positions 73-74/83-84R4, block of four comprising three Type IIIa and one Type III (at bottom left), original gum, lightly hinged, a few minor perf separations, slight trace of gum toning, faint horizontal crease along top edge of top stamps, these trivial imperfections are barely noticeable and not noted on certificateVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A REMARKABLE AND EXTREMELY RARE BLOCK OF THE 1857 ONE-CENT PERFORATED ISSUE FROM PLATE FOUR, COMBINING TYPES III AND IIIa.
This block was printed from Plate 4, which originally produced imperforate stamps and was used only briefly after the introduction of perforations in 1857 before being discontinued. Original-gum examples of stamps from Plate 4 are extremely scarce.
This was part of the vertical block of six in the Grunin and Klein collections. After the 1988 Klein sale it was divided into this block and two singles (Positions 63R, offered in lot 46 of this sale, and 64R).
Ex Grunin and Klein. With 1991 P.F. certificate as sound. The Scott U.S. Specialized Catalogue lists combination blocks from Plate 4, but does not value them. The Type III-IIIa combination pair and Type IIIa pair have a combined value of $27,750.00
1c Blue, Ty. III (21). Plate 4, wide break at top and medium size break at bottom visible along perfs, deep shade, cancelled by neat town datestamp, this stamp has had "work" done to it -- difficult to say exactly what, but good enough to escape mention on 1992 P.F. certificate -- Very Fine appearance, not returnable for condition issues
1c Blue, Ty. IIIa (22). Plate 11, B Relief, original gum, hinge mark, characteristic mottled impression, Fine, scarce Plate 11 stamp, with 1984 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. IIIa (22). Plate 11, B Relief, deep shade, cancelled by town circular datestamp, Very Fine, with 2003 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. IV (23). Position 87L1L, recut once at top and bottom, deep rich color and proof-like impression, accompanying certificates note part original gum (large part), balanced margins for this difficult issueEXTREMELY FINE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 ONE-CENT TYPE IV. A DIFFICULT ISSUE TO OBTAIN WITH SUCH CHOICE CENTERING.
With 1991 P.F. and P.S.E. certificates. Scottt Retail as original gum
1c Blue, Ty. IV (23). Plate 1L, recut once at top and bottom, well-centered, New York circular datestamp, Very Fine, with 2002 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. V (24). Mint N.H., A Relief from top row showing dashes at top left, pretty shade, choice centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1991 and 2004 P.F. certificates, Scott Retail as hinged
1c-3c 1857-61 Issue Blocks (24, 26, 65). Blocks of four, first unused (no gum), second bottom stamps Mint N.H., third lightly hinged, fresh and Fine-Very Fine blocks
1c Blue, Ty. V (24). Positions 39-40/49-50/59-60/69-70R10, right imprint and plate no. 10 block of eight, original gum, stamps lightly hinged, rich color, choice centering, some faint natural gum toning, Position 59 tiny surface scuff, Very Fine appearance
3c Rose, Ty. I (25). Original gum, lightly hinged, choice centering for this difficult issue and clearly showing the type characteristics at bottom, radiant colorVERY FINE AND CHOICE. THE 1857 PERFORATED 3-CENT TYPE I IS RARELY FOUND IN CENTERED ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.
This stamp is extremely difficult to obtain with superior margins and centering, due to the narrow spacing on the plate, which was laid out prior to the introduction of perforations in 1857. Finding such an example in unused condition with original gum adds considerably to the difficulty. Even superb copies will show perforations impinging on at least one frameline.
With 1989 P.F. certificate
3c Rose, Ty. II (25A). Well-centered, bright shade, lightly cancelled by blue circular datestamp, nibbed perf at left, still Very Fine, with 2003 P.S.E. certificate graded XF 90, but we doubt it would receive the same grade today
3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26). Positions 39-40/49-50/59-60/69-70R24, right imprint and plate no. 24 block of eight, unused (no gum), Position 60 natural inclusion, Very Fine, Scott Retail as with gum
3c Brownish Carmine, Ty. IV (26A). Scott-listed variety inner line recut at right, choice centering, deep rich color, neatly cancelled by town datestamp, Extremely Fine, with 1999 P.F. certificate as the variety