Sale 1134 — The Alan Collection of United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday, 14 September, 2016
Category — 1851-56 Issue (Scott 5-17)
1c Blue, Ty. I (5). Position 7R1E, large top margin showing complete design at top, bottom margin preserves complete bottom left plume, in at right with approximately half of bottom right plume present, neat single stroke pen cancel, bright early color, light horizontal crease near top and small surface scuffs at leftFINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT 1851 TYPE I, POSITION 7R1E, WHICH IS THE ONLY ONE OF THE 1,000 POSITIONS USED TO PRINT IMPERFORATE ONE-CENT STAMPS THAT SHOWS THE COMPLETE DESIGN.
The published census compiled by Jerome S. Wagshal contains 90 unduplicated records of Scott 5. There have been one or two additions to the Wagshal census, and there are probably no more than a few examples existing outside of the census population. Therefore, the 1c 1851 Type I is the rarest of all United States stamps regularly issued prior to the 1868 Grills.
Wagshal Census No. 5-CAN-056 (formerly in a vertical strip of three). With 1972 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. Ib (5A). Position 5R1E, based on our familiarity with Plate 1 Early singles and multiples with original gum, we are confident that the gum on this stamp is original -- it is described on 1988 and 1989 P.F. certificates as regummed and as original gum on 2000 P.S.E. certificate -- large margins to in at top including part of adjoining stamp at left, crisp early shade and impressionA RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1851 ONE-CENT TYPE Ib IMPERFORATE. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL UNITED STATES CLASSICS TO OBTAIN IN UNUSED CONDITION.
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 were burnished away.
A thorough search of past auctions and our own extensive records produced a result that surprised us. The unique block of eight from Plate 1E contains Position 7R1E (Scott 5) and five Type Ib stamps (with faults). The famous ex-Waterhouse copy of Position 7R1E is joined with a pair of Type Ib stamps (this unused unit is currently owned by William H. Gross). The multiples, containing a total of seven Type Ib stamps, really do not fit the needs of collectors who want a single unused example of Scott 5A. We located only four other unused singles, and we were surprised at the conspicuous absence of any unused Scott 5A stamps in major name sales, including Wagshal. The last we offered before this was in our 2008 Hoffman sale.
Ex Hall. With 1988 and 1989 P.F. certificates as regummed. With 2000 P.S.E. certificate as original gum. Scott Retail $12,000.00 as no gum and $32,500.00 with original gum.
1c Blue, Ty. Ia (6). Position 94L4, full margins all around showing complete design at bottom, deep Plate 4 color on bright paper, practically uncancelled, tiny thin speck at bottom leftEXTREMELY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 1851 ONE-CENT IMPERFORATE TYPE Ia.
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).
Ex Twigg-Smith and Hansen. With 1968 and 2001 P.F. certificates
1c Blue, Ty. II (7). Position 6R2, original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich color, large margins including trace of adjoining stamp at bottom, Very Fine and choice, a beautiful original-gum example of the 1c 1851 Type II, with 2013 P.S.A.G. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. III (8). Plate 4, unused with part original gum which covers a bit more than half of the back, large margins to touched at left, showing clear breaks at top and bottom, intense shade, light horizontal crease and tiny toned spot near top of Franklin's headFINE APPEARING AND RARE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1851 ONE-CENT IMPERFORATE TYPE III, WITH CLEAR AND DISTINCT BREAKS IN OUTER LINES AT TOP AND BOTTOM -- THE DEFINING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TYPE.
Type III is defined by 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, a majority of stamps of this type (both unused and used) have small breaks in at least one line.
With 2009 P.F. certificate stating "Part O.G.". Scott Retail as no gum $7,500.00, as original gum
1c Blue, Ty. IIIa (8A). Unused (no gum), large to ample margins showing a wide break at top, rich colorVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1851 ONE-CENT TYPE IIIA IMPERFORATE.
Sound, unused, four-margin examples of the scarcer 1c 1851 types are extremely desirable.
1c Blue, Ty. IV (9). Recut once at top, original gum, small h.r. but overall lightly hinged, large even margins all around including part of top recut line from stamp below, deep rich color, Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp, ex Curtis, with 1991 P.F. and 2010 P.S.E. certificates (OGh, XF 90; SMQ $2,250.00)
3c Orange Brown, Ty. II (10A). Original gum, large margins all around including trace of adjoining stamp at top, outstanding rich Orange Brown color and proof-like impressionEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1851 3-CENT IMPERFORATE ORANGE BROWN ISSUE.
Due to the narrow spacing on the plate, this issue rarely comes with margins as large as the stamp offered here. This should be considered a true condition rarity.
Ex Whitman and Hoffman. With 1993 and 2000 P.F. certificates.
5c Red Brown (12). Unused (no gum), ample to large margins, rich color and detailed impressionVERY FINE. A RARE AND DESIRABLE SOUND, FOUR-MARGIN UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1856 ISSUE.
Ex Geisler. With 1973 P.F. certificate for a pair
10c Green, Ty. I (13). Unused (no gum), large and even margins all around which clearly show the entire design, bright color, two small thin spots at top leftEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A SCARCE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1855 10-CENT TYPE I. A STAMP OF GREAT VISUAL APPEAL.
With 2009 P.S.E. certificate
10c Green, Ty. II (14). Unused (no gum), large margins, deep rich color, small natural straw inclusion at lower right not mentioned on accompanying certificate, Extremely Fine, with 2002 P.S.E. certificate
10c Green, Ty. III (15). Unused (regummed), ample margins all around, rich color, tiny soiling spot at top, still Very Fine, with 2005 P.F. certificate
10c Green, Ty. IV (16). Large to ample margins, appears unused but barely cancelled, rich color, Very Fine, with 1989 P.F. certificate
12c Black (17). Unused (regummed), intense shade, full to large margins, Extremely Fine, with 2013 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $2,500.00)
5c-12c 1845 and 1851-57 Issues, Balance (17/37). 12 stamps, all appear unused and all but a few are in fact unused, including Nos. 9X1 (no trace of cancel but faulty), 11 (original gum), 17 (removed cancel), 18, 27 used with red cancel (Fine and sound), 28 (faintly cancelled), 30A, 35 (four) and 37, each with a problem ranging from minor to more serious, including No. 28 faulty, one No. 35 trimmed to appear imperforate, No. 37 small repair, Fine appearing group, six certificates accompany
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