Sale 1163 — The Clipper City Collection of Superb U.S. Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday, 19 September, 2017
Category — 1857-60 Issue (Scott 19-39)
1c Blue, Ty. Ia (19). Bottom row of Plate 4, rich color, nice bottom margin showing the key design characteristics, just in at top, light cancel leaves vignette fully visible, fresh and completely soundVERY FINE 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 scrolls and plumes.
Ex Gilbart. With 1976 and 2015 P.F. certificates (VF 80)
1c Blue, Ty. II (20). Plate 12, original gum, deep rich color, unusually choice centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 ONE-CENT TYPE II. THE RARITY OF THIS TYPE IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED BY COLLECTORS OF HIGH-QUALITY STAMPS. THIS STAMP IS GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED AND IT IS SHARED BY NO OTHER ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES.
With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $6,250.00). This is the highest grade awarded to any unused Scott 20, and it is the only original-gum example graded 95. That said, we think this stamp deserves an even higher grade -- either 95 Jumbo or Superb 98 -- to reflect its extraordinary margin width and centering
1c Blue, Ty. III (21). Position 29L4, marvelous centering and deep rich Plate 4 color, nearly face-free Boston circular datestampEXTREMELY FINE. A WONDERFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 ONE-CENT BLUE TYPE III FROM PLATE 4.
Due to the narrow vertical spacing on this plate, stamps are most typically found with the perforations impinging on some portion of the design. The example offered here is centered so that the type characteristics are clearly visible.
With 2010 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $4,850.00)
1c Blue, Ty. IIIa (22). Plate 4, Jumbo margins and beautifully centered, fresh color on bright paper, cancel leaves the design characteristics easily discernible, outer line complete at bottom and with wide break in outer line at topEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STRIKINGLY BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE PERFORATED 1857 ONE-CENT TYPE IIIa IN THE FINEST CONDITION ATTAINABLE.
Ex Kirke. With 2001 and 2007 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95). With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $8,500.00). This is the highest grade awarded and only one other shares this grade, which was offered in our sale of the "Natalee Grace" collection (Sale 1024, lot 58)
1c Blue, Ty. IV (23). Position 7R1L, the recut state of Type I Position 7R on Plate 1 Early, typical late impression and exceptionally well-centered, light circular datestampEXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE SCARCE PERFORATED TYPE IV ONE-CENT 1857 ISSUE AND A RARE POSITION 7 RIGHT, WHICH FURNISHED TYPE I BEFORE PLATE ONE WAS REWORKED.
From our 2009 Rarities sale. With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $3,150.00 as a normal Type IV position)
1c Blue, Ty. V (24). Mint N.H., choice margins and centering, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $1,050.00), Scott Retail as hinged, SMQ value as Mint N.H.
3c Rose, Ty. I (25). Deep rich color and proof-like impression, almost perfectly centered, neat strike of circular datestampEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE PERFORATED 3-CENT ROSE TYPE I.
Ex Wagshal and Merlin. With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $2,500.00). Remarkably, the P.S.E. Population Report lists only two XF-Superb 95 and one Superb 98 for the 3c Type I perforated.
3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26). Original gum, barely hinged, brilliant color, unusually choice centering for this difficult issue, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp in every respect, ex Hansen, with 1992, 2004 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $275.00)
3c Dull Red, Ty. IV (26A). Choice centering, clearly showing the discontinuance of the left frame line at top and bottom, gorgeous color, neat grid cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a lovely stamp, ex Kirke, with 2010 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,475.00), only three examples have been graded higher (highest is 98)
5c Brick Red (27). Beautifully centered with perfs clear of the design at virtually every point, vibrant Brick Red color, light 1859 circular datestamp cancelEXTREMELY FINE. A REMARKABLY BEAUTIFUL 1857 5-CENT BRICK RED WITH OUTSTANDING COLOR, CENTERING AND LIGHT CANCELLATION.
Ex Kirke. With 2006 P.F., 2005 and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $5,100.00)
5c Red Brown (28). Deep rich color in the 1858 shade -- we feel this should be catalogued as Deep Red Brown, as it is much closer to the Indian Red than it is to the 1856 Red Brown -- unusually choice centering with wide margins which are comfortably clear of the outer projections all around, unobtrusive town and double-circle datestamp cancelsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 5-CENT RED BROWN. THIS ISSUE IS RARE WITH SUCH CHOICE CENTERING.
With 2013 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $3,300.00). Only seven have been graded higher
5c Brown (29). Rich color on fresh paper, outstanding centering with wide margins, design clear of outer projections on all four sides, town and red French transit cancelsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB AND BEAUTIFULLY CANCELLED EXAMPLE OF THE 1859 5-CENT TYPE I BROWN.
With 2014 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $4,500.00). Two have graded higher, at 98, though we believe it would be difficult to improve upon this example with the red French transit datestamp. We sold one of the two 98's in the Kirke and Curtis collections and it has a normal black cancel
5c Orange Brown, Ty. II (30). Original gum, deep intense color, unusually choice centering on fresh paperEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1860 5-CENT ORANGE BROWN TYPE II.
With 1976 P.F. and 2014 P.S.E. certificates (OGh, XF 90; SMQ $3,500.00). Only three have graded higher in the P.S.E. Population Report
10c Green, Ty. I (31). Choice centering with wide and balanced margins, clearly showing the type characteristics, deep rich color and proof-like impression, virtually face-free cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 10-CENT TYPE I.
With 1995 P.F. and 2013 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $4,750.00). Only seven have graded higher (the highest is a 95)
10c Green, Ty. II (32). Wide margins and precise centering, lovely fresh color, town cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 10-CENT PERFORATED TYPE II.
With 2011 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $3,050.00). Only two stamps have been graded higher (at 98)
10c Green, Ty. III (33). Wonderfully well-centered with wide margins clear of the design all around, rich color, neat "PAID" in circle cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $800.00)
10c Green, Ty. IV (34). Position 55L1, recut at bottom, choice centering and margins with perforations clear of design all around, deep rich color, light, essentially face-free circular datestamp cancelEXTREMELY FINE. AN ESPECIALLY ATTRACTIVE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT TYPE IV 1857 ISSUE.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $3,750.00), conservatively graded in our opinion
10c Green, Ty. V (35). Original gum, enormous margins all around, intense shade and impression, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Hansen, with 2000 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (OGh, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,200.00)
12c Black, Plate 1 (36). Position 71R1, unusually choice centering with interpane margin and guideline at left, sharp proof-like impression, face-free strike of circular datestamp, Extremely Fine Gem, a stunning stamp, ex Wagshal, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate (VF 80; SMQ $350.00), this is an example where numerical grading fails to reflect the quality and desirability of a stamp -- P.S.E. deducts points for a natural straight edge as though it were a fault -- though we feel this stamp is even more desirable with the guideline interpane margin
12c Black, Plate 3 (36B). Original gum, perfectly centered, intense charcoal shadeEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1857 ISSUE FROM PLATE 3.
The most recent scholarship regarding the Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co. plates used to print the 12c 1851-57 Issue is clearly articulated by James A. Allen in "The 1851 Imperforate (Scott U.S. #17): Plating Updated and Additional New Findings" (The 1851 Issue of United States Stamps: a Sesquicentennial Retrospective, U.S. Philatelic Classics Society). Traditionally, the 12c plates are identified as Plate 1 (from which all imperforate and some perforated stamps were printed), Plate 2 (evidently never used) and Plate 3 (which produced stamps that were only regularly issued with perforations). It is highly probable that Plate "3" was the first one made in 1851, but it was put aside and not used until 1859.
Plate 3 stamps (Scott 36b) are characterized primarily by uneven or broken outer framelines of the design. The subjects on Plate 1, which produced Scott Nos. 17 and 36, have even framelines that were extensively recut. Original-gum Plate 3 stamps with the centering and wide margins evident in this example are very scarce.
Ex Hansen. 2000 P.F. certificate no longer accompanies. With 2011 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $4,250.00). Only one has graded higher (at 98)
24c Gray Lilac (37). Original gum, lightly hinged, intense shade and impression, unusually wide margins for this difficult issueEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1860 ISSUE.
With 2012 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF 90; SMQ $3,250.00)
90c Blue (39). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich color and proof-like impression, well-proportioned marginsEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1860 ISSUE. THIS ISSUE IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN IN PRISTINE ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION AND WITH SUCH PRECISE CENTERING.
With 2012 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF 90; SMQ $7,000.00). Only five have been graded higher (highest is 95).