Sale 1227 — Outstanding United States Stamps and Gold Coins
Sale Date — Monday-Friday, 19-23 October, 2020
Category — 5c 1847 Issue (Scott 1)
5c Red Brown (1). Original gum, h.r., full to large margins, bright reddish-orange shade and worn-plate impressionVERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE. SCARCE IN SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION AND WITH FOUR MARGINS.
With 1969, 1997 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85; SMQ $8,000.00).
5c Red Brown (1). Original gum, small h.r., large margins to ample at bottom, intermediate impression and bright shade, two horizontal and one diagonal creasesVERY FINE APPEARING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE.
Ex Curtis. With 2004 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown (1). Unused (no gum), large margins all around, deep shade and intermediate impression, small corner crease at bottom left, appears Extremely Fine, ex Wingate, with 1997 P.F. certificate
5c Dark Brown (1a). Positions 68-69L, horizontal pair, original gum, right stamp Dot in "S" and with three dots to left of trifoliate ornament at left (the only such guide dot variety on the plate), large margins all around including trace of adjoining stamp at bottom right, early impression and dark shadeEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM PAIR OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE IN THE DARK BROWN SHADE.
5c 1847 multiples with original gum are rare, especially in this choice condition and from an early state of the plate. This pair has a strong impression that shows the Dot in "S" and the "three dots" variety, neither of which are noted on certificate.
With 1991 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown (1). Horizontal pair, original gum, with right sheet margin, margins on other sides are large to just touched, light shade and worn-plate impression, right stamp with diagonal crease which slightly breaks the paper at upper left, left stamp light diagonal creases and tiny edge tear at topFINE APPEARANCE. A RARE SHEET-MARGIN PAIR OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE WITH ORIGINAL GUM.
Unused 5c 1847 multiples with sheet margins are rare, and only a few have original gum.
With 1994 P.S.E. certificate (for a strip of three) stating "genuine, o.g., with minor faults." Scott value $15,000.00
5c Red Brown (1). Positions 1-2/11-12R, block of four, unused (no gum), three large margins including top left corner sheet margins, clear to just in at bottom, few creases, certificate notes discolored and stained which is a bit harsh in our opinionFINE APPEARANCE. A RARE UNUSED 5-CENT 1847 BLOCK OF FOUR WITH CORNER SHEET MARGINS.
The 1847 Issue is much scarcer in unused condition than other issues, because the stamps were demonetized in 1851. They could be exchanged for the new issue, but once the exchange period ended, the stamps would have no postage value. Considering the purchasing power of five or ten cents in 1851, it is not surprising that the stamps were either used or exchanged, rather than left for future generations of collectors.
We have identified 17 unused blocks of the 5c 1847 Issue. Excluded from this tally is what might be an unused block in the Webster Knight collection at Brown University and a block of 30 which has been rumored to exist for years (if it does exist, then it becomes the largest recorded multiple).
With 1967 P.F. certificate as a block of six
5c Red Brown (1). Block of four, large margins to clear, deep shade and strong intermediate impression, each with neat manuscript "X" cancel, bottom left stamp slight erosion from the cancel, top left stamp small ink mark at top right not mentioned on certificateVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A SCARCE AND DESIRABLE USED BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE.
With 2001 P.F. certificate as a block of six. Scott value $27,500.00
5c Deep Red Brown (1). Gorgeous color and proof-like impression from the First Printing--in our opinion this is an 1847 Orange Brown--large margins, bright red grid cancel, Extremely Fine, the early impressions should carry a substantial premium over the later impressions, with 2004 P.F. certificate as Red Brown but notes "from the 1847 printing"
5c Orange Brown (1). Rich color and beautiful detailed early impression, large margins to full at top with trace of adjoining stamp at bottom, cancelled by bold strike of red "PAID" in arc handstamp of New York City, Very Fine and choice, the ubiquitous "Paid" arc of the pre-1847 era is actually quite scarce on the 1847 Issue, this example on an early printing Orange Brown is very desirable, with 1982 and 2006 P.F. certificates
5c Deep Red Brown (1). Large margins to clear, early impression in the 1847 Orange Brown shade, orange-red "5" in circle handstamp cancel, Very Fine, with 1987 P.F. certificate
5c Dark Brown (1a). Deep rich color from an early impression, large margins to ample at top left, clear strike of blue "PAID" handstamp, Very Fine and choice, with contrasting P.F. certificates, 1989 states Dark Brown shade but claims it is not an early impression (it is), 2006 does not comment on the impression but calls the shade Brown, in any case a beautiful stamp, ex Saadi
5c Dark Brown (1a). Dark color from an early impression, large margins, red square grid cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2004 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown (1). Accompanying certificate notes shade is "Scott variety, Dark Olive Brown, in the family of Ridgway's Proust's Brown XV-15'm", the color is truly unusual, large margins to ample, light strike of red grid cancel, Extremely Fine, a wonderful stamp, with 1997 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown (1). Large margins to full, intense shade and early impression, red square grid cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 1988 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown (1). Huge margins at sides including trace of adjoining stamp at left and right sheet margin, large to clear at bottom and top, deep rich color and early impression, clear strike of blue "PAID" in oval cancel of Philadelphia, Very Fine and attractive, with 2002 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown (1). Full margins, dark shade and early impression, light strike of red grid cancel, Very Fine, with 2000 P.S.E. certificate
5c Dark Brown (1a). Full to ample margins, dark shade and early impression, light but identifiable strike of red "PHILADA. RAILROAD" straightline handstamp, Very Fine, with 2006 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown (1). Large margins to clear at top left, trace of adjoining stamp at bottom, detailed early impression, rich color, bright red circular datestamp cancel, Very Fine, with 2002 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown (1). Deep rich color and clear early impression, large margins to full, red criss-crossed grid cancel of Brunswick, Maine (Skinner-Eno SD-G 81), Very Fine, with 2005 P.F. certificate, Scott value as normal red cancel
5c Dark Brown (1a). Deep dark shade and early impression, sheet margin at left, large margin at right and ample top and bottom, light strike of red grid cancel, small diagonal crease in far left corner of sheet margin a full 3mm from the design, Very Fine, with 2004 P.S.E. certificate (VF 80; SMQ $750.00 without premium for the sheet margin)
5c Dark Brown, Dot in "S" (1a var). Large margins to clear, intense shade from an early impression, light strike of blue "FREE" in oval cancel, a strong Fine, with 2003 P.F. certificate, Scott assigns a $400.00 premium for the "Free" cancel
5c Dark Brown (1a). Large margins, unusually dark shade, unobtrusive red grid cancel, faint pressed-out diagonal crease at bottom right, Very Fine appearance, with 1995 P.F. certificate
5c Dark Brown (1a). Full even margins, dark shade and early impression, cancel removed, light vertical crease at left, Very Fine appearance, an attractive stamp, with 2020 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown (1). Horizontal pair showing the distinctive misalignment of entries, full to large margins, dark shade and early impression, bold blue "PAID" in oval cancel from Philadelphia, right stamp with couple tiny purple ink stains, Very Fine appearing pair, with 2004 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown (1). Large margins to full at bottom right, cancelled by sharp strike of red "Housatonic Railroad 5" route agent's handstampEXTREMELY FINE AND RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE WITH THE HOUSATONIC RAILROAD ROUTE AGENT'S CANCELLATION.
The USPCS 1847 Cover Census lists only five 5c Housatonic Railroad covers with the stamp cancelled by the route agent's handstamp (plus one 10c cover). Even fewer off-cover examples are known cancelled in this manner. Among that small population this is easily one of the finest.
Ex Rust, Grunin and Wall. With 1989 and 2000 P.F. certificates
5c Red Brown (1). Large even margins, pale shade and worn-plate impression, blue "PAID" straightline handstamp, Extremely Fine
5c Red Brown (1). Clear horizontal stitch watermark across top, large margins including frameline of adjoining stamp at bottom, worn-plate impression, black Mount Holly N.J. circular datestamp cancel, Extremely Fine, with 1999 and 2006 P.F. certificates (XF 90)
5c Red Brown (1). Large margins all around, neat strike of orange-red grid cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2001 P.F. certificate calling the cancel "red-orange" -- a true orange cancel carries a premium of $750.00 in Scott
5c Red Brown (1). Large margins, clear impression from cleaned plate, red circular grid cancels, Extremely Fine, with 2005 P.F. certificate
5c Brown (1). Large margins, bright shade and intermediate impression, red grid cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2019 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,400.00)
5c Red Brown (1). Two, both with full margins all around, clear strikes of blue "5" and "10" in oval cancels of Baltimore Md., Very Fine, a lovely matched pair of 5c stamps with numeral cancels showing both 1847 rates, first with 2002 P.F. certificate, second with 1995 and 2006 P.F. certificates
5c Red Brown (1). Seven used singles, two with manuscript cancels in unusual shades, one with blue "6" in octagon handstamp of Philadelphia, one with red "5" in circle handstamp, last two with red grid cancels, six have four margins, few small faults, Fine-Very Fine group
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5c Deep Red Brown, Dark Brown (1, 1a). Both with dramatic pre-printing paper folds, first in a deep shade from an early impression, full margins to barely touched in one spot at right, red grid cancel, second from an intermediate impression with a blue grid cancel, full margins to clear, Very Fine matched pair with different color cancels, latter with 1978 P.F. certificate
5c Brown (1). Horizontal pair, large margins to full, dark shade, cancelled by cross-hatched pen, Very Fine, with 1980 (as Dark Brown) and 2005 P.F. certificates, Scott value as handstamp-cancelled pair
5c Brown, Double Transfer Ty. A (1-A). Position 80R1, huge margins to clear including right sheet margin, rich color, red New York square grid cancel, Very Fine
5c Brown, Double Transfer Ty. A (1-A). Position 80R1, large margins to full, intense shade, blue grid cancel, Very Fine example of this major double transfer, with 1991 P.F. certificate
5c Grayish Brown (1a). Large margins to ample, distinctive shade complemented by blue grid cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 1981 P.F. certificate
5c Grayish Brown (1a). Large margins to ample including part of adjoining stamp at bottom, pretty shade, red grid cancel, small corner crease at bottom right, Very Fine appearance
5c Orange Brown (1b). Large to huge margins with portion of adjoining stamp at left, worn-plate impression, light diagonal crease at center, appears Extremely Fine, with 2001 P.F. certificate
5c Red Orange (1c). Radiant color with just a bit of oxidation at top left, with a characteristic worn-plate impression, full margins to ample at top left, bright red square grid cancel, light diagonal crease at top leftVERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE IN THE RED ORANGE SHADE.
According to Wade Saadi, the Red Orange shade was produced exclusively during the last printing, stamps from which were part of the Fifth Delivery (December 7, 1850).
With 2005 P.F. certificate
5c Orange Brown (1b). Large margins to clear, rich color and cleaned-plate impression, black small Boston "PAID" grid cancel, Very Fine and attractive demonetized use, with 2005 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown (1). Large margins to just in at left, bright shade with almost enough orange to be called Orange Brown, black Canadian target cancel overstruck by blue grid, small thin spots, small corner crease at top left, Fine appearance, scarce Canadian origin, Scott value $3,465.00
5c Red Brown (1). Large margins to clear, pale shade and worn-plate impression, two red town cancels including one from Windsor, Ontario, Very Fine, scarce with the Canadian cancel, with 1975 P.F. certificate, Scott value $3,350.00