Sale 1255 — The David W. Gorham Collection of Outstanding Used U.S. Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Friday, 17-20 May, 2022
Category — 5c 1847 Issue, Intermediate and Worn-Plate Impressions (Scott 1)
5c Red Brown (1). Huge margins including large portion of adjoining stamp at bottom and frameline of adjoining stamp at right, rich color and clear intermediate impression, lightly struck red grid cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM USED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE.
With 1998 P.F. certificate.
5c Pale Red Brown (1 var). Horizontal pair, large to full margins all around including trace of adjoining stamp at lower left, light shade from the worn plate, paint-red grid cancels, Extremely Fine, with 2007 P.F. certificate, Scott value with normal red cancels
5c Red Brown (1). Horizontal pair, full margins to clear, rich color and intermediate impression, tied by two strikes of green "Lockport N.Y. Jul. 23" circular datestamp on piece, second strike below, accompanying certificate notes additional traces of black ink in the cancel which are very subtle as the green of the cancels stands out prominently, small age spot at top left not mentioned on certificateVERY FINE. A SCARCE AND DESIRABLE PAIR OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE TIED ON A PIECE BY THE WELL-KNOWN GREEN CANCELS OF LOCKPORT N.Y.
Lockport was built around a series of locks on the Erie Canal (hence the name) and is also on a railroad line, which helped to support the industries that sprung up in the area after the completion of the Erie Canal.
Ex Knapp (acquired in that sale by a previous owner and kept in the dark until 2007, thus the extraordinary freshness). With 2006 P.F. certificate.
5c Dark Brown (1a). Enormous Jumbo margins all around with portions of three adjoining stamps, dark color from a worn-plate impression, blue circular cancel, fresh in every respectEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 DARK BROWN WITH HUGE MARGINS AND A BLUE CANCEL, GRADED SUPERB 98 JUMBO BY THE P.F.
With 2010 P.F. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo). This is the highest grade awarded by The Philatelic Foundation to a Scott 1a, and this is the only stamp to achieve it. By way of comparison, the highest grade in the P.S.E. Population Report for Scott 1a is Superb 98 (four examples).
5c Grayish Brown (1a var). Enormous margins with left sheet margin and part of adjoining stamp at top, rich color and intermediate impression, light strike of blue Philadelphia integral-rate datestampEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE IN THE GRAYISH BROWN SHADE. A STAMP WITH TREMENDOUS VISUAL APPEAL.
Ex Hansen. With 1991, 2001 and 2008 P.F. certificates.
5c Deep Grayish Brown (1a var). Large to full margins, crisp shade and intermediate impression (possibly early), light strike of red grid cancel, Extremely Fine, ex Wagshal, with 2010 P.F. certificate
5c Dark Brown (1a var). Huge margins to clear including significant portion of adjoining stamp at right, intermediate impression, intense color described on certificate as "of the family of Ridgway's Bister, and not Seal Brown", black grid cancel, fresh and Very Fine, ex Renne, with 1991 P.F. certificate and accompanied by a 1991 letter from Raymond H. Weill regarding the shade
5c Red Orange (1c). Large even margins all around, vivid color and cleaned-plate impression, neat red grid cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE IN THE RARE RED ORANGE SHADE. THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST EXTANT.
With 1999 P.F. certificate.
5c Red Orange (1c). Ample to full margins, brilliant color and cleaned-plate impression, complemented by blue 5c integral-rate circular datestamp, certificate mentions removal of some light toning at upper left, which is visible only under ultraviolet lightVERY FINE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE IN THE DESIRABLE RED ORANGE SHADE.
With 2016 P.F. certificate.
5c Orange Brown (1b). Brilliant color with distinctive orange hue, strong impression from the cleaned plate, large to full margins all around, red grid cancel, Extremely Fine, a lovely stamp, with 1961, 1992 and 2003 P.F. certificates as No. 1b
5c Brown Orange (1d). Position 91L with enormous bottom left corner sheet margins, 10mm at left and 11mm at bottom, other sides very large, distinctive Brown Orange shade on deeply blued paper, worn-plate impression, blue grid cancel, slight dry print typical of corner positions where paper dried first, pre-printing vertical crease and a few tiny toned specks in margin not mentioned on certificateEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE CORNER-MARGIN EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE IN THE BROWN ORANGE COLOR. ONE OF THE FEW FULL CORNER-MARGIN EXAMPLES OF THE 5-CENT 1847 IN EXISTENCE.
Ex Dr. Morris and from our 2002 Rarities sale. A 1996 Calvet M. Hahn analysis confirming the shade no longer accompanies. With 2002 P.F. certificate as the old Scott No. 1b (before the Brown Orange was separated from Orange Brown).
5c Orange Brown (1b). Bright shade and worn-plate impression with very faint horizontal background lines, full to large margins all around, blue "Burlington Vt. 16 May 5" integral-rate circular datestamp, Extremely Fine, the Burlington circular datestamp was struck in red the vast majority of the time during the 1847 Issue period, with 2006 P.F. certificate as Brown Orange (1d), but we disagree and classify this as an Orange Brown (1b)
5c Orange Brown (1b). Bright shade and worn-plate impression on contrasting bluish paper, full to ample margins on all sides, blue "Burlington Vt. 9 May 5" integral-rate circular datestamp, couple faint toned spots not mentioned on accompanying certificate, still Very Fine, the Burlington circular datestamp was struck in red the vast majority of the time during the 1847 Issue period, ex Rose, with 2014 P.F. certificate as Brown Orange (1d), we disagree and classify this as an Orange Brown (1b)
5c Brown Orange, Dot in "S" (1d var). Bright color, cleaned-plate impression, large margins to full at top left, neat combination of blue grids and circular datestamp cancels, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2006 P.F. certificate
5c Brown Orange (1d). Intense shade certified as "Cinnamon Brown", strong impression from the cleaned plate, full even margins all around, neat strike of black grid cancel, Extremely Fine example of this scarce shade, with 1995 P.F. certificate stating "In the family of Ridgway's Cinnamon Brown"
5c Orange Brown (1b). Horizontal pair, full margins all around, light shade from the worn plate, bold strikes of vivid "paint red" grid cancel, left stamp with a small corner crease at bottom left, still Extremely Fine and quite striking, with 2009 P.F. certificate, Scott value with normal red cancels