Sale 1277 — The Adventurer Collection of United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 7-8 March, 2023
Category — 1857-60 Issue (Scott 18-39)
1c Blue, Ty. I (18). Plate 12, original gum, intense color, almost perfectly centered with wide margins at sides and clearly showing the characteristics of the typeEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 PERFORATED ONE-CENT TYPE I, GRADED XF 90 BY BOTH THE P.F. AND P.S.E. -- A RARE STAMP IN SUCH CHOICE CONDITION.
The defining characteristic of Type I is that the entire design is printed, including the scrolls and plumes at bottom. Among the plates used to print imperforate stamps, only one position out of 1,000 can claim that honor (Position 7R1E, Scott No. 5). Type I perforated stamps are only known from certain positions on Plate 12. Due to the narrow spacing between perforations and difficulties of production, this issue is usually found with part of the design cut off by the perforations. The wide margins of this stamp leave the Type I characteristics around the perimeter almost completely intact.
With 2005 and 2014 P.F. certificates (XF 90) and 2009 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF 90; SMQ $5,750.00). This is one of only seven unused examples to achieve this grade, with just one higher (Mint N.H. at 95). We have offered only one other in this grade.
1c Blue, Ty. II (20). Top row of Plate 12, original gum, lightly hinged, unusually choice centering with wide and balanced margins, brilliant colorEXTREMELY 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 THE P.F.
With 1976 and 2014 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95). By way of comparison P.S.E. has graded only one at 95 with none higher.
1c Blue, Ty. II (20). Top row of Plate 11, T Relief, original gum, lightly hinged, pretty shade, choice centering for this difficult issueEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 PERFORATED ONE-CENT TYPE II FROM PLATE 11.
Relief T, used only for the top row of Plate 11, has the complete design at top, and those positions produced what Ashbrook and Neinken called "perfect" examples of Type II.
With 2020 P.F. certificate (XF 90) and 2011 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF 90; SMQ $4,250.00 for Plates 2 or 12). SMQ does not price this from Plate 11; Scott Catalogue price from Plate 11 is almost double that from Plate 2.
1c Blue, Ty. IIIa (22). Plate 11, original gum, lightly hinged, rich color on crisp paper, unusually choice centering with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 PERFORATED ONE-CENT TYPE IIIa.
With 2011 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF 90; SMQ $6,000.00). Only two grade higher (at 90J and 95) and three others share this grade. Apart from one Mint N.H. graded 90, this is the highest grade we have offered for an unused stamp in one of our auctions, and the first in this grade we have offered since 2015.
1c Blue, Ty. IV (23). Plate 1L, unused (no gum), recut once at top and bottom, deep rich color on bright paper, unusually choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 ONE-CENT TYPE IV. SCARCE WITH SUCH CHOICE CENTERING.
The Plate 1 Late sheets on hand in 1857 were perforated on the new equipment, but the spacing between subjects and Toppan Carpenter's generally poor perforating skills resulted in the majority being off center.
With 2018 P.F. certificate (XF 90). By way of comparison, P.S.E. has graded only one original-gum example (at 90) and two with either no gum or disturbed gum (one at 90 described as slightly disturbed gum but with P.F. as original gum and one graded the lowest possible 10).
1c Blue, Ty. V (24). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression, wide margins, Very Fine and choice, with 1976 A.P.S. certificate, Scott value as hinged
3c Claret, Ty. I (25 var). Original gum, barest trace of what may be hinging, deep rich color and proof-like impression, unusually choice centering for this difficult issueEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT 1857 TYPE I IN THE CLARET SHADE.
Until Toppan, Carpenter made new 3c plates with wider spaces between stamps to accommodate the perforations, they simply perforated sheets printed from the earlier Type I plates, beginning in early 1857. Unlike its Type III counterpart (Scott 26), examples of 3c perforated Type I stamps are rare in original-gum condition. These are extremely difficult to obtain with precise centering, due to the narrow spacing on the plate.
Ex Odeneal and "Hanover". With 2007 P.F. and P.S.E. certificates (both graded XF 90; SMQ $8,000.00 as the basic Rose shade). This is the highest grade awarded and only one other shares it.
3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26). Mint N.H., deep rich color, choice centering, Very Fine and choice, with 1976 A.P.S. certificate, Scott value as hinged
5c Brown (29). Original gum, small h.r., better centering than normally seen on this difficult issue with outer projections clearly visible on all sidesVERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1859 5-CENT BROWN TYPE I, SCOTT 29. A RARE STAMP IN THIS CONDITION.
Most original-gum examples of this issue are either off center or have small faults.
With 2016 P.F. certificate.
5c Brown (29). Unused (no gum), rich color and sharp impression, wonderfully well-centered with perfs clear of outer projections on all four sidesEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE SOUND, WELL-CENTERED UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1859 5-CENT BROWN TYPE I, SCOTT 29.
With 2007 P.F. certificate (XF 90). This is the highest grade awarded by the Philatelic Foundation to an unused Scott No. 29, with no other examples equal. By way of comparison, P.S.E. has not graded an unused example above VF 80.
5c Orange Brown, Ty. II (30). Large part original gum which covers most of the back of the stamp, lovely warm shade, unusually choice centering, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1984 P.F. certificate
5c Orange Brown, Ty. II (30). Unused (no gum), rich color, phenomenal centering, Extremely Fine, with 1976 A.P.S. certificate
10c Green, Ty. II (32). Original gum, single hinge mark at top, attractive centering and marginsFRESH AND VERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 10-CENT TYPE II.
Ex Petersen. With 2008 P.S.E. certificate
10c Green, Ty. III (33). Unused (no gum), outstanding centering with wide margins all around, rich color and detailed impressionEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THE 10-CENT 1857 PERFORATED STAMPS FROM PLATE 1 ARE NOTORIOUSLY DIFFICULT TO FIND WELL-CENTERED. THIS TYPE III STAMP -- FRAMED BY WIDE BALANCED MARGINS ON ALL FOUR SIDES -- IS ONE OF THE CHOICEST WE HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED.
Ex "Alan". With 2000 and 2016 P.F. certificates.
10c Green, Ty. V (35). Original gum, h.r., rich color, choice centering with wide margins, trivial corner perf crease at bottom left not noted on certificate, Extremely Fine appearance, with 1976 A.P.S. certificate
12c Black, Plate 3 (36B). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep shade and detailed impression, far better centering than normally seen, Extremely Fine, a difficult issue to obtain with such choice centering, with 2004 P.F. certificate
24c Gray Lilac (37). Original gum, detailed impression, wide margins, Very Fine and choice, with 1984 P.F. certificate
30c Orange (38). Unused (no gum), vibrant color, gorgeous centering for this difficult issue, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $2,000.00)
30c Orange (38). Unused (no gum), radiant color, well-balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2007 P.S.E. and 2008 P.F. certificates (both graded NG, VF-XF 85; SMQ $950.00)
90c Blue (39). Original gum, deep rich color and proof-like impression, unusually choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1860 ISSUE. A GORGEOUS STAMP.
With 1977 P.F. certificate