Sale 904 — Superb United States Stamps
Sale Date — Saturday, 10 December, 2005
Category — 1851-56 Issue
1c Blue, Ty. II, Plate 3 (7). Position 21R3, full even margins, lovely dark Plate 3 shade, very lightly cancelled by datestamp, Very Fine and choice, scarce printing from Plate 3, with 2005 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. III (8). Position 61L4, large margins to full all around, rich Plate 4 color, unobtrusive cancel leaves design clearly visibleEXTREMELY FINE LIGHTLY-CANCELLED EXAMPLE OF THE IMPERFORATE 1851 ONE-CENT TYPE III.
With 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90)
1c Blue, Ty. IV , Triple Transfer, One Inverted (9 var). Position 91L1L, huge margins all around incl. bottom left corner sheet margins, dark shade, neat strike of town datestamp leaves design clearly visibleEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1851 IMPERFORATE ONE-CENT TYPE IV WITH TRIPLE TRANSFER, ONE INVERTED.
The three inverted transfers occurred during the making of Plate 1 Early. Positions 71L, 81L and 91L were entered from the three-subject transfer roll in the spaces where the first three entries had been made and erased (but not fully erased). The plate was turned 180 degrees before starting fresh entries from the transfer roll. Position 91L was re-entered a third time on Plate 1 Early, creating a triple transfer (two upright, one inverted). When Toppan, Carpenter re-worked the worn plate, many of the subjects were re-entered, and all but one were recut at top and/or bottom, creating Scott 9, Type IV, from what we call Plate 1 Late (the same piece of steel in its modified state). Positions 71L and 81L were re-entered, thus becoming triple transfer (one inverted) positions. Position 91L was not re-entered. Thus, Position 71L and 81L only exist as triple transfers one inverted as Type IV stamps, while Position 91L exists as Type II and Type IV.
With 2000 and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo)
1c Blue, Ty. IV (9). Recut once at top and once at bottom, enormous margins all around incl. sheet margin at right and part of adjoining stamps at top and bottom, rich color, light blue datestamp, Extremely Fine Gem, a massive stamp
1c Blue, Ty. IV (9). Position 42L1L, large to huge margins incl. parts of adjoining stamps at top and bottom, neat blue town datestamp, deep rich color, Extremely Fine
1c Blue, Ty. IV (9). Huge margins incl. part of adjoining stamps on three sides, bright shade, socked-on-the-nose "Providence R.I. Dec. 21" circular datestamp, Extremely Fine, with 2005 P.F. certificate
3c Orange Brown (10). Full margins all around, brilliant color, original gum, lightly hingedVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A SCARCE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1851 3-CENT ORANGE BROWN WITH MARGINS ALL AROUND AND IN A REMARKABLY FRESH STATE OF PRESERVATION.
With 2005 P.F. certificate for pair
3c Dull Red (11). Positions 85-87/95-97L4, bottom sheet margin block of six with -1/5 mm and 1.25mm spacing variation between vertical rows, original gum, large margins to slightly in, bright color, creases and trivial flawsFINE-VERY APPEARANCE. AN OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL-GUM MULTIPLE OF THE 3-CENT 1851 FROM PLATE 4, SHOWING WHAT DR. CARROLL CHASE DESCRIBED AS "THE MOST MARKED VARIATION" IN SPACING ON ANY 3-CENT PLATE, EXAMPLES OF WHICH HE CALLED "DECIDEDLY RARE."
The space between Positions 95L and 96L on Plate 4 is approximately -1/5th of a millimeter, while the space between 96L and 97L is more than six times greater at 1.25 millimeters. This effect resulted from slightly skewed entry of the vertical row of subjects from top to bottom in the plate.
Ex Simpson
3c Claret (11 var). Huge margins all around incl. part of adjoining stamps on all sides, rich color, well-struck circular datestampEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS THE FIRST STAMP WITH THE PERFECT GRADE OF 100 WE HAVE EVER OFFERED.
With 2005 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100). This is the stamp that P.S.E. uses in their grading guide as the model for a 100-point 3c 1851 stamp.
3c Dull Red (11). Large to huge margins incl. part of adjoining stamp at left, brilliant color, neat strike of circular datestamp, Extremely Fine Gem, with copy of 2005 P.F. certificate and with 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo)
10c Green, Ty. I (13). Unused (regummed), large margins to just clear, rich colorVERY FINE. A RARE SOUND UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1855 10-CENT TYPE I ISSUE.
With 2005 P.F. certificate
10c Green, Ty. II (14). Horizontal pair, large to huge margins, rich color, light cancels, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1978 and 2003 P.F. certificates
10c Green, Ty. III (15). Original gum, large even margins all around, bright shade on fresh white paper, light crease at top leftEXTREMELY FINE APPEARING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1855 10-CENT TYPE III IMPERFORATE.
With 2005 P.F. certificate
10c Green, Ty. III (15). Horizontal pair, large even margins all around, bright color, neat strike of New Orleans circular datestamp, Extremely Fine, with 1977 P.F. certificate
10c Green, Ty. IV (16). Position 55L1, recut at bottom, huge margins to full, pretty color, light strike of circular datestampEXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT TYPE IV 1855 ISSUE.
With 1989 P.F. certificate
12c Black (17). Large even margins all around, crisp impression, face-free strike of San Francisco circular datestamp, Extremely Fine, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90)