Sale 929 — The Alan Geisler Collection of U.S. and Possessions Stamps
Sale Date — Monday, 26 February, 2007
Category — 1851-56 Issue
1c Blue, Ty. Ib (5A). Position 6R1E, large top sheet margin, large margin at right, just touching at upper left and slightly in at bottom, wonderful bright early shade and proof-like impression, grid cancelVERY FINE EXAMPLE OF POSITION 6R1E, ONE OF THE TWO POSITIONS THAT FURNISHED THE BEST TYPE IB EXAMPLES, SHOWING THE COMPLETE DESIGN AT TOP AND NEARLY COMPLETE DESIGN AT BOTTOM.
Type Ib was produced only as an imperforate stamp. Six positions on Plate 1 Early furnished stamps qualifying as Type Ib--Positions 3-6R and 8-9R--distinguished by the complete design at top and nearly complete design at bottom. When first entered on the plate, these six positions (as well as 7R1E) had the complete design at top and bottom. However, unlike 7R, small portions of the bottoms were burnished away. Positions 6R and 8R had less of the bottom erased than the other Type Ib positions, and for this reason they are more desirable examples of the type.
With Ashbrook note
1c Blue, Ty. Ia (6). Position 97R4, curl in "C" variety, huge margin at top incl. part of adjacent stamp and large sheet margin at bottom, ample to touching at right and just barely in at left, deep shade, light strike of blue cancelVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF TYPE IA FROM THE ONLY BOTTOM-ROW POSITION SHOWING THE CURL IN "C" VARIETY.
With 1983 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. II (7). Unused (no gum), large margins to barely in at top, bright color, tiny corner crease at top right not mentioned on accompanying certificate, Fine appearance, with 1982 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. II (7). Positions 20/30L2, vertical pair, huge margins to just touched incl. part of adjoining stamp at top and sheet margin at right, deep rich color, neat strikes of circular datestamps, fresh and Very Fine
1c Blue, Ty. III (8). Position 69L4, unused (no gum), large to huge margins incl. part of adjoining stamp at bottom and showing clear characteristics of the type, deep rich colorEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE IMPERFORATE 1851 ONE-CENT TYPE III. A SCARCE ISSUE IN UNUSED CONDITION WITH SUCH WIDE MARGINS.
Type III is defined by breaks in the outer lines at both top and bottom. Many Type III stamps have breaks that were created or enlarged by plate wear. Since the wear occurred over a period of time, a majority of stamps of this type (both unused and used) have small breaks in at least one line. The example offered here, with wide breaks in both lines, is a great rarity
A search of our computerized records revealed an amazing fact -- we have only offered one example with original gum, and one unused example without gum, since keeping computerized records over ten years ago.
With 1981 and 1992 P.F. certificates
1c Blue, Ty. IIIa (8A). Plate 4, large part original gum, full margins to just in, deep rich color and proof-like impressionFINE. AN EYE-CATCHING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE IMPERFORATE 1851 ONE-CENT TYPE IIIA.
With 1990 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. IIIa-IIIa-II (8A-8A-7). Horizontal strip of three, large margins to just in, bright Plate 1E color, pen cancels, few faults incl. left stamp internal tear, otherwise Fine, with 1986 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. IV (9). Original gum, lightly hinged, full margins to just in, deep rich color, light creases and thin specks, appears Fine, with copy of 1982 P.F. certificate for block of nine
1c Blue, Ty. IV (9). Vertical pair (almost vertical strip of three), huge margins to just touched incl. most of adjoining stamp at bottom, rich color, neat circular datestamps, Fine, Scott Retail as pair
3c Orange Brown (10). Position 6L2E, original gum, lightly hinged, large margins to just in at top left incl. part of adjoining stamp at bottom, bright color with some slight oxidation, tiny thin speck, Fine appearance
3c Dull Red (11). Horizontal pair, original gum, clear margins, rich color, Very Fine
3c Brownish Carmine (11 var). Horizontal pair, disturbed original gum with strong offset on back of right stamp, large margins to clear incl. part of adjoining stamps at bottom, light crease, appears Very Fine
5c Red Brown (12). Unused (no gum), ample to large margins, rich color and detailed impressionVERY FINE AND RARE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1856 ISSUE. ONLY A FEW EXIST IN SOUND UNUSED CONDITION WITH FOUR MARGINS.
With 1973 P.F. certificate for pair
10c Green, Ty. I (13). Position 91R1, unused (no gum), large to huge margins incl. left sheet margin with centerline, rich color, small corner crease at top right, lightly cleaned to remove soilingEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE UNUSED CENTERLINE MARGIN EXAMPLE OF THE IMPERFORATE 1855 10-CENT TYPE I.
With 1987 P.F. certificate
10c Green, Ty. II (14). Original gum, large to huge margins incl. sheet margin at top, bright color, light horizontal crease at bottomEXTREMELY FINE APPEARING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE IMPERFORATE 1855 10-CENT TYPE II.
With 1982 P.F. certificate
10c Green, Ty. III (15). Unused (no gum), large to huge margins, rich color, ink mark on back not noted on accompanying certificateEXTREMELY FINE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE IMPERFORATE 1855 10-CENT TYPE III.
With 1986 P.F. certificate
10c Green, Ty. IV (16). Unused (no gum), Position 86L1, recut at top, large margins all around, rich color, tiny surface scrape expertly retouched is barely noticeable even with magnificationEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1855 10-CENT IMPERFORATE TYPE IV.
A review of our computerized records indicates that we have only offered two examples with original gum and three examples with no gum in the past thirteen years. Of the three no gum copies, one was significantly cut into at top and the other was repaired. The third is the example offered here.
With 1991 P.F. certificate.
12c Black (17). Original gum, lightly hinged, large margins to just barely in incl. sheet margin at top, intense shade and impression, light vertical creaseFINE APPEARING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1851 ISSUE.
With 1980 P.F. certificate