Sale 1242 — The Gordon Eubanks Collection: United States 1851 to 1856 Imperforate Issue
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 12-13 October, 2021
Category — Ten-Cent: Type IV (Scott 16)
10c Green, Type IV (16). Position 3R1, recut at top, misplaced B Relief, original gum, large to full margins all around, completely soundEXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS ARGUABLY THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1855 10-CENT TYPE IV IN EXISTENCE. ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL CLASSIC UNITED STATES UNUSED STAMPS AND IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND IN THIS SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.
The 10c 1855 Type IV stamps are defined by the recut of one or both outer lines at the top or bottom of the design. Type IV stamps come from only seven scattered positions on the left pane and one position on the right pane of Plate 1--Position 3R offered here. Therefore, only 4% of the stamps from Plate 1 are Type IV. Scott 16 is extremely rare in original-gum condition. Essentially all of the approximately seven original-gum examples we have offered since keeping computerized records in 1993 are affected by faults, only part gum, or both. One was sound and Very Fine, but has disturbed gum and smaller margins than the example offered here. The combination of original gum, large margins and completely sound condition is simply almost never encountered on the 10c 1855 Type IV.
Ex Arthur R. Brigham (1920s to 30s), Arthur C. Weil (Fifield sale, Dec. 10-12, 1947, lot 58, "superb o.g., ex Brigham"), Dr. Gleysteen and Louis Grunin. With 1971 and 2021 P.F. certificates (XF 90). With 2014 P.S.E. certificate (OGh, XF 90; SMQ $75,000.00). This is the only graded original-gum example of Scott 16 in the P.S.E. Population Report.
10c Green, Type IV (16). Position 76L1, recut at bottom, large margins to full at right, detailed impression with bright color, beautifully cancelled by a double-struck "paint red" circular datestampEXTREMELY FINE. A GORGEOUS LARGE-MARGINED EXAMPLE OF THE SCARCE 10-CENT 1855 TYPE IV WITH A VIVID "PAINT RED" DATESTAMP CANCEL.
Ex Koppersmith. With 1995 P.F. certificate
10c Green, Types III-IV (15-16). Positions 63-64L1, horizontal pair, right stamp recut at top and bottom, huge margins all around including part of adjoining stamps at sides, rich color on bright paper, neat strikes of circular datestamp and also red cancel at top leftEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB PAIR WITH ONE STAMP CONTAINING THE RARE TYPE IV RECUT AT BOTH TOP AND BOTTOM.
10c 1855 Type IV stamps are defined by the recut of one or both outer lines at the top or bottom of the design. Type IV stamps come from only seven scattered positions on the left pane and one position on the right pane of Plate 1. Of these eight positions, Position 64--the right stamp in this pair--is the only one with recut lines at both top and bottom. The cancels do not obscure the recut lines in this magnificent pair.
Ex Grunin, Senchuk and "Golden Oak". With 1977 P.F. certificate
10c Green, Type IV (16). Positions 54-56/64-66L1, block of six containing a contiguous block of Type IV at left and combination of Types II over III at right--the Type IV block contains three varieties of recutting, including recut bottom line (Positions 54-55L), recut top line and ovals (Position 65L) and recut top and bottom lines (Position 64L), the only double recut on the plate--large even margins all around, sharp impression and rich color, cancelled by light strikes of bright red "Cleveland O.” circular datestamp leaving an unimpeded view of the recut lines in all four Type IV stamps, short sealed tears and faint vertical crease in left vertical pair do not affect the beautiful appearance of this rare blockEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTRAORDINARY AND BEAUTIFUL MULTIPLE CONTAINING THE ONLY FOUR TYPE IV POSITIONS ON THE 10-CENT 1855 PLATE THAT FORM A BLOCK. ONLY ONE OTHER BLOCK CONTAINING THESE POSITIONS IS RECORDED, BUT THIS FAMOUS BLOCK IS SUPERIOR IN TERMS OF CONDITION AND APPEARANCE.
The 10c Green imperforate stamp was issued in mid-1855, the second denomination of its kind after the 1847 Issue. The need for 10c stamps was revived in 1855 when Congress created a new prepaid "over 3,000 miles” rate for letters to and from the West Coast. They also gave the postmaster general discretionary power to require prepayment by stamps.
The 10c stamps were printed by Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co. from steel plates of 200 subjects, divided into panes of 100. 10c Type IV stamps are defined by recut outer curved lines at the top or bottom of the design, or both in one position (64L). Recutting was done on only seven scattered positions in the left pane and one position in the right pane. Therefore, only 4% of the stamps from Plate 1 are Type IV.
The diagram below shows the arrangement of the types on the plate. There are only four Type IV positions that form a contiguous block. There are no unused multiples containing all four in block format. Only two used blocks are recorded: the block offered here and a block of 16 from our 1993 Rarities sale (ex Hind and Bechtel). The other block, while larger, has heavier cancels struck in black and minor faults.
Ex Sir Nicolas Waterhouse (Puttick & Simpson sale, Nov. 11-14, 1924, lot 345), Robert S. Emerson, Saul Newbury, Louis Grunin, Walter C. Klein and John R. Boker, Jr.
With 1964 P.F. certificate
10c Green, Types II-IV-II-IV-II-II (14-16-14-16-14-14). Positions 73-78L1, horizontal strip of six containing two Type IV stamps, Position 74L recut at top and Position 76L recut at bottom, other positions Type II, large margins all around beautifully showing all the design characteristics, tied by four unobtrusive strikes of "New Orleans La. Jul. 1" circular datestamp on piece of coverEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB AND EXCEPTIONALLY RARE STRIP OF SIX OF THE 10-CENT 1855 IMPERFORATE ISSUE, CONTAINING TWO OF THE DESIRABLE TYPE IV RECUT POSITIONS.
The 10c 1855 Type IV stamps are defined by the recut of one or both outer lines at the top or bottom of the design. Type IV stamps come from only seven scattered positions on the left pane and one position on the right pane of Plate 1. Therefore, only 4% of the stamps from Plate 1 are Type IV. Any multiple containing two or more examples of the Type IV is rare and this strip of six with two examples is of the highest rarity.
Ex B. D. Phillips and from our 1969 and 1978 Rarities sales. With 1981 P.F. certificate
10c Green, Type IV (16). Position 54L1, recut at bottom, large margins to clear at top, horizontal crease at top ending in a minute tear, tied by "Chicago Ill. Jan. 3, 1857" circular datestamp on cover to officer in the 1st Regiment U.S. Artillery at Fort Brown, Brownsville Tex., manuscript "via New-Orleans" at bottom and pencil docketing at top, some cover edgewear, Very Fine appearance and a scarce use of the 10c 1855 Type IV overpaying the triple letter rate (1c overpayment)
10c Green, Types IV-III (16-15). Positions 86-87L1, horizontal pair, left stamp Type IV recut at top, large margins to ample at left, rich color, tied by "San Francisco Cal. 20 Nov." circular datestamp on lady's small embossed cover to Walden N.Y., lovely design including stars around borders, small cover tear top right cornerVERY FINE AND CHOICE PAIR OF THE 10-CENT 1855 ISSUE, CONTAINING THE SCARCE TYPE IV RECUT AND USED ON A LADY'S EMBOSSED COVER PAYING DOUBLE THE 10-CENT TRANSCONTINENTAL RATE.
With 1977 P.F. certificate
10c Green, Types III-III-IV (15-15-16). Positions 84-86L1, horizontal strip of three, stamp at right is Type IV recut at top (Position 86L), large to enormous margins including parts of three adjoining stamps at top (the recut bottom line of the adjoining Position 76L1 is intact), deep rich color and marvelous early impression, tied by vivid red grid cancels, perfectly clear strike of matching "N. York Am. Pkt. Paid 7 Oct. 11" (1856) 7c credit datestamp on light blue folded letter to Glogau, Prussia, beautiful script with sender's directive "Pr. Steamer 'Baltic'" and carried on that Collins Line steamer which departed New York Oct. 11 and arrived Liverpool Oct. 22, sender's equally beautiful calligraphic directive "Prussian Closed Mail" and "Charles King & Co. New-York" blue oval handstamp with mailing date in manuscript, red "AACHEN 24/10 FRANCO" framed transit datestamp (Oct. 24) and receiving backstamp (Oct. 25)EXTREMELY FINE GEM STRIP. EVERY ELEMENT OF THIS COVER WAS APPLIED WITH CARE 165 YEARS AGO AND PRESERVED IN PRISTINE CONDITION SINCE MAILING. WITHOUT DOUBT ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AND FINEST QUALITY CLASSIC UNITED STATES COVERS EXTANT.
This immaculate cover comes from the Cohn correspondence, from which the cover bearing a 5c 1856, 1c and 12c 1851 pair originated (realized $85,000 in our 1981 Rarities sale).
Ex Moody, Dr. LeBow, Hackmey and Gross. With 2005 P.F. certificate.
10c Green, Types III, IV (15, 16). Five Type III stamps and one Type IV, consisting of a pair from Positions 65-66L1, left stamp Type IV recut at top, plus a single and strip of three of Type III, the pair and single large margins, the strip large to clear margins, strip tied by red "New Haven Con. Jun. 10 1856" circular datestamp, matching grids tie the single and pair on cover to Munich, Germany, red "N. York Br. Pkt. 14 Paid Jun. 11" 14c credit datestamp, red "AACHEN 24/6 FRANCO" framed transit datestamp (Jun. 24), Munich arrival backstamp (Jun. 26), manuscript "Via Prussian Closed Mail", the pair with a vertical crease affecting the edge of the Type IV, the strip with light creases at right, minor cover edgewearVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE 10-CENT 1855 IMPERFORATE ISSUE COVER TO GERMANY WITH SIX STAMPS PAYING THE DOUBLE 30-CENT PRUSSIAN MAIL RATE, INCLUDING THE TYPE IV WITH RECUT TOP LINE AND OVALS.
This was carried on the Cunarder Africa from New York on June 11, 1856, arriving Liverpool June 13.
With 1987 P.F. certificate
10c Green, Types IV-IV-III (16-16-15). Positions 64-66L1, horizontal strip of three with two Type IV recut positions, left Position 64L recut at top and bottom and center Position 65L recut at top, right stamp Type III, mostly large margins to just in at left, tied by "Albany N.Y. Dec. 26" (1856) circular datestamps and by red "N. York Br. Pkt. 7 Paid Dec. 30" 7c credit datestamp on cover to Vienna, Austria, dark red "PAID" handstamp, red "AACHEN 14/1 FRANCO" framed transit datestamp (Jan. 14, 1857), receiving backstamp, minor edgewearVERY FINE AND RARE STRIP OF THREE OF THE 10-CENT 1855 ISSUE, CONTAINING TWO TYPE IV STAMPS INCLUDING THE ONLY DOUBLE RECUT ON THE PLATE, USED ON A COVER TO AUSTRIA VIA PRUSSIAN CLOSED MAIL.
10c 1855 Type IV stamps are defined by the recut of one or both outer lines at the top or bottom of the design. Type IV stamps come from only seven scattered positions on the left pane and one position on the right pane of Plate 1. Therefore, only 4% of the stamps from Plate 1 are Type IV. Of these eight positions, Position 64L1, the left stamp in the strip offered here, is the only one with recut lines at both top and bottom.
Ex Emerson and Krug. Signed Ashbrook and with his notes on back. With 1996 P.F. certificate
10c Green, Types III, IV (15, 16). Single Type IV from Position 65L1, recut at top, three huge margins to ample at right, used with horizontal pair of Type III, Positions 21-22L1, mostly huge margins, also with 3c Dull Red, Type III (26), all three 10c stamps have marvelous deep rich color and proof-like impressions, 3c scissors-separated with some clipped perfs, tied by grid cancels, "Greenfield Ms. Dec. 18" (1857) circular datestamp on small cover to Shanghai, China, red "New-York Br. Pkt. Dec. 23" backstamp, magenta manuscript "28" cents credit, red London transit (Jan. 4, 1858)EXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB 10-CENT 1855 TYPE IV COVER TO CHINA FROM THE BLODGETT CORRESPONDENCE.
This outstanding cover is franked for the 33c prepaid rate via British mail to China. It was carried on the Cunarder Europa, departing New York Dec. 23, 1857, and arriving Liverpool Jan. 4, 1858. It was carried from Southampton to Alexandria, Egypt, then overland to Suez and by ship to Ceylon and Hong Kong.
Ex Haas and "Sevenoaks"