Sale 1359 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 22-24 July, 2025
Category — Revenues
1c Playing Cards, Red, Imperforate (R2a). Large margins to ample, deep rich color, neat manuscript cancel, small tear at upper left in margin only, Very Fine appearance
1c Playing Cards, Red, Imperforate (R2a). Huge margins to clear, rich color, manuscript "X" cancel, Very Fine and scarce
1c Proprietary, Red, Imperforate (R3a). Large margins, bright color neat strike of 1865 San Francisco double-circle datestamp, Extremely Fine, an especially choice stamp, rare with a handstamp cancel
1c Telegraph, Red, Imperforate (R4). Large margins all around, neat Oct. 14, 1863 manuscript cancel, Extremely Fine, with 1989 P.F. certificate
3c Proprietary, Green, Part Perforated (R18b). Neat strike of Jan. 23 1863 oval datestamp, enormous margins all around, thin spot and small toned spot at top, otherwise Extremely Fine
5c Foreign Exchange, Perforated, Silk Paper (R26d). Showing blue silk fiber on back, rich color, unobtrusive cancel, faint horizontal crease, Fine and very rare
10c Inland Exchange, Blue, Imperforate (R36a). Vertical pair, large margins to ample, 1863 manuscript cancel, bright color, top stamp scissors-cut at upper right, Very Fine and scarce multiple
40c Inland Exchange, Brown, Imperforate (R53a). Large margins to full, rich color, neat blue Jan. 12, 1864 manuscript cancel, Very Fine and attractive, scarce cancelled solely by the blue handstamp
50c Life Insurance, Blue, Part Perforated (R58b). Huge margins including top sheet margin, rich color, neat Aug. 31, 1869 manuscript cancel, Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp
$5.00 Mortgage, Carmine, Trial Color Plate Proof on India (R91TC3a). Block of six, large margins including right sheet margin, Very Fine and choice, ex Brazer, Scott value as singles
$15.00 Mortgage, Blue, Imperforate (R97a). Two, used with two pairs and three singles $10.00 Mortgage, Green, Imperforate (R95a) and horizontal strip of six and single $5.00 Mortgage, Red, Imperforate (R91a), Mar. 12, 1863 manuscript cancels on eight page bound indenture for the Washington and Georgetown Railroad Company in Washington D.C., the lengthy document bears several signatures including Henry D. Cooke, who was appointed by President Grant as territorial governor of the District of Columbia and was the brother of prominent Civil War and railroad financier Jay Cooke, gum toning around a number of the stamps helps tie them to the document (including a $15.00), some edge flaws on the lower denomination values and some minor document splits and soiling (the indenture is thick and difficult to make flat without removing the top page), the two $15.00 stamps are essentially sound except for gum toning on one
AN EXTREMELY RARE USE OF TWO $15.00 MORTGAGE FIRST ISSUE REVENUE IMPERFORATES ON A DOCUMENT, ALONG WITH MULTIPLE COPIES OF THE $10.00 MORTGAGE IMPERFORATE AND THE NEW LARGEST RECORDED MULTIPLE OF THE $5.00 MORTGAGE IMPERFORATE.
Power Search does not list another example of the scarce $15.00 Mortgage Imperforate, R97a, on a document. In addition, the Curtis Collection lists a block of four and a strip of four as the largest recorded multiples of the $5.00 Mortgage, R91a. This strip of six becomes the new largest recorded multiple.
The Washington and Georgetown Railroad Company was the first streetcar company to operate in Washington, D.C., with Henry D. Cooke as President. It can be seen as the first precursor to the current Washington Metro system.
Scott value for the stamps alone is $19,300 (counting the $5.00 strip of six as three pairs), without premium for the document.
$20.00 Probate of Will, Orange, Perforated (R99c). Vibrant color, multiple strikes of red "R. Garland Feb. 16, 1864" circular datestamps, faint horizontal crease at center, Very Fine appearance, a stamp with great visual appeal
$20.00 Probate of Will, Orange, Perforated (R99c). Vibrant color, neat 1864 manuscript cancel, pre-printing paperfold at lower right, Fine and rare
$25.00 Mortgage, Red, Imperforate (R100a). Large margins to full, bottom left corner clipped but not affecting design, rich color on bright paper, neat manuscript cancel, tiny hinge thin, Very Fine appearance
$50.00 Blue & Black, Second Issue (R131). Detailed impressions on bright paper, unusually choice centering, Sep. 3, 1872 manuscript cancel, Extremely Fine
$200.00 Red, Blue & Black, Second Issue, "Small Persian Rug" (R132). Rich frame colors but vignette quite faded, choice centering, neat "Allan Campbell May 1, 1872" manuscript cancel, a very scarce example of the "Small Persian Rug"
1c-$10.00 1940 Issue (R264-R281). Mint N.H., bright colors, Very Fine and choice set, ex Joyce
50c Green & Black on Violet Paper, Proprietary (RB8a). Bright colors, gorgeous centering, neat manuscript "X" cancel, Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp, ex Joyce
$1.00 Green & Black on Violet, Proprietary (RB9a). Rich colors, light manuscript cancel, small tear at bottom, expert repair at top left, otherwise Very Fine and scarce
6c Violet Blue, Rouletted, Proprietary (RB17c). Rich color, purple handstamp cancel, Fine
$10,000.00 Bright Green, "Series 1950" Ovpt., Stock Transfer (RD338). Serial no. 1596, bright color, choice margins and centering, light horizontal crease, appears Very Fine
28c Green & Black, Series of 1941, Wine (RE132). Bright color, purple handstamp cancel, fresh and Fine, scarce in sound condition
$2,000.00 Yellow Green & Black, Wine (RE170). Rich color, light strike of purple handstamp cancel, small corner crease at bottom left entirely in margin, Very Fine and rare, ex Joyce
$30.00 Green & Black, Series of 1941, Denomination Spelled in One Line, Wine (RE182). Unused, detailed impression, Fine and scarce, ex Joyce
7c on 2c Blue, Playing Cards (RF8). Deep red "10-4-'17 7 CTS. R.P.C.Co." (Russell Playing Card Co.) three-line surcharge, rich color, small tear at right, Fine appearance, with 1979 P.F. certificate
Barber Match Co., 3c Black, Experimental Silk Paper (RO19e). Showing few small silk fibers on back, some faults including repair at upper right, otherwise Fine and scarce, only 15 reported in the Aldrich census
Frank E. Clark, 1c Lake, Experimental Silk Paper (RO59e). Showing several silk paper fibers including between "A" and "T" and on back, thin spot and light crease, Very Fine appearance, scarce and undercatalogued in Scott
Cramer & Kemp, 1c Blue, Experimental Silk Paper (RO66e). Showing few small blue fibers on back, faint horizontal crease, small toned spot, otherwise Fine and scarce, this is the first we have offered since keeping computerized records
Wilmington Parlor Match Co., 1c Black, Experimental Silk Paper (RO182e). Crisp impression, few small faults, Fine and scarce
J. C. Ayer & Co., 4c Blue, Experimental Silk Paper, Die Cut (RS9e). Showing all points of the star, a few blue silk fibers are readily apparent, completely sound
VERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT BLUE J. C. AYER & CO. ON EXPERIMENTAL SILK PAPER.
As an indication of rarity, none was offered in the Lilly or Joyce sales. It was first listed in the 1993 Scott U.S. Specialized, two years after the Joyce sale, with a dash for the price. It is also not mentioned in the 1994 Aldrich book. This is the third we have offered since keeping computerized records, and the only example we have offered in sound condition.
With 2009 P.F. certificate.
D. S. Barnes, 1c Vermilion, Old Paper (RS15a). Bright color, few faults including tear at left, otherwise Fine, the owner thought this could be experimental silk paper based on one blue fiber on back, this issue is not known on experimental silk paper
Wm. E. Clarke, 3c Blue, USIR Watermark (RS56d). Deep rich color, unusually choice centering, Extremely Fine Gem
James A. Jackson & Co., 4c Green, Old Paper (RS143a). Bright color, small toned spot at center, small sealed tear at upper left, Fine appearance, only 20 are recorded in the Aldrich book, the majority of which are faulty
Johnston Holloway & Co., 1c Green, Silk Paper (RS152b). Block of four with right selvage, rich color, few minor perf separations sensibly reinforced, Very Fine and extremely rare multiple, ex Joyce
Mishler Herb Bitters Co., 4c Black, Watermarked, Imperforate at Ends (RS181p). Detailed impression, Very Fine and very rare, "H.W. Holcombe" backstamp
A. L. Scovill & Co., 4c Green, Experimental Silk Paper (RS221e). Rich color, small toned spot at top center. Fine and scarce
Dr. E.L. Soule & Co., 1c Blue, Syracuse Wrapper, Silk Paper, Foreign Entry (RS227b var). Few faults, otherwise Fine and scarce
U.S. Proprietary Medicine Co., 1c Black Wrapper, Experimental Silk Paper (RS245e). Showing several blue silk fibers, reduced, light creases, Fine and scarce
Dr. J. Walker, 4c Black, Experimental Silk Paper (RS253e). Detailed impression, few creases and tears, still Fine and scarce stamp from a manufacturer whose claim to fame was that his products were free from alcohol, purple backstamp
West India Manufacturing Co., 4c Black, Die I, Pink Paper (RS264c). Crisp impression, fresh and Very Fine, scarce in such choice condition
Corning & Tappan, 1c Black, USIR Watermark, Perforated (RT3d). Choice centering, detailed impression, Very Fine and choice, 31 recorded in the Aldrich book, with 1990 P.F. certificate
E. W. Hoyt & Co., 2c Black, Wmk. Paper (RT8d). Large margins with part imprint at left, faint vertical crease at left, Very Fine appearance, 32 are recorded in the Aldrich book, we are aware of two blocks of four and a pair, so that would leave only 22 singles available, of those many have truncated side margins
George W. Laird, 3c Black, Pink Paper (RT14c). Large to huge margins including top left corner margin with part imprint at left, light vertical crease at left entirely in margin, Extremely Fine appearance, ex Joyce
George W. Laird, 3c Black on Pink Paper, Die Cut, Double Transfer (RT15c). Position 14 showing clear double transfer of lettering at center, bright shade
VERY FINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE GEORGE W. LAIRD 3-CENT DIE CUT ISSUE ON PINK PAPER. ESPECIALLY RARE WITH THE DOUBLE TRANSFER. ONLY 9 ARE RECORDED IN TOTAL AND THIS DOUBLE TRANSFER IS ONE OF TWO KNOWN TO US.
Ex Joyce. The Aldrich book records 9 examples of this issue but does not note how many have a double transfer. We are aware of one other, offered in our Inman auction.
Goodall (London and New York), 5c Black, Experimental Silk Paper (RU8e). Showing small silk fibers on face at right and near spade, small hold at upper left, otherwise Fine and rare, the Aldrich book records eight examples, none was offered in the Joyce sales and the only other example we have offered was in our 2006 Tolman sale
$1.00 Green, Firearms Transfer (RY1). Without gum as issued, rich color on bright paper, with wide right selvage with "F" of plate number, Very Fine, ex Joyce
$200.00 Dark Blue & Red, 1934 Issue, Firearms Transfer (RY2). Serial no. 989, without gum as issued, with part of stub at left, rich color, Very Fine and choice, ex Joyce