Sale 1159 — 2017 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Tuesday, 27 June, 2017
Category — Revenues
$1.30 Foreign Exchange, Imperforate (R77a). Large margins to full, brilliant color, neat 1863 manuscript cancelVERY FINE. A RARE SOUND FOUR-MARGIN EXAMPLE OF THE $1.30 FOREIGN EXCHANGE IMPERFORATE FIRST ISSUE REVENUE.
Only 3,878 were issued imperforate (44 sheets with 82 stamps returned for perforating). No multiples are known for this issue.
With 1979 Friedl and 2017 P.F. certificates.
$500.00 Red Orange, Green & Black, Second Issue, "Large Persian Rug" (R133). Well-centered, indistinct handstamp and herringbone cancels, couple minor thin specksVERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE CELEBRATED $500.00 "LARGE PERSIAN RUG," WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST COLORFUL AND ELABORATELY ENGRAVED STAMPS IN ALL OF PHILATELY.
Only 210 were issued, and it is safe to say that most examples are faulty to some degree. A document exists from July 24, 1874, detailing the purchaser of each. The Kingsley census records 76 copies, and our expanded census, available at our website, contains 87.
Kingsley Census No. 27-2. Scott Retail is for a "very fine appearing example with a light circular cut cancel or with minor flaws"
1c Dark Yellow Green, Chapman Overprint (R158A). Bold color, neat "10/98" manuscript cancel, tiny thin spot and reperfed at rightVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT CHAPMAN OVERPRINT. ONLY NINETEEN COPIES ARE RECORDED IN TOTAL.
According to Scott Catalogue, the 1c Trans-Mississippi was overprinted by the Purvis Printing Company with federal government approval. They were ordered by L. H. Chapman of the Chapman Steamboat Line, which operated freight-carrying steamboats along the Erie Canal. Only 250 stamps were produced; additionally, 250 were printed reading "I.R./P.I.D. & Son", for P.I. Daprix & Son, which served different ports along the same waterway.
In his privately published census, Larry Lyons records fourteen used and one unused copies of Scott R158A. Our records contain two additional used and two additional unused, for a total of 19.
With 2017 P.S.E. certificate
1c Green & Black on Violet Paper, Proprietary, Center Inverted (RB1ad). Deep rich colors, detailed impressions, neat handstamp cancelVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT PROPRIETARY INVERT ON VIOLET PAPER. ONLY 25 EXAMPLES ARE RECORDED, MOST OF WHICH ARE FAULTY.
In his privately published census, Larry Lyons records 23 examples of this invert error, most of which have thins or creases, or are off center. We offered one additional copy in our 2006 Tolman sale, and the example offered here brings the total to 25. Of these, at least sixteen have faults.
With 2009 P.F. certificate.
2c Green & Black on Green Paper, Center Inverted (RB2d). Rich frame color, lightened cancel slightly fades the vignette but still clearly visibleFINE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 2-CENT PROPRIETARY INVERT ON GREEN PAPER. ONLY FOURTEEN EXAMPLES OF THIS INVERT ARE RECORDED.
In his privately published census, Larry Lyons records 13 copies of the 2c Proprietary Invert on green paper. One additional example has come to light since his census, offered in our Sale 1037. Of the total recorded, nine appear to be unused, and all but two have at least one fault. This example with just a lightened cancel is highly collectible.
With 1986 P.F. certificate
4c Green & Black on Violet Paper, Center Inverted (RB4ac). Deep rich color and sharp proof-like impression, neat August 30, 1872 manuscript cancellation, light horizontal crease at top is barely visible without fluidVERY FINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION THE FINEST OF THE SIX RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE 4-CENT PROPRIETARY INVERT. AN OUTSTANDING RARITY.
In his privately published census, Larry Lyons records six examples of the 4c Proprietary invert on violet paper (none is known on green paper). Of these six, one is defective, one has a piece missing, one has a repaired corner, one has a tear and abrasions, and one is reperforated at right. The stamp offered here, with a light horizontal crease barely visible without the aid of detection fluid, is the closest to sound of the six recorded copies.
Ex Joyce and Zoellner. With 1989 P.F. certificate