Sale 937 — 2007 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Saturday, 16 June, 2007
Category — Revenues
Pacific Mail Steamship Co. 1866, black on white stock certificate, beautiful steamship vignette, American Bank Note Co. imprint, signed by Allan McLane as president, 100 shares issued to Baring Brothers, two 25c Power of Atty., Perforated (R48c) on front and back, each cancelled by blue framed "P.M.S.S.Co. Jun. 1, 1866" datestamp, blue dividend handstamps, large cross cuts thru signatures and stamp on back, otherwise Fine, very rare
Pacific Mail Steamship Co. 1867, black on white stock certificate, beautiful steamship vignette, American Bank Note Co. imprint, signed by F. W. G. Bellows as vice-president, one share issued to Brown Brothers, 25c Certificate, Perforated (R44c) cancelled by blue "P.M.S.S.Co. Jan. 7, 1867" double-circle datestamp, blue dividend handstamp, large cross cuts thru signatures, otherwise Fine, very rare
The Henry Tolman II Collection of Pacific Mail Steamship Co. Cancellations on Revenue Stamps. The incomparable collection of scarce to rare PMSS Co. straightlines on a wide variety of First, Second and Third Issue Revenues, arranged by line and name of ship, comprising: Atlantic Line "ARIZONA" (8), "HENRY CHAUNCEY" (12), "OCEAN QUEEN" (13, incl. rare use on 25c Second Issue, reported by Mr. Tolman to be the only known 25c of any line), and "RISING STAR" (17); Shanghai Branch Line "COSTA RICA" (1); Pacific Line "CONSTITUTION" (1), "GOLDEN CITY" (2), "MONTANA" (5), and "SACRAMENTO" (2); China Line "ALASKA" (10), "AMERICA" (6), "CHINA" (4), "COLORADO" (2), "GREAT REPUBLIC" (4), "JAPAN" (11) and "OREGONIAN" (3); also includes a few ancillary items such as stamps with blue PMSS circular datestamps, document and uncancelled check, almost all stamps have small faults but have been chosen for clear strikes (many straightlines struck more than once on each stamp); as is well known to Revenue specialists, the PMSS Co. cancellations are highly prized and generally sell for $75-100 for the more common types to $300-400 for the scarce markings, this offering of 101 examples is unprecedented, but to preserve Mr. Tolman's achievement and give others the opportunity to expand upon it, we are offering the collection intact -- we are also hoping that transoceanic mail specialists will look at this collection in the Rarities sale, whereas they might overlook it in a Revenue stamp sale
3c Playing Cards, Imperforate (R17a). Full to large margins all around, deep rich color, faintly cancelled (appears unused)EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT IMPERFORATE PLAYING CARDS ISSUE.
Purchased from Y. Souren in 1945 and offered to the market for the first time in 62 years. With 2007 P.F. certificate
6c Proprietary, Perforated (R31c). Brilliant color, trace of cancel at top left, fresh and Fine, this First Issue rarity is seldom found in such choice condition, with 1967 P.F. certificate
$1.30 Foreign Exchange, Imperforate (R77a). Large margins all around, wonderful deep rich color, perfectly struck "J.M.W. New York Jul. 17, 1863" circular datestampEXTREMELY FINE. AN EXCEPTIONALLY BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE RARE $1.30 FOREIGN EXCHANGE IMPERFORATE.
Scott Retail with no premium for the handstamped cancel
$20.00 Probate of Will, Imperforate (R99a). Large to huge margins, vibrant color, neat March 1863 ms. cancelEXTREMELY FINE. LOVELY EXAMPLE OF THE SCARCE $20.00 PROBATE OF WILL IMPERFORATE.
An exceptionally beautiful stamp.
$200.00 U.S.I.R., Perforated (R102c). Vertical strip of four, deep rich colors, each stamp with neat "P. & R. R. R. Co., N.C., June 1, 1871" ms. cancel, almost full original gum, few faults incl. some perf separations reinforced, appears Fine, scarce multiple which is half of the sheet of eight, illustrated at www.thecurtiscollection.com, Scott Retail as two pairs
$200.00 Red, Blue & Black, Second Issue, "Small Persian Rug" (R132). Exceptionally well-centered with wide and balanced margins, neat 1872 ms. cancel, two faint horizontal creasesEXTREMELY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE $200.00 "SMALL PERSIAN RUG" ISSUE.
One of the most beautiful designs in U.S. philately.
$200.00 Red, Blue & Black, Second Issue, "Small Persian Rug" (R132). Choice centering, deep rich colors, neat strike of blue "L. C. & N. Co., Auditor's Room, Jun. 26, 1872" double-circle datestamp, light horizontal crease at bottomVERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE $200.00 SMALL PERSIAN RUG.
This spectacular Revenue rarity is almost always faulty. The stamp offered here merely has a document crease.
$500.00 Red Orange, Green & Black, Second Issue, "Large Persian Rug" (R133). Well-centered, deep rich colors and sharp proof-like impressions, manuscript and circular cut cancelsEXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB WELL-CENTERED AND SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE CELEBRATED $500.00 LARGE PERSIAN RUG. A RARE STAMP IN SUCH OUTSTANDING CONDITION AND ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL STAMPS IN ALL OF PHILATELY.
Only 204 were issued, and it is safe to say that most examples are faulty to some degree.
Unlisted in Kingsley census, who records only 29 examples. Offered to the market for the first time in over a half-century.
With 2007 P.F. certificate
$500.00 Red Orange, Green & Black, Second Issue, "Large Persian Rug" (R133). Choice centering, rich colors, detailed impressions, manuscript and circular cut cancels, tiny thin speck at top right is barely noticeableVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE CELEBRATED $500.00 LARGE PERSIAN RUG. A RARE STAMP IN SUCH OUTSTANDING CONDITION AND ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL STAMPS IN ALL OF PHILATELY.
Kingsley Census No. 3-1. Only 204 were issued, and it is safe to say that most examples are faulty to some degree.
$1.00 Green & Black on Violet Paper, Proprietary (RB9a). Deep rich colors, neat purple handstamp cancel, also with cut cancel which miraculously does not break thru paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM. EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF THE $1.00 PROPRIETARY ISSUE ON VIOLET PAPER.
Due to its size, this issue is usually found with faults. This sound example, with choice centering, is a true condition rarity.
$1.00 Green & Black on Green Paper, Proprietary (RB9b). Rich colors, purple 1877 handstamp struck several times, few faults incl. sealed tear at bottom leftFINE APPEARANCE A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 PROPRIETARY ISSUE ON GREEN PAPER. ONE OF THE GREAT RARITIES OF REVENUE COLLECTING.
Larry Lyons lists seven used examples in his census. We are aware of one additional example.
With 1981 P.F. certificate
$5.00 Green & Black on Violet Paper, Proprietary (RB10a). Original gum is still mostly intact, bright color and sharp vignette impression, neat 1879 ms. cancel, few tiny natural inclusionsVERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN EXTREMELY RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 PROPRIETARY ON VIOLET PAPER.
Only 74 were issued on Violet paper. The majority of the few surviving examples are faulty to a significant degree. This stamp is one of the finest extant.
With 1977 P.F. certificate
$5.00 Green & Black on Violet Paper, Proprietary (RB10a). Well-centered for this difficult issue, rich colors, neat 1879 ms. cancel, diagonal crease and small thin spotVERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 PROPRIETARY ON VIOLET PAPER.
Only 74 were issued on Violet paper. The majority of the few surviving examples are faulty to a significant degree.
1875, 12-1/2c-$2.00 -1/8bbl.-1hhd. Die Essays (REA30-REA36-E; Turner B-29-36). All seven values of the 1875 Series represented by ten die essays comprising: Vignette without Denomination (National Bank Note Co. imprint and ms. die no. 3821, 38 x 43mm), 12-1/2c -1/8bbl. (die no. 3826, 52 x 52mm), 16-2/3c -1/6bbl. (die no. 3827, 43 x 50mm), 25c -1/4bbl. (die no. 3828, 48 x 53mm), 33-1/3c -1/3bbl. (die no. 3829, 62 x 60mm), 50c -1/2bbl. (die no. 3830, 51 x 52mm), $1.00 1bbl. (die no. 3831, 53 x 59mm), $2.00 1hhd. (die no. 3832, 45 x 50mm), all of the preceding die essays in Black on India with usual minor faults associated with this fragile paper; the final two items are bi-colored vignette and frame essays comprising 50c -1/2bbl. Green typographed frame and Black engraved vignette, both impressions on card (pencil "A 20" plate letter and position number, 72 x 71mm), the frame shows traces of uncleared areas in border surrounding design, engraved vignette with exterior and interior scroll lines missing, "H. W. Holcombe" and "E. L. Green" backstamps; and $1.00 1bbl. Green typographed frame and Black engraved die pasted together on card (faint "B" plate letter and position number, 72 x 72mm), incomplete design, illustrated in Turner, "E. L. Green" backstamp (both bi-colored essays have pencil source note on back "Burger 1-18-17")AN INCOMPARABLE SET OF 1875 BEER STAMP ESSAYS, INCLUDING THE EXTREMELY RARE (AND PROBABLY UNIQUE) BI-COLORED 50-CENT HALF-BARREL AND $1.00 ONE-BARREL ESSAYS.
The eight essays on India were acquired in Sale 905 (lots 3604-3611, realized $11,000 hammer), and the two bi-colored essays were acquired from the Tolman Part 2 sale (Sale 919, lots 144-145, realized $5,200 hammer). They form a remarkable set of 1875 Series Beer Stamp essays and are offered here together for the first time.
Nathan Bedford Forrest. Confederate general who gained infamy after the war for his involvement in the creation of the Ku Klux Klux, signature "N B Forrest" as company president on Selma, Marion and Memphis Railroad Company $1,000.00 Bond, 17 x 12 in. green and black on white with additional unclipped coupons below (Nos. 1-7 removed, 8-40 intact), two impressions of 5c Orange (RN-P5) on back, one of $1.00 Orange (RN-W2) on face, horizontal and vertical folds, small hole in juncture of crossing folds, still Very Fine, a great item for the revenue specialist or collector of Civil War legends