Sale 1179 — United States and Possessions
Sale Date — Tuesday, 27 March, 2018
Category — Revenues: First Issue
1c Playing Cards, Part Perforated (R2b). Large margins, neat handstamp cancel, slight oxidation and nibbed perf at lower right, otherwise Very Fine, desirable with the handstamp cancel
1c Telegraph, Imperforate (R4). Large to ample margins, pastel color, clear socked-on-the-nose strike of "B.T. Babbitt Sep. 5, 1863" handstamp cancel, Very Fine and choice, desirable with this cancel, the company that used this stamp was founded by businessman and inventor Benjamin T. Babbitt, widely known for his "Babbitt's Best Soap", he was famous for his innovative advertising, was a friend of P. T. Barnum and became a household name in the mid to late 1800's, with 1992 P.F. certificate
1c Telegraph, Imperforate (R4). Bright color, large to full margins, neat manuscript cancel, Very Fine
2c Proprietary, Blue, Part Perforated (R13b). Choice centering, lovely rich color, light 1864 manuscript cancel, Extremely Fine, with 1995 and 2017 P.F. certificates
4c Playing Cards, Perforated (R21c). Attractive centering and margins, light manuscript cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 2004 P.F. certificate
4c Proprietary, Part Perforated (R22b). Bold strike of "J. Burnett & Co. Boston Nov. 11, 1863" boxed cancel, small tear at bottom, still Very Fine appearance and scarce with this clearly struck handstamp cancel from the patent medicine and vanilla extract manufacturer Joseph Burnett & Co. (see Scott RS46 for the Burnett Proprietary Medicine stamp)
10c Power of Attorney, Imperforate (R37a). Intense shade, large margins to full at right, neat manuscript Oct. 24 1863 cancel, Very Fine, with 2004 P.F. certificate
30c Foreign Exchange, Part Perforated (R51b). Extra wide imperforate margins, centered to right, brilliant color, cancelled solely by "N.Y. Gen. R.R. Co. Paymaster Albany Sep. 28, 1865" oval datestampFRESH AND FINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT FOREIGN EXCHANGE PART PERFORATED ISSUE. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE IN SOUND CONDITION AND WITH A HANDSTAMPED CANCEL.
Apart from the example offered here, Power Search located only three others. One is ex "Scarsdale" with manuscript cancel and a small thin spot. One was offered in one of our 1992 auctions (ex Diamond) and has a handstamp cancel and horizontal crease. The most recent was offered in our sale of the Grant Inman Collection and that copy has the same cancel as the example offered here. The Inman copy has narrower imperforate margins but better centering and realized $15,500 hammer. The online records of The Philatelic Foundation contain two additional examples, including one with a piece out at top right.
With 2005 P.S.E. certificate
70c Foreign Exchange, Imperforate (R65a). Deep rich color, large to ample margins, beautifully struck "Thos. Richardson & Co. N.Y. May 28, 1864" circular datestamp, Very Fine and choice, an outstanding example of this scarce First Issue cancelled solely by the handstamp
$1.00 Life Insurance, Imperforate (R71a). Bright color, margins all around, perfect strike of "Mutual Life Ins. Co. Mar. 26, 1863" circular datestamp, fresh and Very Fine, desirable cancelled solely by the handstamp
$1.00 Passage Ticket, Imperforate (R74a). Large margins to full at upper left corner, rich color, blue manuscript cancel, Very Fine, with 1999 P.F. certificate
$1.30 Foreign Exchange, Imperforate (R77a). Large to huge margins including sheet margin at bottom, brilliant color, light manuscript cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING EXAMPLE OF THE IMPERFORATE $1.30 FOREIGN EXCHANGE ISSUE. RARE IN SUCH SUPERB CONDITION.
Only 3,878 were issued imperforate (44 sheets with 82 stamps returned for perforating). The example offered here has the largest margins of any we have ever encountered.
Ex Handy, Floyd and "Scarsdale". With 1981 and 2001 P.F. certificates.
$1.30 Foreign Exchange, Imperforate (R77a). Large to ample margins, bright color, neat June 19, 1863 manuscript cancel, light diagonal crease at bottom rightVERY FINE APPEARING 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 2005 P.S.E. certificate
$1.60 Foreign Exchange, Imperforate (R79a). Rich color, large margins, Oct. 1865 manuscript cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2001 P.S.E. and 2017 P.F. certificates
$1.60 Foreign Exchange, Imperforate (R79a). Large margins to full at right, deep rich color, light strikes of handstamp cancel, Very Fine, with 1981 P.F. certificate
$1.90 Foreign Exchange, Imperforate (R80a). Large margins on three sides to full at bottom, fresh and bright color, light strike of "W. C. & Co. N.Y. Jun. 8, 1863" circular datestampVERY FINE. A CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE $1.90 FOREIGN EXCHANGE IMPERFORATE. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE CANCELLED SOLELY BY THE HANDSTAMP.
It is believed that of the 9,000 examples originally issued imperforate, 312 were returned for perforating. It is not known how many were used. A review using Power Search found only about ten unduplicated copies. No multiples are known. This is an early use -- they were first delivered to the Department on April 17, 1863.
Ex Joyce, Mayer and "Scarsdale". With 2002 P.F. certificate
$1.90 Foreign Exchange, Imperforate (R80a). Large margins all around, fresh and bright color of the true imperforate, neat July 3, 1863 manuscript cancel, tiny corner crease at bottom leftEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE $1.90 IMPERFORATE FOREIGN EXCHANGE FIRST ISSUE REVENUE.
It is believed that of the 9,000 examples originally issued imperforate, 312 were returned for perforating. It is not known how many were used. A review using Power Search found a dozen or so unduplicated copies. No multiples are known.
$2.00 Mortgage, Imperforate (R82a). Huge margins, fresh color, neat manuscript cancel, Extremely Fine, ex Buford and Kingsley, with 2017 P.F. certificate
$2.00 Probate of Will, Imperforate (R83a). Large margins to clear, vibrant color, neat 1864 manuscript cancelVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE IMPERFORATE $2.00 PROBATE OF WILL.
Ex Kingsley. With 1997 P.F. certificate
$2.00 Probate of Will, Imperforate (R83a). Large margins to clear at top left, deep rich color, manuscript May 1864 cancelFINE. A RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 PROBATE OF WILL IMPERFORATE.
With 1997 P.F. certificate
$2.50 Inland Exchange, Imperforate (R84a). Large margins to clear at lower left where there is a small repair, rich color, neat manuscript cancel, otherwise Very Fine example of this rare First Issue
$3.50 Inland Exchange, Imperforate (R87a). Large to huge margins all around, deep rich color, neat 1863 manuscript cancel leaves entire design clearly visibleEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE IMPERFORATE $3.50 INLAND EXCHANGE. THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST WE HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED.
Only 1,430 were issued imperforate. A review using Power Search and of several past catalogues failed to find its equal.
Ex "Scarsdale". With 2008 P.S.E. certificate