Sale 1209 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 22-23 October, 2019
Category — Revenues: First Issue Perforated
2c Bank Check, Orange on Green Paper (R6e). Centered to right, color slightly darkened, neat "Coffin & Alten, Philada Jan. 15, 1867" double-circle cancel, appears Fine, scarce, with clear 2002 A.P.S. certificate
2c Proprietary, Ultramarine, Perforated (R13e). Original gum, pretty pastel color, fresh and Fine, a scarce stamp with original gum, with 1999 A.P.S. certificate, Scott Retail as used
2c Proprietary, Orange, Double Transfer (T13 var., T13a), Perforated (R14c var.) Two stamps showing major double transfers at bottom, one is the listed T13a, the other is a variety of T13 but not exactly the listed T13, deep rich color, handstamp and manuscript cancels, Fine, with 2012 P.F. certificates
2c U.S.I.R., Perforated (R15c). Unused (no gum), dramatic kiss print at left, doubled portion of the impression shifted to right, vivid color, Fine, a striking variety, ex Cunliffe and "Wildhorse", with 1989 P.S.E. and 2014 P.F. certificates
3c Proprietary, Perforated, Double Impression (R18e). Clear doubling of the design throughout, small manuscript "H" cancel, small creases at top, appears Fine, scarce, with 1998 P.S.E. certificate
4c Playing Cards, Perforated (R21c). Rich color, neat initials manuscript cancel, fresh and Very Fine, with 1980 and 1995 P.F. certificates
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6c Proprietary, Perforated (R31c). Neat strike of blue Charles Osgood May 30, 1871 oval oval cancel, typical small faults nearly always encountered with this issue, otherwise Fine, a particularly attractive and collectable example, Scott Catalogue notes "Nearly all examples of No. R31 are faulty and poorly centered. The catalogue value is for a fine centered stamp with minor faults which do not detract from its appearance."
25c Insurance, Perforated, Double Impression (R46e). Unused, (no gum), clear doubling of the design, rich color, Very Fine and scarce, ex Joyce, with 1991 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Mortgage, Perforated (R73c). Well-centered, especially for this issue, fresh color, 1864 manuscript cancel, Very Fine, ex "Wildhorse", with 2007 P.S.E. certificate
$1.00 Passage Ticket, Perforated, Thin Paper (R74c). Horizontal pair, radiant color, lightened manuscript cancel, Very Fine, scarce multiple, ex Curtis
$1.50 Inland Exchange, Perforated (R78c). Block of six, attractive centering and margins, neat 1866 manuscript cancels, some sensibly reinforced perf separations, Very Fine, this is the largest recorded multiple and only one other block of this size is recorded, ex Joyce
$3.00 Charter Party, Perforated, Impression of No. RS208 on Back (R85cg). Face of stamp has rich color and small blue manuscript cancel, back of stamp shows two part impressions of A. B. & D. Sands' Dr. McMunn's Elixir of Opium patent medicine stamp (RS208), two small holes at top from long-ago hinge removalTHIS IS ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE $3.00 CHARTER PARTY FIRST ISSUE REVENUE PRINTED ON BOTH SIDES, WITH THE DR. McMINN'S ELIXIR OF OPIUM PRIVATE DIE PROPRIETARY ISSUE ON THE REVERSE SIDE. ONE OF THE MOST REMARKABLE OF ALL PHILATELIC RARITIES.
This $3.00 Charter Party stamp comes from a sheet that apparently had an unsatisfactory impression of the Sands' private die proprietary stamp (RS208) on one side. It was put on the press a second time in order to produce the $3.00 Charter Party. The fact that both impressions are in the identical green color offers some intriguing possibilities for how the printers worked with plates and inks. Were press runs grouped by color, in order to use up a batch of ink? Were two or more presses operating simultaneously with the different plates? This rare artifact of Butler & Carpenter's revenue stamp production is physical evidence that the printers were pressed for time and resources during the rush to produce huge quantities of Civil War tax stamps in 1862.
According to the Boston Revenue book, the $3.00 Charter Party first went to press on Dec. 1, 1862, and the first delivery was made on Dec. 9. The Sand's private die was approved on Dec. 26, 1862, and the first issue was in Jan. 1863. During the month of Dec. 1862, many of the different green stamps printed by Butler & Carpenter were on the press. This $3.00 Charter Party stamp was evidently made from a sheet of paper with a poor impression of the Sands plate. The relative orientation of the impressions reflects the different plate layouts and dimensions for the two stamps: the Sands plate of 69 subjects and the $3.00 Charter Party plate of 72 subjects.
Dr. McMunn's Elixir of Opium was first formulated in the mid 1830's by Dr. John B. McMunn. The product became a big hit in the United States once the A. B. & D. Sands drug company bought the recipe in 1841. Soon after, advertisements for the product flooded newspapers and medical journals, many guaranteeing that McMunn's was not habit-forming. Yet, bottles of the narcotic-laced formula were labeled as the "Pure and Essential Extract of the Native Drug", and the preparation was said to be "Greatly Superior to Morphine." Touted as a cure for a host of ailments, including the relief of "convulsions and spasmodic action," as well as "pain and irritation, nervous excitement and morbid irritability of body and mind," McMunn's potent remedy was among the countless pharmaceutical preparations containing opiates and widely available to the 19th-century consumer." (source: http://odysseysvirtualmuseum.com/products/Dr.-McMunn%27s-Elixir-Of-Opium-Bottle.html).
This is one of only two recorded examples of this rarity. The other, offered in our 2011 and 2019 Rarities sales, was previously believed to be unique.
With 2016 letter of authenticity from Eric Jackson and accompanied by normal stamp.
$10 Conveyance, Perforated (R94c). Block of six, rich color, manuscript cancels, right pair vertical crease, toning on back is barely evident on the front in a couple places, reinforced perf separations, appears Fine-Very Fine, this is the largest recorded multiple, only two other blocks of six are recorded and this is in the finer condition compared to those two (one is rejoined), Scott Retail as block of four and pair
$20.00 Conveyance, Perforated (R98c). Well-balanced margins, bright color, cancelled solely by beautifully clear strike of blue "C J. & E. Dewitt. New York May 2, 1866" double-circle datestamp, Very Fine and choice, desirable cancelled solely by this handstamp, George Gosman DeWitt was the principal of the law firm that used this stamp, he was a prominent New York attorney, trustee of Columbia University and governor of New York Hospital
$20.00 Probate of Will, Perforated (R99c). Attractive centering and margins, April 5, 1864 manuscript cancel, just a hint of oxidation, appears Fine
$20.00 Probate of Will, Perforated (R99c). Bright color, 1863 manuscript cancel, pressed out crease, small thins, and some short perfs, Fine appearance, with 2016 A.P.S. certificate
$200.00 U.S.I.R., Perforated (R102c). Lovely bright colors, 1870 manuscript cancel, Very Fine
$200.00 U.S.I.R., Perforated (R102c). Rich colors, bold Aug. 1, 1867 manuscript cancel, small thin spot at lower right, appears Fine
$200.00 U.S.I.R., Perforated (R102c). Well-balanced margins, faintly cancelled, tiny pin indentation at middle right, appears Very Fine