Sale 1084 — The Curtis Collection: 1847-1901 Stamps and Covers
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 5-6 November, 2014
Category — 3c-12c 1851-56 Issue (Scott 10-17)
3c Orange Brown, Ty. I (10). Block of ten consisting of a block of four (top stamps) and block of six expertly rejoined, Positions 58-59/68-69/78-79/88-89/98-99R1i, bottom left stamp double transfer, large margins to in, rich color, neat strikes of grid and "Freeport Me. Oct. 9" circular datestamp, few faults are not very prominent at allFINE-VERY FINE. A RARE REJOINED BLOCK OF TEN OF THE 1851 3-CENT TYPE I FROM PLATE ONE INTERMEDIATE.
Scott Catalogue lists but does not price a used block of four
3c Brownish Carmine, Ty. II (11A). Position 99R2L with upper label block and right diamond block joined, large even margins, deep rich color, neat grid cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Kirke, with 2005 P.F. and P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $525.00 as Dull Red)
3c Dull Red, Ty. II (11A). Block of four, large margins to just in, radiant color, central strike of "Quincy Ill. Jul. 27" circular datestamp, Fine-Very Fine
3c Dull Red, Ty. II, Chicago Perf 12-1/2 (11A var). Deep shade, neatly cancelled by "Chicago Ill. May 5, 1857" circular datestamp, unusually complete and intact perfs, a Fine and attractive example of the 3c 1851 with Chicago perforations, with 2005 and 2010 P.F. certificates
5c Red Brown (12). Two blocks of four rejoined to form a horizontal block of eight, top row C Relief, bottom row D Relief, ample margins to touched at left, rich color, manuscript cancels including "Oct. 28th", tiny scissors-cut between stamps at top of left block, light pre-printing crease in bottom right stampFINE-VERY FINE. THE UNIQUE RECONSTRUCTED BLOCK OF EIGHT OF THE 1856 5-CENT RED BROWN. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT CLASSIC MULTIPLES EXTANT.
This block was originally part of an eleven-stamp multiple, joined with a strip of three at top right. It was affixed to a large piece with single 1c and 3c stamps (the full piece is illustrated in Brookman on page 152). After its appearance in a 1955 H.R. Harmer sale, the strip of three was removed and later the block of eight was separated into two blocks of four. The late Frederick R. Mayer reunited the two blocks while building his classic 5c 1856 Issue collection. As both a block of eleven and a block of eight, this was the largest recorded multiple. The largest used multiples are blocks of six and five (both on cover). Apart from this reconstructed block of eight, there are only five other used blocks of four. The largest unused multiple is the unique block of four.
Ex Filstrup, West, Klein and Mayer. Left block of four with 1991 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail $90,000.00 as two blocks of four
5c Red Brown (12). D Relief, ample to huge margins including right interpane margin with centerline, bright color, light town cancel, Extremely Fine, interpane margin positions are very scarce, ex Mayer, with 1978 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown (12). Large margins to clear at left, tied by "Freeport Ill. Aug. 15, 1857" circular datestamp on Stephenson, Co. Insurance blue embossed cameo corner card cover to Rockford Ill., stamp with few trivial soiling specks at bottom and tiny margin flaw at right, cover reduced at right and flap reshaped, there would have been space for another stamp, presumably a 1c for the 6c double rateVERY FINE AND EXTREMELY RARE CAMEO CORNER CARD COVER WITH THE 5-CENT 1856 ISSUE.
Ex Haas and Mayer
10c Green, Ty. I (13). Huge margins, deep rich color nicely contrasted by bright red circular datestamp, two small faint diagonal creases visible in fluid, Extremely Fine appearance
10c Green, Ty. II/III/I (14/15/13). Vertical strip of three, bottom stamp Type I, large margins including portion of adjoining Type I stamp at bottom right, clear at top, deep rich color, unobtrusive town cancels, the Type I stamp with a pressed diagonal crease, Very Fine-Extremely Fine appearance, with 2004 P.F. certificate
10c Green, Ty. III/I (15/13). Block of four, top stamps Type III, bottom stamps Type I, large margins to in at bottom, rich color, neat strikes of "New Orleans La. Feb. 8" circular datestamp, 2mm scissors-cut at left between stampsA SCARCE COMBINATION BLOCK OF FOUR CONTAINING TYPES III AND I.
Ex Twigg-Smith. With 1973 P.F. certificate
10c Green, Ty. I (13). Position 93L1, large margins to full, rich color, tied by neat strike of "Empire Ranch Cal. 17 Jun." circular datestamp on lady's embossed cover to York Pa., second strike of circular datestamp at left, fresh and Very Fine, scarce and attractive use, ex Wagshal
10c Green, Ty. I (13). Margins to just in, tied by bold "Bristol R.I. Mar. 30" circular datestamp, red "New York Paid Apr. 2" credit datestamp and "NA1" oval on cover to Havana, Cuba, receiving backstamp, Fine stamp and fresh cover
10c Green, Ty. II (14). Positions 3-5/13-15L1, block of six, large margins to in at bottom, San Francisco town cancels, small faults including light crease and small tear, minor toned spots, otherwise Fine, a scarce Type II block which can come only from the top two rows of the plate, with 2004 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as block of four and pair
10c Green, Ty. II (14). Huge even margins, wonderful depth of color on bright paper, town cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp, with 1996 P.F. and 2010 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $1,250.00)
10c Green, Ty. II/III (14/15). Combination block of four, top pair Type II, bottom pair Type III, margins to in at sides, cancelled by town datestamp, flaws including thin, creases and margin tear, otherwise Very Good-Fine
10c Green, Ty. II (14). Large to ample margins, tied by blue "Batavia N.Y. Aug. 15" circular datestamp with matching "Paid" straightline on 1857 pink cover with elaborate watermark pattern to Dunedin, Canada West, transit and receiving backstamps, red "Ud. States Paid 6d" in arc handstamp faded, still Very Fine, signed Ashbrook, with 1990 P.F. certificate mentioning bleaching
10c Green, Ty. II (14). Large margins, tied by San Francisco circular datestamp on cover to Washington D.C., Denver correspondence, missing part of top flap, Very Fine and choice stamp
10c Green, Ty. III (15). Position 41L1, huge margins all around, light strike of town datestamp, bright paper, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Kingsley, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $1,250.00)
10c Green, Ty. III (15). Position 41L1, huge margins all around, light strike of town datestamp, Extremely Fine, with 2003 P.F. certificate
10c Green, Ty. III (15). Horizontal strip of four with right interpane margin and centerline, margins to touched at left and top, rich color, light town cancels, Fine-Very Fine, Scott Retail as strip of three and single
10c Green, Ty. III (15). Large margins, tied by "San Francisco Cal. 5 Dec." circular datestamp on buff cover to Auburn N.Y., mostly clear strike of "Noisy Carriers Mail San Francisco" oval handstamp, minor wear, Very Fine, carried on the PMSC Golden Gate, departing San Francisco Dec. 5 and arriving Panama Dec. 18, then by USMSC Illinois, departing Aspinwall Dec. 19 and arriving New York Dec. 28 -- ex Walske
10c Green, Ty. III (15). Large margins to full, tied by "Danville N.Y. Jul. 12" circular datestamp on buff cover to San Jose Cal., backflap tear, Very Fine transcontinental use, with 1982 S.P.A. certificate
10c Green, Ty. II-IV-II/II-II-II (14-16). Positions 2-4/12-14R1, block of six, five stamps Type II, the top center stamp Type IV from the misplaced relief position showing breaks in lines above each "X", large margins to just in at top, bottom row with light diagonal creases not affecting the Type IV stampFINE-VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE USED BLOCK OF SIX OF THE IMPERFORATE 10-CENT 1855 ISSUE INCLUDING A TYPE IV STAMP FROM THE MISPLACED RELIEF POSITION -- THE ONLY RECUT POSITION ON THE RIGHT PANE OF THE PLATE.
The first 10c plate of 200 (left and right panes of 100) was laid down using a three-subject transfer roll with relief types A, B and C. The C Relief was used only for the bottom row (all Type I design). The A Relief (Type II design) was used to enter the entire second row, and the B Relief (Type III design) was used for the third row. This A/B alternating relief pattern was followed consistently for the fourth through ninth rows. The top row was entered with the A Relief, except for three positions: Positions 1 and 2 in the left pane, and Position 3 in the right pane. These “misplaced reliefs” are B Reliefs, and Positions 1L and 2L are Type III designs, while Position 3R was recut (Type IV).
Position 3R1, one of the three misplaced relief positions on the plate, is also one of eight recut (Type IV) positions and the only recut position on the entire right pane of the plate.
Ex Ishikawa. With 1993 P.F. certificate. Listed but unpriced in Scott as a block with Type II and IV
10c Green, Ty. IV-II (16-14). Positions 3-4R1, the left stamp Type IV from the misplaced relief position, large margins to clear, cancelled by two bold strikes of dark blue Cincinnati circular datestamp, each stamp with vertical crease, otherwise Fine and rare pair, Position 3R1, one of the three misplaced relief positions on the plate, is also one of only eight recut (Type IV) positions and the only recut position on the entire right pane of the plate, signed by Ashbrook and accompanied by a letter from him
10c Green, Ty. III-IV (15-16). Positions 63-64L1, horizontal pair, right stamp recut at top and bottom, huge margins to full at top and right, grid cancels, Very Fine and choice, a desirable combination pair of Type III and the rare Type IV recut at top and bottom, dealer backstamps
10c Green, Ty. IV (16). Position 54L1, recut at bottom, huge margins all around, rich color, rimless town cancel, thinned and small margin creases, Extremely Fine Gem appearance, with 1977 P.F. certificate
10c Green, Ty. IV (16). Position 74L1, recut at top, tied by blue "Paid" in circle with matching "Penn Yan N.Y. Sep. ?" circular datestamp on 1856 cover to Windsor, Canada West, red "Ud. States Paid 6d" in arc handstamp, Sep. 27 receiving backstamp, stamp with pre-use diagonal crease not mentioned on accompanying certificate, overall Fine, a scarce use of the recut Type IV on cover to Canada, with 2007 A.P.S. certificate
12c Black (17). Positions 37-38/47-48L1, unused (no gum), full margins all around, proof-like impression, lightly cleanedVERY FINE APPEARING UNUSED BLOCK OF THE 12-CENT 1851 ISSUE.
With 1999 P.F. certificate stating "lightly cleaned affecting the paper". Scott Retail $10,000.00 as singles
12c Black (17). Large margins all around including portion of adjoining stamp at left, detailed impression, neat strike of circular datestamp, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful stamp, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,250.00)
12c Black (17). Horizontal pair, ample to full margins all around, neat grid cancels, faint pressed vertical crease right stamp, Fine-Very Fine appearance
12c Black (17). Positions 81-82/91-92R1, block of four, large to huge margins all around, lightly struck black Philadelphia circular datestamps and red "Phila. Br. Pkt. 38" credit datestamp, small scissors cut between top pair, faint corner creaseVERY FINE BLOCK. APART FROM A FEW LARGE HEAVILY-CANCELLED MULTIPLES, THE 12-CENT 1851 ISSUE IS EXTREMELY RARE IN SOUND ATTRACTIVE BLOCKS.
This is the only block known to us that is cancelled in red. The Philadelphia exchange office datestamp is scarce.
Ex Chase, Emerson and Zoellner. Scott Retail $5,620.00
12c Black (17). Block of four, large margins to just in, cancelled by multiple strikes of circular datestamp, some faults including repair at top left, otherwise Fine-Very Fine and scarce block, Scott Retail $5,500.00
12c Black (17). Positions 37-39/47-49R1, block of six, margins to in at left and top right, town and grid cancels, faults including two repairs and crease between rows, Very Good-Fine appearance, blocks larger than four are very scarce, Scott Retail $6,075.00 as block of four and pair
12c Black (17). Three large margins, just in at left, tied by clear strike of blue "Great Western R.R. Ill. Sep. 14" route agent's circular datestamp on buff cover with "Office of the Grand Secretary, Grand Lodge of Illinois, I.O.O.F." fraternal corner card with ms. "Jacksonville Ills.", to Mount Vernon Ill., barely reduced at right, originally legal-size and expertly restored with corner card cut out are artfully reaffixed, otherwise Very Fine, scarce railroad use of the 12c 1851 Issue on an Oddfellows' Lodge corner card cover
12c Black, Diagonal Half Used as 6c (17a). Top left diagonal half, tied by light strike of San Francisco Cal. circular datestamp on cover to New York and forwarded to Marblehead Mass., bold strikes of "FORWARDED"" straightline handstamp and "New-York Aug. 30" datestamp, ms. "5" forwarding rate, blue San Francisco Commission Merchant's design on back, overall soiling and wear, Fine appearing and scarce forwarded cover with a 12c bisect
12c Black, Diagonal Half Used as 6c (17a). Top left diagonal half, tied by oval grid cancel with two strikes of Sonora Cal. circular datestamp on brown cover to Detroit Mich., stamp with couple tiny edge tears, cover with extensive restoration, Fine appearing and scarce bisected use of the 12c to Detroit, with 1981 P.F. certificate