Sale 1129 — 2016 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Tuesday, 31 May, 2016
Category — 1847 Issue
5c Brown Orange (1d). Mint N.H., clear to full margins all around, bright and distinctive Brown Orange color, clear impression, fresh overall with immaculate full original gumFINE. AN IMMENSELY RARE FIRST ISSUE STAMP STILL RETAINING ITS ORIGINAL GUM. THIS IS THE SOLE RECORDED NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT BROWN ORANGE 1847 ISSUE.
Of the five major listed shade varieties of the 5c 1847 Issue, other than the enormously rare Red Orange shade, the Brown Orange shade is the most challenging to find with original gum. This is underscored by the fact that the Scott Catalogue does not even price an example with original gum, plus a Power Search of our database reveals that we have never offered an original-gum example of the Brown Orange shade since we have been keeping computerized records. And to top it all off, this remarkable stamp is never hinged -- in itself a rarity among any and all shades of the 5c 1847 Issue. In fact, this is only the fourth never-hinged example of this stamp, in any shade, we have ever offered in our auctions.
With 2011 P.F. certificate.
5c Dark Brown (1a). Full even margins, dark shade and rich color, early proof-like impression, neat strike of green dotted-grid cancellation used only at Tallahassee Fla. during the 1847 periodVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A REMARKABLE STAMP WITH ONE OF THE FEW GREEN FANCY CANCELLATIONS USED DURING THE 1847 ISSUE PERIOD.
Philip Wall records two off-cover 1847's with this cancel -- the other has a crease. We are aware of one other, offered in our sale of the Gross Collection (Sale 1041, lot 33, realized $6,750 hammer).
Ex Emerson, Haas and Wall. With 1991 P.F. certificate
10c Black (2). Position 60L, enormous margins all around including small part of adjoining stamp at top and huge sheet margin at right, crisp shade and detailed impression on lightly blued paper, lovely red grid cancelsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SPECTACULAR USED SHEET-MARGIN EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE.
Ex Wall. With 2000 P.F. and 2016 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $4,250.00) -- a puzzling grade (if this isn't a Superb 98J, what is?)
5c Red Brown, 10c Black (1, 2). Both stamps have large margins, rich colors, tied by neat strikes of red "New-York" circular datestamp on small pieceVERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE. A GORGEOUS COMBINATION PIECE WITH THE TWO FIRST GENERAL ISSUES OF THE UNITED STATES.
With 1970 and 2006 P.F. certificates
5c Red Brown (1). Horizontal strip of three, huge margins to full including top sheet margin, brilliant color, tied by red grid cancels, matching "Pottsville Pa. Aug. 18" circular datestamp on folded cover to New York, manuscript "Due 5" to the left of stamps, right stamp tiny sealed tear at bottom right, center and right stamps small indentations at top in marginVERY FINE. A RARE STRIP OF THREE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE ON COVER, PAYING THE OBSOLETE TRIPLE 5-CENT UNDER-300 MILES RATE FOR A LETTER WEIGHING BETWEEN ONE AND ONE-AND-A-HALF OUNCES. MARKED "DUE 5" CENTS FOR THE 20-CENT RATE REQUIRED UNDER THE ACT OF MARCH 3, 1849.
The elimination of the triple rate went into effect with the Postmaster General's notice on March 15, 1849. Therefore, the use of 1847 Issue stamps to prepay the 15c triple rate for a letter sent under 300 miles was allowed for approximately 20 months.
This cover was mailed in August 1849, after the rate change went into effect, but before the subtle change was widely known. The recipient was charged 5c for the additional postage due.
Ex Sinkler and Mirsky.
5c Red Brown (1). Horizontal pair, large margins to just in at bottom right and showing part of adjacent stamp at left, tied by three strikes of blue "10" in oval handstamp, matching "Baltimore Md. May 11" circular datestamp on blue 1849 folded cover to Philadelphia, red "MISSENT" and "FORWARDED" handstamps, matching "New-York May 12" circular datestamp, right stamp tiny corner crease at bottom rightFRESH AND VERY FINE. AN UNUSUAL USE OF THE 1847 ISSUE ON A COVER FROM BALTIMORE TO PHILADELPHIA, WHICH WAS MISSENT TO NEW YORK AND THEN FORWARDED TO THE INTENDED RECIPIENT.
A review of the online census of 5c 1847 covers found only two other covers with a "MISSENT" handstamp, one of which also has the "FORWARDED" handstamp. All other forwarded uses bear manuscript markings.
With 1985 and 2006 P.F. certificates. Illustrated in the Alexander census book on p. 171.