Sale 1134 — The Alan Collection of United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday, 14 September, 2016
Category — 1857-60 Issue (Scott 18-39)
1c Blue, Ty. Ia (19). Position 92L4, unused (no gum), rich color on bright paper, three wide margins, perfs just in at bottom but Ty. Ia plumes clearly evidentFINE. A SCARCE SOUND UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE PERFORATED 1857 ONE-CENT TYPE Ia.
Type Ia was produced by only 18 of the 20 bottom-row positions on Plate 4. Although Plate 4 was designed with sufficient space to accommodate perforations, the height of the top row and bottom row positions resulted in the perforations often cutting into the design at either top or bottom.
Ex Geisler. With 1986 P.F. certificate for vertical pair of Nos. 19 and 21. With 2007 P.S.E. certificate as this single
1c Blue, Ty. II (20). Plate 12, unused (no gum), outstanding centering, particularly for this tightly-spaced issue, intense shade, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1989 P.F. and 2012 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,250.00), this is the highest graded Scott No. 20 in any condition (three used and one original gum also are graded 95)
1c Blue, Ty. III (21). Plate 4, unused (no gum), deep rich color on bright paper, attractive centering and margins showing the breaks at top and bottomFRESH AND FINE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 ONE-CENT TYPE III PERFORATED.
Ex Max L. Simon (1965 Siegel sale). With 1960 and 1981 P.F. certificates
1c Blue, Ty. IIIa (22). Plate 4, unused (no gum), attractive margins and centering showing clear break at top, deep rich color, Very Fine, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. IV (23). Plate 1L, recut once at top and bottom, unused (no gum), fresh color on bright paper, well-centeredVERY FINE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 TYPE IV PERFORATED ISSUE.
With 2008 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. V (24). Mint N.H., A Relief from top row showing dashes at top left, pretty shade, choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE GEM MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT 1857 ISSUE TYPE V.
Ex Hall. With 1991 and 2004 P.F. certificates. Scott Retail as hinged
3c Rose, Ty. I (25). Original gum, lightly hinged, rich color, barest trace of soiling in left margin not mentioned on accompanying certificate, still Very Fine, ex Hillmer, with 1997 P.S.E. certificate
3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26). Original gum, unusually wide margins for this tightly spaced issue, choice centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1997 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $375.00)
3c Dull Red, Ty. IV (26A). Original gum, barely hinged, fresh color, well-centered with perfs clear of the discontinuous frame lines, Extremely Fine, a wonderful example of this better type, with 2003 P.F. certificate
5c Brick Red (27). Original gum with two small ink notations, vivid Brick Red color, margins to touched at left with perfs clear of outer projections on other three sides, small picked-out inclusion to right of Jefferson's face described on most recent certificate as "filled", but this is barely noticeableVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1858 5-CENT BRICK RED.
Many collectors know this issue by type and shade, but few are aware of the order of production (or release). This state of confusion is partly due to the Scott Catalogue. The distinctive Brick Red shade of the 5c 1857 Issue comes first in the series of Scott-listed perforated 5c issues, but its true release date comes later in the sequence.
Based on dated covers, the 5c Type I shades were released in the following order: 1) Red Brown, Scott 28, EDU 8/23/1857; 2) Indian Red, Scott 28A, EDU 3/31/1858; 3) Brick Red, Scott 27, EDU 10/6/1858; and 4) Brown, Scott 29, EDU 3/21/1859, almost certainly the last printing from the first 5c plate. The second 5c plate was made from a new six-relief transfer roll with the design projections cut away at top and bottom, to varying degrees. The Type II Brown was issued first (Scott 30A, EDU 5/4/1860), and the Orange Brown printing from the same plate followed about one year later (Scott 30, EDU 5/8/1861).
After surveying dozens of classic United States sale catalogues, we found approximately twenty examples of Scott 27 with original gum, allowing for duplicate offerings and excluding the one known original-gum block. Of the stamps we counted, about half had perfs touching on two sides or were deeply cut into on one side. Almost two-thirds had stains or small faults.
With 1972 and 2006 P.F. certificates
5c Red Brown (28). Unused (no gum), deep rich color and proof-like impression on bright paper, unusually choice centering for this difficult issue with perforations clear of outer projections on all four sides, small corner thin at bottom left mentioned on accompanying certificates is negligible and barely noticeable even under magnificationEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 5-CENT RED BROWN.
The perforated 5c "1856" Red Brown (Scott 28) stamps were made from the stock of imperforate stamps on hand in 1857 when perforations were introduced. Since these were the first 5c stamps to be put through the perforating machine, they were the first to be used. As such, very few are known with original gum -- we have offered only two singles and a block since 1998. This is only the seventh unused (no gum) example we have offered since keeping computerized records. Most have flaws or are off-center. The example offered here, with superior centering and a negligible flaw, should be considered highly desirable.
Ex Frelinghuysen. With 2011 P.F. and 2013 P.S.E. certificates
5c Indian Red (28A). Deep rich color in the true Indian Red shade, faintly cancelled at right (appears unused at a glance), fresh and Fine, this barely cancelled stamp is an attractive alternative to the few unused Indian Red stamps in existence, with 2001 P.F. certificate
5c Brown (29). Unused (no gum), rich color and sharp impression, wonderfully well-centered with perfs clear of outer projections on all four sidesEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE SOUND, WELL-CENTERED UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1859 5-CENT BROWN TYPE I, SCOTT 29.
With 2007 P.F. certificate (XF 90). This is the highest grade awarded by the Philatelic Foundation to an unused Scott No. 29, with no other examples equal. By way of comparison, P.S.E. has not graded an unused example above VF 80
5c Orange Brown, Ty. II (30). Original gum, lightly hinged, beautiful vibrant color, well-centered with wide margins, Very Fine and choice, scarce in this condition, with 2003 P.F. certificate
10c Green, Ty. I (31). Unused (no gum), deep rich color and sharp impression, nicely centered with particularly wide bottom margin showing the full shells which define the typeVERY FINE. A RARE SOUND UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE TYPE I 10-CENT 1857 ISSUE.
With 1994 P.S.E. and 1995 P.F. certificates
10c Green, Ty. II (32). Unused (no gum), bright color on crisp paper, choice centering with well-balanced margins, small stain spot removed, Extremely Fine appearance, ex Geisler and "Laila", with 1987 and 2007 P.F. certificates
10c Green, Ty. III (33). Unused (no gum), outstanding centering with wide margins all around, rich color and detailed impressionEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THE 10-CENT 1857 PERFORATED STAMPS FROM PLATE 1 ARE NOTORIOUSLY DIFFICULT TO FIND WELL-CENTERED. THIS TYPE III STAMP -- FRAMED BY WIDE BALANCED MARGINS ON ALL FOUR SIDES -- IS ONE OF THE CHOICEST WE HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED.
With 2000 P.F. certificate
10c Green, Ty. IV (34). Position 54L1, recut at bottom, unused (no gum), deep rich color and proof-like impression on brilliant paper, almost perfectly centered with wide and balanced margins completely framing design all around, trivial nibbed perf at left not mentioned on accompanying certificatesEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A RARE SOUND AND CENTERED UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 10-CENT TYPE IV.
The 1857 10c Type IV stamps come from eight positions scattered throughout Plate 1 that have the top, bottom or both lines recut. Only 4% of all 10c Plate 1 stamps produced were Type IV's, and an even smaller percentage was issued with perforations.
Ex Grunin, Weisman and Geisler. With 1966, 1992 P.F. and 1992 P.S.E. certificates.
10c Green, Ty. V (35). Original gum, lightly hinged, enormous margins all around, deep rich color and proof-like impression on crisp paper, Extremely Fine, ex "Scarsdale", with 2001 (as block of four) and 2003 P.F. certificates
10c Green, Ty. V (35). Tied by "San Francisco Cal. Oct. 26, 1860" circular datestamp on large piece of cover with "Overland--via--Los Angeles" hand-colored illustrated four-horse stagecoach design, stamp with minor corner crease at bottom right, Very Fine appearance, with 1989 P.F. certificate
12c Black, Plate 1 (36). Unused (no gum), balanced margins all around showing complete outer framelines, fresh and Extremely Fine, this tightly-spaced issue is not often found with framelines complete on four sides, with 1984 P.F. certificate
12c Black, Plate 3 (36B). Original gum, attractive centering, clear impression, Very Fine, with 2003 P.F. certificate
24c Gray (37a). Original gum, essentially complete except for small portions near edges, outstanding centering, bright color, Extremely Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate as "part o.g." (POG XF 90; SMQ $3,250.00 as original gum), we feel the "part" original gum call is a bit harsh
30c Orange (38). Unused (regummed), brilliant color, choice centering, Extremely Fine, with 1981 P.F. and 2012 P.S.E. certificates (RG 90; SMQ $1,200.00 as no gum)
90c Blue (39). Unused (no gum), three wide and balanced margins, clear of perfs at bottom, deep rich color, fresh and Very Fine, with 2006 P.F. certificate