Sale 1232 — United States Stamps and Postal History
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 30-31 March, 2021
Category — 1851-60 Issues (Scott 5-47)
1c Blue, Ty. Ia (6). Bottom row of Plate 4, ample to full margins showing all the design characteristics, deep rich color, unobtrusive circular datestamp cancelVERY FINE AND SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 1851 IMPERFORATE ONE-CENT TYPE Ia, ONE OF THE RARITIES FURNISHED BY PLATE FOUR.
Stamps printed from Plate 4 were issued in April, May and briefly in June 1857 before perforations were introduced. The relatively small number of imperforate Plate 4 stamps issued during this period explains the rarity and desirability of any of the imperforate stamp types produced from this plate (Ia, Ic, II, III and IIIa). The extremely rare Type Ia, showing the full design at bottom, was furnished only by 18 of the 200 subjects on Plate 4 (the remaining two bottom-row positions were sub-type Ic).
With 1992 and 2020 P.F. certificates (VF 80)
1c Blue, Ty. II, Plate 3 (7). Position 100L3, original gum, single light hinge mark at top, huge margins including bottom sheet margin, interpane margin at right and portions of adjoining stamps at top and left, deep rich Plate 3 colorEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THE 1851 ONE-CENT TYPE II, GRADED GEM 100 BY P.S.E. AND GEM 100 JUMBO BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION. THIS IS VERY RARE AND ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE FROM PLATE 3.
With 2011 P.F. certificate (Gem 100 Jumbo). With 2016 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, Gem 100; SMQ $18,000.00 as most common plate). Among P.S.E. graded stamps from all plates, only one grades higher and two others share this grade. Scott assigns a 100% premium to No. 7 from Plate 3 versus Plates 1E and 2.
1c Blue, Ty. II (7). Plate 1E, massive margins at sides with portions of adjoining stamps, also extra large at top and bottom, wonderful depth of color, Exeter N.H. circular datestampEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING USED JUMBO EXAMPLE OF THE IMPERFORATE 1851 ONE-CENT TYPE II.
With 2020 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $3,000.00).
1c Blue, Ty. IIIa (8A). Position 86L4, huge margins, including large portions of adjoining stamps at sides, wide break in outer line at top, deep rich color on bright paper, neat circular datestamp cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SPECTACULAR EXAMPLE OF THE 1851 ONE-CENT IMPERFORATE TYPE IIIa FROM PLATE 4, GRADED SUPERB 98 JUMBO -- THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
Type IIIa is defined as having a break in outer lines at either top or bottom. The example offered here, which shows the bottom line complete and top line with wide break, is a superb example of the type. Stamps printed from Plate 4 were issued in April-June 1857 before perforations were introduced. The relatively small number of imperforate Plate 4 stamps issued during this period explains the rarity and desirability of any of the imperforate stamp types produced from this plate (Ia, Ic, II, III and IIIa).
With 2021 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $16,250.00). This is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by only two others
3c Orange Brown, Ty. II (10A). Large margins to clear top right and bottom left corners, bold strike of "Lansingsburgh N.Y. Oct. 7" circular datestamp beautifully frames the stamp, Very Fine and striking
3c Dull Red, Ty. I, II (11, 11A). One of each with bottom left corner sheet margins, No. 11 bright color, light strike of red circular datestamp, small natural inclusion at upper right, tiny corner crease at bottom right in margin only, Extremely Fine, No. 11A Position 91R1L noted on back, bottom left corner interpane margin with centerline, bright color, circular datestamp cancel, tiny corner crease extreme bottom left corner margin, Extremely Fine
3c Dull Red, Ty. II (11A). Original gum, pretty pastel color, enormous margins all around including interpane margin at left with centerline and parts or traces of all adjacent stamps on other sidesEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT 1851 TYPE II ISSUE, WHICH HAS RECEIVED THE ULTIMATE GRADE OF GEM 100 JUMBO FROM P.S.E.
With 2013 P.S.E. certificate (OGh, Gem 100 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 100, SMQ $1,850.00 as 100). The P.S.E. Population Report records one hinged and three Mint N.H. examples of the 3c 1851 Type I (Scott 11) graded 100J. They also record two hinged and one Mint N.H. examples of the Type II (Scott 11A). This is the only hinged example of either Type I or II we have offered in this grade.
3c Plum, Ty. II (11A). Huge margins to full including parts of four adjoining stamps, rich color, unobtrusive town cancel, Extremely Fine sound example, with 2020 P.F. certificate (XF 90), offered based on the 2020 P.F. certificate and not returnable if a later expertizer opines differently on the color
5c Red Brown (12). Traces of original gum, huge margins all around including bottom sheet margin, rich color, few faults including vertical crease and soilingEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE BOTTOM SHEET-MARGIN EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1856 ISSUE IN UNUSED CONDITION.
This issue is extremely difficult to obtain in unused condition with four margins. This is the only unused sheet margin example we have encountered. Accompanied by typed note to which this was once affixed reading "This 5c stamp has been kept by Martin V. Ewbanks, a private in Co. "H" 21st Reg't, Ind. Vol. Inft'y ever since he was discarges July 31st 1864".
With 2001 A.P.S. certificate. Scott value as original gum $30,000.00, as without gum
5c Red Brown (12). Huge margins all around including left sheet margin, rich color on bright paper, face-free circular datestamp cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB SHEET-MARGIN USED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1856 ISSUE.
Ex Mayer. With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $2,850.00).
10c Green, Ty. I (13). Unused (no gum), large margins beautifully showing the complete design characteristics including the type-defining full plumes at bottom, deep rich color and proof-like impressionEXTREMELY FINE. A GORGEOUS UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1855 10-CENT TYPE I.
Type I stamps come from the bottom 20 positions of the plate. They are the only stamps to show the design complete at bottom. For some reason the sheet margin at bottom was often trimmed away, leaving a dearth of quality copies. The Type IV stamps come from only eight positions, but we would rank the two types equally in terms of the rarity of sound four-margined unused copies.
With 2020 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $12,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded to an unused example of this issue and it is equaled by only one other
10c Green, Ty. I (13). Large to huge margins with portion of adjoining stamp at top, bright color, face-free strike of circular datestamp cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1855 10-CENT TYPE I.
The 10c Type I stamps are defined as having complete scrolls at bottom. They are only found on the bottom row of the plate (20 positions). This example, with large margins and a face-free cancel, is particularly desirable.
With 1986, 2002 P.F. and 2019 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $2,500.00). Only six stamps grade higher
10c Green, Ty. IV (16). Position 74L1, recut at top, large to huge margins, unobtrusive strike of circular datestamp cancel, tiny pinhole in margin at lower left, Extremely Fine appearance, with 2020 P.F. certificate
12c Black (17). Two horizontal pairs, tied by grid cancels on piece, right pair clear to large margins, left stamp in pair small corner crease at top left, appears Fine, left pair ample to huge margins, Very Fine, with 2020 P.F. certificate, Scott value as two pairs $1,150.00
3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26). Mint N.H., bright color, unusually choice centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,375.00), only four grade higher (highest is 98), Scott value as hinged
3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26). Mint N.H. with right part imprint selvage and "No. 2" plate number, outstanding centering and margins for this impossibly tightly spaced issue, Extremely Fine Gem, very rarely encountered with the combination of Mint N.H. gum, choice centering and a plate number, with 2020 P.F. certificate (XF 90), Scott value as hinged
3c Dull Red, Ty. IV (26A). Position 57R10L, Mint N.H., very well-centered for this tightly spaced issue, rich color, post-office fresh in every respectVERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN EXTREMELY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED CENTERED EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT 1857 TYPE IV.
A review using Power Search reveals how rare this better type is in Mint N.H. condition. We have sold only two other examples -- the last realized $8,000 hammer in our Sale 1227 and it was not as well-centered as this stamp.
With 2021 P.F. certificate (VF 80). Scott value as hinged
5c Orange Brown, Ty. II (30). Beautifully centered, warm color on fresh paper complemented by vivid red grid cancelEXTREMELY FINE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT TYPE II ORANGE BROWN WITH A VIVID RED CANCEL.
The 5c Orange Brown is scarcer used than unused, due to its short life while it was valid for postage and the recovery of stocks of unused stamps from southern post offices after the Civil War. Examples in this choice sound used condition are rare. This stamp is remarkably fresh from a new find in Europe.
With 2021 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $3,300.00). Only four examples grade higher (at 95) and only three others share this grade
30c Orange (38). Original gum, bright color, attractive centering for this difficult issue, fresh and Fine, with 1983 and 1997 P.F. certificates
1c Bright Blue, Reprint (40). Without gum as issued, brilliant color on bright paper, perfectly centered with unusually wide margins, long and full perforations all around, Extremely Fine Gem and one of the finest examples we have encountered, 10,000 of the 1c were printed (100 impressions) and 3,846 were sold, ex Odeneal and Gorham, with 1988, 1999 and 2007 P.F. certificates