Sale 1268 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 16-17 November, 2022
Category — 1851-56 Issue (Scott 5-17)
1c Blue, Ty. Ia (6). Position 92R4, large bottom margin beautifully showing the complete characteristics of the type, other sides full to clear, rich color, two neat penstroke cancels leave design clearly visible, light horizontal crease at top, tiny surface scuff at top left is barely detectableVERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 1851 ONE-CENT TYPE Ia IMPERFORATE.
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).
2007 P.F. certificate no longer accompanies (scan from PF website is included). Scott value is for pen cancel, though considering the fact that a light pen cancel leaves the design characteristics unmasked, the reduced Scott value seems unjustified here.
1c Blue, Ty. II (7). Position 89R1E, huge margins at top and bottom including significant portions of adjoining stamps, wide margins at sides, circular datestamp cancels, Extremely Fine Gem, a huge stamp, with 2003 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. II (7). Positions 39-40/49-50/59-60/69-70R2, unused block of eight (no gum) from the right pane of Plate 2 with "Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co. BANK NOTE ENGRAVERS. Phila. New York, Boston & Cincinnati" imprint and "No. 2." plate number at right, large to ample margins, rich color and sharp impression, thin spots, ink stains affect Positions 39, 59, and 60, small facial scrape on Position 39VERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED PLATE BLOCKS OF THE 1851 ONE-CENT BLUE TYPE II.
Only two plate blocks of Scott No. 7 are recorded, both from Plate 2. Both were part of the William H. Gross Collection, and the other was offered in Sale 1200 (lot 12), where it realized $47,200.00 (including the buyer's premium), which forms the basis of the current Scott Catalogue value.
Ex Chapin (no. 3 in his census) and Gross. With 1958 P.F. certificate. Scott value $47,500.00.
1c Blue, Ty. IV (9). Two right margin blocks of four hinged together, reconstructing the "(Toppan, Carpe)nter, Casilear & Co. BANK NOTE ENGRAVERS. Phila. New York, Boston & Cincinnati" imprint and "No. 1." plate number at right, original gum, ample to large margins except just in at bottom left, strong color, each block with a crease and a few minor toned spots, small cut between the bottom two stampsFINE-VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE PLATE NUMBER AND MOST OF THE IMPRINT FROM THE ONE-CENT 1851 ISSUE PLATE I LATE.
In its early state, before 199 of the 200 subjects were recut, there was no imprint on Plate 1. At the time of reworking the plate, the Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co. imprint with the plate number ("No. 1”) was added at the sides, which makes this the first plate number in United States stamp production.
Ex Eno, Consul Klep (bottom block) and Chapin (who reunited the two blocks). Chapin census no. 7A.
3c Dull Red, Ty. II (11A). Horizontal pair, huge margins all around with portions of all adjoining stamps, bright color, grid cancels, Extremely Fine Gem pair, with 2022 P.F. certificate (Gem 100 Jumbo)
3c Experimental Orange Brown, Ty. II (11A var). Position 26L1L, large margins to ample, radiant color nicely complemented by light strike of blue circular datestamp, thin spot at left, Very Fine appearing example of this scarce shade
3c Experimental Orange Brown, Ty. II (11A). Position 95L1L, five lines recut in upper left triangle, large margins to ample, radiant color, neat strike of circular datestamp, Extremely Fine, this is the only position with five lines recut, its rarity is exponentially increased as an Experimental Orange Brown shade, accompanied by page of letter from Dr. Amonette describing this as one of two copies of this position in the Experimental Orange Brown shade and the only with four margins, Scott value with no premium for the far better position
3c Experimental Orange Brown, Ty. II (11A var). Two, Positions 62R1L and 71R1L, first with large margins to just in, second large margins to just touched, circular datestamp or grid cancel, Very Fine examples of this scarce shade
3c Pinkish, Ty. I (11). Position 42L5L, large margins to just in with tiny nick at bottom left just into frameline, radiant color, light strike of blue circular datestampFINE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 3-CENT PINKISH SHADE. THIS IS ONE OF THE RAREST SHADES OF THE 3-CENT.
Accompanied by copy of Chase color chart showing this stamp as "1856 Pinkish".
3c Plum, Ty. II (11A). Position 52L3E, huge margins to clear including entire frameline of adjoining stamp at left, intense shade in the Plum shade, unobtrusive strike of circular datestamp, few faults, Very Fine appearance and an attractive example of the rare Plum
5c Red Brown (12). Full to huge margins including left sheet margin, light strikes of red and blue circular datestamp cancels, Very Fine and choice, a beautiful stamp with two colored cancels, with 2000 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown (12). Deep rich color on bright paper, large margins to ample at sides, Charleston datestamp cancel, Very Fine and choice
5c Red Brown (12). Horizontal pair, large margins to just clear, bright color, pen cancel removed, Fine-Very Fine appearance, with 1983 A.P.S. certificate, Scott value as handstamped pair
10c 1855 Issue, Balance of Plating Study (13-16). 56 used stamps in singles and multiples, on stock pages mapping all 200 positions on the 10c Plate 1, some better types including four Type I (No. 13) and one Type IV (No. 16, Pos. 55L1), the rest are Types II-III (Nos. 14-15), other highlights include No. 15 Pos. 40L1 with large sheet margin and part imprint, also No. 15 Pos. 61L1 with trace of imprint, multiples include pairs, strips of three (four) and a strip of four, largely handstamp cancels but some pen cancels are present as well, plating quality with small faults to be expected, overall Fine-Very Fine or appear so, a nice study containing one-quarter of all 10c positions in a single lot, Scott value as singles with handstamp cancels without regard to multiples is approximately $12,000.00
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10c Green, Ty. I (13). Full margins all around, rich color, bold circular datestamp cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 1996 P.F. certificate for pair on piece
10c Green, Ty. I (13). Position 100L1, from the bottom right corner of the left pane with interpane margin and centerline, other sides large to touched or just in, rich color, light circular datestamp cancel, perhaps the faintest trace of a corner crease at top left which is difficult to detect, Fine and scarce centerline position of the Type I
10c Green, Ty. I (13). Position 91R1, from the bottom left corner of the right pane with large margins all around and bottom left sheet margins, manuscript cancel, small scissors-cut at bottom just touching design, few light toning spots, otherwise Extremely Fine and scarce position, for some reason most examples of the 10c Type I Imperforate have the bottom margin trimmed away
10c Green, Ty. II, III (14-15). Three singles and a strip of three, Positions 40/48-50/60/70R1, recreating the full "Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co. BANK NOTE ENGRAVERS. Phila. New York, Boston & Cincinnati" imprint, Position 60 also shows a trace of "No. (1)" plate number to the right of "EN", each stamp with a large sheet margin beautifully capturing its portion of the imprint, singles with handstamp cancels and strip with pen cancels, few faults including Pos. 40 light corner crease, Pos. 49 in the strip corner creases (that stamp not part of the imprint), Pos. 60 large thinA BEAUTIFUL AND EXTREMELY RARE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE FULL IMPRINT FROM THE RIGHT PANE OF THE 10-CENT 1855 PLATE I.
Plate 1 was the only plate used for imperforate 10c stamps issued in 1855 and 1856. It was also used for all 1857 perforated stamps until Plate 2 was created, which produced Type V perforated stamps exclusively (Scott 35). Examples of classic imperforate stamps with intact sheet margins are scarce, since the excess margin was normally trimmed off during distribution and use. Stamps showing any part of the imprint are much rarer and this reconstruction showing the full 10c right pane imprint -- with a trace of the "No. 1" plate number as well is spectacular. We have only encountered a few full plate numbers from either the right or left panes of the 10c Plate 1 (an example from the left pane is offered in lot 91). No plate blocks are known from the 10c Plate 1, either imperforate or perforated.
10c Green, Ty. II, III (14-15). Study of centerline positions, 12 Plate 1 stamps with large interpane margin capturing the centerline and 19 stamps total, as some come in multiples, includes left pane Positions 10, 16-20, 28-30, 40, 50, 60 and 90, right pane Positions 1, 11-12, 41, 51 and 61, other sides margins are mostly full to large, with a very few just touching or in, handstamp cancels, a few faults as these were primarily collected for positionsOVERALL FINE-VERY FINE. AN IMPRESSIVE GROUP OF 10-CENT 1855 STAMPS WITH CAPTURED CENTERLINES.
Examples of classic imperforate stamps with intact sheet margins are scarce, since the excess margin was normally trimmed off during distribution and use. Stamps showing sheet margins large enough to capture the centerline are even rarer. This would be a difficult group to reproduce. Scott value without regard to the positions is approximately $3,100.00
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10c Green, Ty. II (14). Position 51L1, double transfer and with left sheet margin with "ENGRAVERS, Phila. New York, B" portion of imprint and "No. 1" plate number, full margins to ample other sides, deep rich color, double-struck circular datestamp cancel, faults including thin spot, creases and sealed tear -- none of which are readily apparent on an album pageAN EXTREMELY RARE 10-CENT 1855 PLATE NUMBER SINGLE. VERY FEW ARE KNOWN.
Plate 1 was the only plate used for imperforate 10c stamps issued in 1855 and 1856. It was also used for all 1857 perforated stamps until Plate 2 was created, which produced Type V perforated stamps exclusively (Scott 35). Examples of classic imperforate stamps with intact sheet margins are scarce, since the excess margin was normally trimmed off during distribution and use. Stamps showing any part of the imprint are much rarer, and those with the plate number intact are exponentially rarer. We have encountered only a few others on the 10c 1855, including the iconic unused strip of three (ex Gross).
Ex Neinken.
10c Green, Ty. II (14). Position 80L1, with 5mm interpane margin and centerline, two other sides large and bottom just clear, bright shade, cancelled by clear strike of New York Ocean Mail circular datestamp with integral grid, Very Fine and choice and a nice combination of position and cancel, Scott value with no premium for either
10c Green, Ty. III (15). Horizontal pair, large margins including portion of adjoining stamp at right, clear at left, circular datestamp cancels, the right stamp is Extremely Fine, with 1989 P.F. certificate
10c Green, Ty. IV (16). Position 65L1, recut at top, large margins to full at upper left, pretty shade nicely complemented by blue circular datestamp cancel, Very Fine, 1983 and 2004 P.F. certificates no longer accompany
10c Green, Ty. IV (16). Position 86L1, recut at top, large margins to clear at left, town datestamps, Very Fine, with 2003 P.F. certificate
10c Green, Ty. IV (16). Position 76L1, recut at bottom, large margins at right and top including portion of adjoining stamp, full at left and clear at bottom, neat circular datestamp cancel, tiny tear at bottom, appears Very Fine, with 1992 P.F. certificate
10c Green, Ty. IV (16). Position 86L1, recut at top, large to ample margins, rich color, unobtrusive circular datestamp cancel, light creases, appears Very Fine
12c Black (17). Horizontal pair, ample to full margins all around, black and red datestamp cancels, small scissors-cut at top between stamps, light corner crease at top right visible when drying, Very Fine and striking appearance
12c Black, Part India Paper (17 var). Large margins to ample including part of adjoining stamp at top, detailed impression nicely complemented by blue Philadelphia circular datestamp, Very Fine and choice example of this scarce paper variety