Sale 1290 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 28-29 June, 2023
Category — 1857-60 Issue (Scott 18-39)
1c Blue, Ty. II-II/I-I (20-20/18-18). Positions 11-12/21-22L12, block of four with selvage at left, B/C Reliefs, top stamps Type II, bottom stamps Type I, large part original gum, rich color, top left stamp tiny thin speck, top right stamp pulled perf and small thin at upper right, few sensibly rejoined perf separations, Fine appearance and very scarce Plate 12 block combining Types I and II, ex Neinken and Wagshal, with 2011 P.F. certificate, Scott value $8,750.00
1c Blue, Ty. Ia (19). Position 97L4 with curl on shoulder, deep rich color, light handstamp cancel, attractive centering for this tightly spaced issue, minute tear at top, faint corner crease and a few short perfs at left, Very Fine appearing example of this scarce perforated type with curl on shoulder variety, Scott value $10,500.00
1c Blue, Ty. II (20). Plate 11, original gum which has an uneven line at right, Fine
1c Blue, Ty. III, Position 99R2 (21). Rich color, neat strike of circular datestamp, few short perfs at rightFINE CENTERING. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE PERFORATED ONE-CENT 1857 ISSUE FROM POSITION 99R2.
Plate 2 was made in late 1855, and consists of 198 stamps that are Type II, one position that is Type III (99R2) and one that is Type IIIA (100R2).
Guide dots were used to accurately lay out the subjects on the plate. Positions 79 and 89 were transferred perfectly using their guide dots. However, the guide dot to the south-east of Position 88R2, which was used to align the single B Relief for Position 99R2, was placed far out of line, resulting in the bottom part of the A Relief being transferred into the bottom part of Position 89 (and in the margin below this position) by mistake. When the fresh entry was made in Position 99R a full transfer of the design was not possible without running into the error in Position 89R. The position was therefore short transferred at top, and apparently also at bottom, creating the finest example of Type III found on any plate (see pp. 183-184 of Neinken book).
Plate 2 stamps were issued imperforate from December 1855 through June 1857. Beginning in July 1857 stamps from Plates 1 Late, 2 and 4 were issued with perforations, and Plates 2 and 4 continued to produce stamps through late 1857. Plate 2 stamps are rarer perforated than in imperforate form; conversely, Plate 4 stamps are rarer imperforate than in perforated form. Perforated 99R2 stamps are of extreme rarity.
Our census, which incorporates the records of noted student Jerome S. Wagshal, The Philatelic Foundation, the Levi records and our own work, is available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/21-99R2 . Only two unused examples are known--the better known is in a block of nine in our 2019 William H. Gross Multiples sale. Thirteen used singles are recorded, as are three on covers and two in strips, for a total of 20 known in any form. Virtually all have faults or are very off-center -- only three off-cover singles and one on cover are confirmed as sound and not all have decent centering.
Ex Neinken and Wagshal. With 2013 P.S.A.G. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. III (21). Plate 4, rich color, attractive centering and margins, light circular datestamp cancel, certificate also states lightened pen cancels, Fine, with 1997 P.S.E. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. IIIa (22). Plate 4, part original gum which thinly covers about half the back, dark Plate 4 color, centered to left, Fine, with 2016 P.S.E. certificate, Scott value as original gum
3c Rose, Ty. I (25). Large part disturbed original gum, bright color, centered to right, vertical crease at upper left, otherwise Fine, with 2018 P.F. certificate
3c Rose, Ty. II (25A). Position 10R2L, the Recut Button position, showing three short crack lines starting from the top of the button and running to the upper right, scissors-separated with mostly intact perfs, Wis. town cancel, tiny perf thin at bottom, appears Fine, a very rare position from a very scarce 3c plate for the perforated issue, Scott values stamps from this plate with perfs touching or cutting in on two sides, accompanied by exhibit page detailing the position's attributes and quoting Dr. Chase's views on it
3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26). Mint N.H. with part imprint and plate no. "(2)4P" right selvage, well-centered with nicely balanced margins, Very Fine and choice, with copy of 2019 P.S.E. certificate for a pair (VF 80) and with 2022 P.F. certificate as this single (VF-XF 85)
3c Claret, Ty. III (26). Mint N.H., choice centering, wonderfully rich color in the Claret shade, Extremely Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $625.00 for the generic Dull Red shade), Scott value as hinged
3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26). Radiant color, perfectly centered, light strike of circular datestamp cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Gorham, with 2002 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $800.00)
5c Brick Red (27). Attractive centering with margins clear of projections all around, rich color, cancelled by rim of circular datestamp at right margin, leaving entire design visible, couple slightly nibbed perfs at bottom, appears Very Fine, ex Myerson, with 2020 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown (28). Unusually choice centering, lovely color, circular datestamp cancel, perfs scissors-separated at bottom but intact, Extremely Fine, with 1977 P.F. certificate
5c Brown (29). Unused (no gum), rich color, well-balanced margins, Very Fine, with 1978 P.F. certificate
5c Orange Brown, Ty. II (30). Original gum, h.r., warm shade, wide margins, light corner crease at top left, Extremely Fine appearance, with clear 1976 P.F. certificate
5c Brown, Ty. II (30A). With part imprint captured in the wide right margin, deep rich color, grid cancel, Very Fine, with 2012 P.F. certificate
10c Green, Ty. I (31). Well-centered and wide margins, with design characteristics clearly visible, rich color, face-free corner strike of circular datestamp cancel, Very Fine and choice, a fresh and beautiful stamp, ex Myerson, with 2012 and 2021 P.F. certificates
10c Green, Ty. I (31). Choice centering and margins for this difficult issue, nicely capturing the type-defining complete design at bottom, deep rich color, town cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2014 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85)
10c Green, Ty. I (31). Rich color, clearly showing the type characteristic of complete design at bottom, light strikes of circular datestamp and red cancels, Very Fine
10c Green, Ty. III (33). Large part original gum, deep rich color, small diagonal crease at top left, rounded corner at top left described on accompanying certificate as "short corner perf", Fine appearance, scarce with original gum, with 2003 P.F. and 2014 P.S.E. certificates
10c Green, Ty. III (33). Choice centering with wide and balanced margins, rich color, red grid cancel, fresh and Extremely Fine, ex Myerson, with 2002 and 2015 P.F. certificates (XF 90 XQ)
10c Green, Ty. IV (34). Position 55L1, recut at bottom, pretty shade, pen and circular datestamp cancels, diagonal crease, Very Fine appearance, with clear 1981 P.F. certificate
10c Green, Ty. V (35). Wide margins and near perfect centering, rich color, light strikes of red circular datestamp cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp, with 2021 P.F. certificate (Superb 98), this is the highest grade awarded by the P.F. and it is shared by no others, the highest P.S.E. grade is also 98 (five examples)
10c Green, Ty. V (35). Position 41L2, wide margins including captured imprint at left with full letters, clearly showing "Carpenter & Co. Bank Note" portion of the imprint, light strike of red town cancel, Extremely Fine, a lovely stamp, with 2014 P.F. certificate
12c Black, Plate 1 (36). Intense shade and impression, bold circular datestamp cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $625.00)
24c Gray (37a). Unused (no gum), well-centered, Very Fine, with 2019 P.S.E. certificate (VF 80; SMQ $550.00)
24c Gray Lilac (37). Bright shade, excellent centering, grid cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2000 P.F. certificate
30c Orange (38). Original gum, intense shade and impression, Very Fine, with 1978 P.F. certificate
30c Orange (38). Large part original gum which covers the majority of the back, single short perf at right, otherwise Fine, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate as "part o.g.", Scott value as original gum
30c Orange (38). Nicely centered, double-struck "10" in circle cancel, Very Fine, with 2011 P.F. certificate
90c Blue (39). Original gum, h.r., deep rich color, wide marginsVERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1860 ISSUE.
With 1978 P.F. certificate.
90c Blue (39). Unused (regummed), rich color and well-centered, tiny tear at left, appears Extremely Fine
90c Blue (39). Unused (no gum), deep rich color, three wide margins, perfs just touch frame at bottom, fresh and Fine, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate