Sale 1310 — Outstanding United States Stamps, featuring The Dragonfly Collection
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 27-28 February, 2024
Category — 5c-12c 1851-56 Issue (Scott 12-17)
5c Red Brown (12). Unused (no gum), three large margins to clear at top, deep rich color on bright paper
VERY FINE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1856 ISSUE WITH REMARKABLY FRESH COLOR.
With 1955 and 2024 P.F. certificates.
5c Red Brown (12). Large to huge margins all around including portion of adjoining stamp at left, magnificent deep rich color, clear impression, partial New Orleans circular datestamp
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A gorgeous USED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1856 ISSUE, graded superb 98 by p.s.e.
Ex Wall. Dealer backstamps. With 1981 P.F. and 2017 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98). Only six grade higher and seven share this lofty grade.
5c Red Brown (12). Huge margins all around including left sheet margin, rich color on bright paper, face-free circular datestamp cancel
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED SHEET-MARGIN EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1856 ISSUE.
Ex Mayer. With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo).
5c Red Brown (12). Large to huge margins, rich color and detailed impression, neat strike of red Trenton N.J. circular datestamp and trace of black cancel at upper right
EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1856 ISSUE AND RARE WITH A RED DATESTAMP CANCEL.
Ex Newbury, Mayer, "Golden Oak", Eubanks and Gorham. With 2006 P.F. certificate.
5c Red Brown (12). Large to huge margins including trace of adjoining stamp at left, rich color, grid cancel, Extremely Fine
5c Red Brown (12). Rich color, full to ample margins all around, red circular datestamp cancel, fresh and Very Fine
5c Red Brown (12). Full to ample margins, bold New York circular datestamp and part of red cancel at bottom, Very Fine
5c Red Brown (12). Horizontal pair, wonderful depth of color, full margins all around, Milwaukee Wis. circular datestamp cancel, Very Fine and choice, a beautiful pair
10c Black, Ty. I, Large Die Trial Color Proof on India (13TC1). On 42 x 48mm card, bright shade, showing layout lines from the die
EXTREMELY FINE AND FLAWLESS EXAMPLE OF THIS RARE TRIAL COLOR PROOF FOR THE 10-CENT 1855 ISSUE.
Neinken notes in his book on the 10c stamp that it is likely that design and production of the 10c 1855 was rushed. The new 10c rate went into effect on April 1, 1855, and the new stamps were not placed into use until May. The die proof shows slips of the engraver's tool, and the overall layout is slightly skewed. The only die proof trial color is Black, and our sale records contain only four different full-size Black die proofs plus one cut-to-shape.
10c Green, Ty. I (13). Unused, accompanying certificates state "traces" of gum but it is more than that, intense shade and early impression, full margins to large at bottom, nicely displaying the Type I characteristics (full shells at bottom)
VERY FINE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1855 10-CENT IMPERFORATE 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 1995 and 2008 P.F. certificates.
10c Green, Ty. I (13). Huge margins all around, rich color on bright paper, neat strikes of San Francisco circular datestamp
EXTREMELY FINE GEM USED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1855 TYPE I. SCARCE IN SUCH CHOICE CONDITION.
Ex Merlin, "Clipper City" and from our 2007 Rarities sale. With 1996 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95).
10c Green, Ty. II (14). Huge margins with portion of adjoining stamp at right, deep rich color, circular datestamp cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful stamp, with 2012 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98), only eight grade higher
10c Green, Ty. III (15). Unused (no gum), full to large margins including apparent sheet margin at right, rich color with some slight toning called "stained" on old certificate, otherwise Extremely Fine, ex Rust, with 1959 P.F. certificate
10c Green, Ty. III (15). Huge even margins all around, deep rich color, light strike of circular datestamp cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2016 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98), only nine grade higher
10c Green, Ty. IV (16). Position 65L1, recut at top, huge margins all around, deep rich color, neat strike of circular datestamp cancel
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE IMPERFORATE 1855 10-CENT TYPE IV, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
With 2005 P.S.E. (XF-Superb 95) and 2023 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95). Only four grade higher (two at 95J and two at 98).
10c Green, Ty. IV (16). Position 55L1, recut at bottom, large to huge margins, rich color, neatly cancelled by town datestamp
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN EXCEPTIONALLY ATTRACTIVE LARGE-MARGINED USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1855 10-CENT TYPE IV.
With 2015 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90). We compared this to other examples graded 90 and 95, and we feel this surpasses almost every 90 and is the equal to several 95's.
12c Black (17). Huge margins including part of adjoining stamp at left and right sheet margin, detailed impression, grid cancel
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN EXCEPTIONAL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1851 ISSUE, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
With 2005 and 2013 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98).
12c Black (17). Horizontal strip of three, large margins to ample including top sheet margin, detailed impression, red grid cancels, right stamp small thin spot at bottom, Very Fine appearance, a scarce multiple, Scott value $950 as pair and single
12c Black, Diagonal Half Used as 6c (17a). Bottom left diagonal half, large margins, tied by blue "SONORA, CALIFORNIA, JAN. 7, 1852" two-line datestamp on blue folded letter datelined "Vine Springs Garden, Dec. 31, 1851", to Ellsworth Me., second strike at left, manuscript "Paid 6cts" written prior to the stamp being affixed
VERY FINE. A RARE AND DESIRABLE BISECTED USE OF THE 12-CENT 1851 ISSUE FROM SONORA, CALIFORNIA. ONE OF ONLY SEVEN LEGITIMATELY USED BISECTS FROM SONORA.
The 12c stamp was bisected to pay the 6c transcontinental rate, effective July 1, 1851, due to a shortage of 3c and 1c stamps. Seven bisects are known used from Sonora, five of which have the Sonora straightline datestamp. The Jarvis family, the source of the covers, owned 60 acres of land in California named Vine Springs, on which they grew grapes and made wine (http://www.cagenweb.com/tuolumne/bio4.htm).
Ex Golden. With 2019 P.F. certificate.
12c Black, Diagonal Half Used as 6c (17a). Top left diagonal half, huge margins to in at left including top sheet margin, tied by blue "SONORA, CALIFORNIA, FEB.13, 1852" two-line datestamp on brown cover to Hudson N.Y., second strike at right, stamp also tied by single line of manuscript, cover with some wear but the stamp is sound
VERY FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE AND RARE BISECT OF THE 12-CENT 1851 ISSUE USED FROM SONORA, CALIFORNIA.
The 12c stamp was bisected to pay the 6c transcontinental rate, effective July 1, 1851, due to a shortage of 3c and 1c stamps. Seven bisects are known used from Sonora, five of which have the Sonora straightline datestamp.
Ex Worthington, Burroughs and Golden.
12c Black, Diagonal Half Used as 6c (17a). Top left diagonal half, tied by two strikes of "San Francisco Cal. 1 Aug." (1853) circular datestamp on blue cover to Boston, manuscript "pr Steamer Northerner Augt 1st 1853" at bottom, faint impression of what appears to be pencil “due 10” at top, faint horizontal crease at top through goes through the stamp but essentially has no effect on it, Very Fine, ex Caspary and Bakwin, with 1956 P.F. certificate, Scott value $2,500