Sale 918 — The Scarsdale Collection, Part 2: 1847-1869 Issues and Confederate States
Sale Date — Wednesday, 20 September, 2006
Category — 1861-66 Issue
1c Blue (63). Mint N.H., bright color and detailed impression showing fine lines of lathework, radiant paper, choice centering with wide and nicely balanced marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL BRIGHT MINT NEVER-HINGED ONE-CENT 1861 ISSUE.
With 1998 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as hinged
3c Rose (65). Mint N.H., brilliant color on bright paper, unusually wide margins, long and full perforations all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT ROSE 1861 ISSUE.
With 2001 P.F. certificate. With 2004 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,550.00)
3c Pink (64). Original gum, lightly hinged, bright color in the true Pink shade, choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 3-CENT PINK. ONE OF THE RAREST 1861 ISSUE SHADES IN THIS CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.
The 3c 1861 Pink (Scott 64) is one of the most difficult stamps of the 1861-66 Issue to find in sound, well-centered, original-gum condition with fresh color. The nature of the ink used to print the 3c Pink shade is such that over the course of time, with exposure to light and other adverse elements, the color tends to oxidize or lose its vibrancy.
Collectors who have searched in vain for a 3c Pink in such condition will appreciate the rarity of this stamp in such a remarkable state of preservation. Others who may be less familiar with the rarity of this early 1861 Issue -- and perhaps deceived by the abundance of common 3c 1861 shades (Scott 65) -- are urged to consider the extreme rarity of Scott 64 in sound original-gum condition. In several recent auctions, we have offered well-centered original-gum examples of the 1861-66 Issue, and the record realizations at large multiples of Scott value demonstrate the rarity of these stamps.
With 2003 P.F. certificate.
5c Brown Yellow (67a). Original gum, lightly hinged, beautiful brilliant shade and impression on bright paper, a very early printing with fine detail of background and lathework clearly visible, choice centeringVERY FINE AND CHOICE. THE 1861 5-CENT BROWN YELLOW IS ONE OF THE RAREST STAMPS OF THE 1861-66 ISSUE IN SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION -- IT IS UNLIKELY THAT MORE THAN A DOZEN EXAMPLES EXIST AS SUCH. THIS STAMP -- WITH ITS LIGHTLY HINGED ORIGINAL GUM AND BRILLIANT COLOR -- IS A GREAT RARITY.
Our sales during the past few years have contained a number of original-gum 1861-66 Issues, and we have made frequent reference to the rarity of these stamps in such choice condition. The 5c Brown Yellow and its shade varieties (Buff and Olive Yellow) are recognized as the rarest of 1861-66 Issue stamps in sound original-gum condition. Perhaps the only shade varieties rarer than the 5c Brown Yellow are the 3c Pigeon Blood Pink and 24c Blackish Violet (Scott 64a and 78c).
With 1998 P.S.E. certificate. With 2000 P.F. certificate
10c Yellow Green (68). Original gum, intense shade and impression on bright paper, choice centering with unusually wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A STUNNING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1861 ISSUE. A BEAUTIFUL STAMP.
With 1991 and 2000 P.F. certificates. With 2004 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $2,000.00)
12c Black (69). Original gum, lightly hinged, almost perfectly centered with wide margins, sharp proof-like impressionEXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1861 ISSUE.
Knowledgeable collectors recognize and appreciate the great rarity of well-centered, original gum classics. In particular, the 1861-66 Issue has been "discovered" as one of the most challenging of all. As escalating auction realizations show, collectors ignore Scott values in pursuing these elusive examples. This stamp was acquired in our December 2002 auction for $8,000 hammer.
With 2002 P.F. certificate. With 2004 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $4,550.00), this is the highest grade awarded to date by P.S.E., and one of only three to achieve this grade.
24c Steel Blue (70b). Original gum, lightly hinged, radiant color in the true Steel Blue color, choice centering with full perforationsVERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN EXTREMELY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 24-CENT STEEL BLUE.
The Steel Blue shade was produced early in the series of 24c 1861 shades, and it is scarce in any condition. Examples with original gum are rare, and those with Very Fine or Extremely Fine centering are of tremendous rarity, probably numbering no more than ten.
With 1998 P.F. certificate
30c Orange (71). Original gum, choice centering for this difficult issue, vivid color in a bright vibrant shadeEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1861 ISSUE, WITH WONDERFUL GUM, CENTERING, COLOR AND PERFORATIONS.
The narrowly-spaced 30c 1861 plate left very little room for the 12-gauge perforations between stamps. Consequently, examples with wide margins at sides are extremely rare -- this fact is acknowledged in the Scott Catalogue footnote to No. 71.
With 1986 and 2003 P.F. certificates
90c Blue (72). Original gum, tiny moisture spot on gum but described on accompanying certificate as Mint N.H., rich color on bright paper, wide marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1861 ISSUE.
With 2000 P.F. certificate describing this as Mint N.H..
2c Black (73). Original gum, lightly hinged, bright shade and detailed impression, perfectly centered with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT BLACK JACK ISSUE.
With 1998 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown (75). Original gum, radiant color and proof-like impression in the true "warm" Red Brown color, choice centering for this difficult issueEXTREMELY FINE. A STUNNING AND RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1862 ISSUE IN THE RED BROWN SHADE. A STAMP OF PHENOMENAL COLOR AND BEAUTY.
This is one of the most difficult stamps of the series to obtain in such choice, sound, original-gum condition.
Ex Anderson and McKinney. With 1969, 1996 and 2002 P.F. certificates.
5c Brown (76). Original gum, lightly hinged, rich color and detailed impression, wide and well-balanced margins which are completely clear of the design on all four sidesEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFULLY CENTERED AND UNUSUALLY FRESH ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1863 5-CENT BROWN. AN EXCEEDINGLY DIFFICULT STAMP TO FIND IN SUCH SUPERB CONDITION.
The 5c 1861-68 Issue was printed from plates with closely-spaced subjects that left little room for the large 12-gauge perforations. The Brown shade, Scott 76, is scarce in original-gum condition, and truly rare in this high grade.
With 1999 P.F. certificate
24c Lilac (78). Original gum, lightly hinged, attractive deep shade and proof-like impression on bright fresh paper, well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE. THE 24-CENT 1861-63 ISSUE IS EXTREMELY RARE IN SOUND AND WELL-CENTERED ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION. A FAR GREATER CHALLENGE TO ACQUIRE IN THIS GRADE THAN MANY COLLECTORS REALIZE.
Scott values, which are influenced by the quantity of poorly-centered copies extant, are irrelevant in the current market for choice original-gum classics.
With 2001 P.F. certificate