Sale 956 — The Jay Hoffman Collection of United States Stamps
Sale Date — Thursday-Friday, 8-9 May, 2008
Category — 1857-60 Issue
1c Blue, Ty. I (18). Position 26R12, original gum, lightly hinged, radiant color on bright paper, choice centering with the characteristics of the type clearly visibleEXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 ONE-CENT PERFORATED TYPE I.
Due to narrow spacing between subjects on Plate 12, it is especially difficult to find Type I stamps with margins showing the top and bottom parts of the design with the degree of completeness seen in this example.
Ex Scarsdale. With 1989 P.F. certificate as block of four. With 2003 P.F. certificate as a single.
1c Blue, Ty. Ia (19). Position 95L4 with bottom sheet margin, centered to right though still showing most of bottom right ornaments, unused (regummed), fresh color on bright paper, faults incl. small tear at top, diagonal crease, one repaired perf and surface scrapesFINE APPEARING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE RARE TYPE IA.
The Type Ia stamps were produced from 18 positions in the bottom row of Plate 4. The most distinctive feature of Plate 4 is that the top row was entered with the designs complete at top (Type II), and the bottom row was entered with designs complete or nearly complete at bottom (Types Ia and Ic). This original-gum example is a great rarity.
Ex Ishikawa. With 1960 and 2008 P.F. certificates
1c Blue, Ty. II (20). Mint N.H., Plate 12, bright shade, three wide margins, fresh paperVERY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE PERFORATED ONE-CENT TYPE II. THIS IS ONLY THE THIRD MINT NEVER-HINGED COPY OF SCOTT 20 WE HAVE OFFERED IN FOURTEEN YEARS.
The other two Mint N.H. examples of Scott 20 were in the Silver Lake Collection (Sale 866) and the Odeneal Collection (Sale 941).
With 2004 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as hinged
1c Blue, Ty. III (21). Plate 4, original gum, lightly hinged, brilliant color on crisp paper, choice centering for this difficult issue and showing clear breaks in outer lines at both top and bottom (the characteristic of the type)EXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE PERFORATED 1857 ONE-CENT TYPE III STAMP. VERY FEW EXIST IN ANY TYPE OF ACCEPTABLE ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION. THE INCREDIBLE CENTERING AND REMARKABLY FRESH ORIGINAL GUM MAKE THIS STAMP A PHENOMENAL CONDITION RARITY.
With 1991 and 2006 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85; SMQ $27,000.00)
1c Blue, Ty. IIIa (22). Plate 4, original gum, lightly hinged, fresh and bright color, showing clear break at top and complete outer line at bottom (the defining characteristic of the type)VERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE PERFORATED ONE-CENT TYPE IIIA ISSUE.
With 1982 and 2006 P.F. certificates
1c Blue, Ty. IV (23). Unused (no gum), recut once at top and once at bottom, rich color and detailed impression, small tears at top and lower right, appears Fine, the 1c Type IV Perforated is scarce in unused condition, with 2003 P.S.E. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. V (24). Mint N.H. with selvage at top, deep rich color, wide margins, Very Fine and choice, with 2004 P.S.E. certificate, Scott Retail as hinged
3c Rose, Ty. I (25). Original gum, rich color, detailed impression showing the beautifully detailed lathework, well-balanced margins for this difficult issueVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT TYPE I 1857 ISSUE.
This stamp is especially desirable because the outer framelines, the defining element of Type I, are visible all around.
With 2005 P.F. certificate.
3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26). Mint N.H., brilliant color, fresh and Very Fine, with 2003 and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (latter F-VF 75; SMQ $75.00 as 70, $205.00 as 80)
5c Brick Red (27). Large part original gum which covers most of the back, lovely brilliant color in the distinctive Brick Red shadeVERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 5-CENT BRICK RED SHADE -- IN OUR OPINION, THE BRICK RED IS ONE OF THE RAREST STAMPS OF THE CLASSIC PERIOD IN SOUND CONDITION WITH ORIGINAL GUM.
To verify our intuition about the rarity of original-gum Brick Red stamps, we surveyed dozens of classic United States sale catalogues. We found approximately twenty stamps with original gum, allowing for duplicate offerings and excluding the one known original-gum block. Of the stamps we counted, about half had perfs touching two sides or were deeply cut into on one side. Almost two-thirds had stains or small faults.
With 1980 and 2006 P.F. certificates
5c Indian Red (28A). Full original gum, beautiful color in the true Indian Red shade, detailed impression clearly showing the lathework background, light horizontal crease is not readily apparentFINE APPEARANCE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 5-CENT INDIAN RED SHADE. THIS IS ONE OF THE RAREST ORIGINAL-GUM STAMPS IN UNITED STATES PHILATELY -- ONLY FOUR INDIAN RED STAMPS WITH ANY AMOUNT OF GUM ARE CONTAINED IN OUR RECORDS.
Our search of old auction catalogues and the records of the Philatelic Foundation yielded only ten unused examples of Scott 28A. Of these, only four have been described as having any gum whatsoever. These are: 1) offered in the C. A. Brown Collection by Harmer, Rooke & Co. in 1941 where described as "full original gum"; it was offered in the 1968 Rarities sale and again as part of the A. T. Seymour Collection (Siegel Sale 373, Apr. 23, 1970, lot 35) where described as "large part original gum" and in our Sale 895 (lot 102, realized $75,000 hammer); 2) the "Ambassador" copy (Siegel Sale 300, Apr. 27, 1966, lot 45A), described as part original gum, also ex Argentum (Siegel Sale 807, Feb. 23, 1999, lot 76) where described as "unused (traces of gum)"; 3) the Caspary/Lilly copy, described in both catalogues as full original gum and with light horizontal crease (the example offered here, acquired by Mr. Hoffman in our Sale 946 for $160,000 hammer); and 4) the example offered in our sale of the Alan Geisler Collection, where described as part original gum, a light diagonal crease and two small corner creases at top right (Siegel Sale 929, lot 47, realized $110,000 hammer).
Ex Caspary and Lilly. With 2007 P.F. certificate. SMQ prices GD 30 at $110,000 and VG 50 at $170,000
5c Red Brown (28). Choice centering with wide margins which are clear of projections on all sides, neat strikes of Charleston circular datestamp and red circular datestamp, long and full perfs all aroundEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 5-CENT RED BROWN.
This is one of the few used stamps in the Hoffman collection, because the opportunity to acquire a suitable original-gum copy never presented itself.
With 1999 and 2006 P.F. certificates
5c Brown (29). Original gum, lightly hinged, choice centering for this difficult issue with perfs clear of outer projections on all sides, rich color and detailed impression on bright paper, long and full perforations all aroundVERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT BROWN 1857 ISSUE. AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT STAMP TO FIND IN SUCH PRISTINE CONDITION. THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES IN EXISTENCE.
Due to the narrow spacing between subjects on the first 5c 1856 plate, many of the stamps have the outer projections touched or cut into by the perforations. A review of our computerized records shows that we have offered only eight other original-gum examples of this stamp since 1994. Of these, perhaps two would rate the grade of Very Fine or Extremely Fine. The example offered here, with full original gum, deep rich color, full perforations and with balanced margins, is a true condition rarity.
Ex Scarsdale. With 1969 and 1997 P.F. certificates. Aside from this stamp, the last well-centered original-gum example we offered was in Sale 902 and realized $24,000 hammer.
5c Orange Brown, Ty. II (30). Original gum, lightly hinged, beautifully centered and with deep rich colorVERY FINE AND CHOICE. THE 5-CENT ORANGE BROWN 1861 SHADE IS SCARCE IN THIS PREMIUM ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.
With 1986 P.F. and 2003 P.S.E. certificates
5c Brown, Ty. II (30A). Original gum, pretty shade, detailed impressionFINE. A DESIRABLE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT TYPE II BROWN 1860 SHADE.
With 2003 P.S.E. certificate
10c Green, Ty. I (31). Full original gum which has been slightly disturbed (described on accompanying certificate as "unused, original gum, previously hinged"), bright color and detailed impression, expertly repaired at bottom where there was a pulled perfFINE APPEARANCE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 PERFORATED 10-CENT TYPE I.
The scarcer types of the perforated 10c 1857 are rarely found with original gum. Although the perfs touch at right, this Type I stamp has a wide bottom margin which clearly shows the type characteristics.
With 2002 P.S.E. certificate
10c Green, Ty. II (32). Traces of original gum, bright color, light corner crease at top left, Fine appearance, a scarce unused example of this issue, with 2003 P.S.E. certificate, Scott Retail as original gum
10c Green, Ty. III (33). Original gum, lightly hinged, wonderful centering with wide even margins, rich color on bright fresh paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM. ONE OF THE FINEST KNOWN ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THE 1857 10-CENT GREEN FROM PLATE 1. A SPECTACULAR STAMP IN TERMS OF CENTERING, COLOR, IMPRESSION AND GUM.
The first perforated 10c stamps produced by Toppan, Carpenter from sheets printed from Plate 1 are notorious among collectors for their poor centering. They are also very scarce in original-gum condition because, unlike 10c Plate 2 stamps (Scott 35), there were no supplies on hand in 1861 when the issue was demonetized due to the outbreak of the Civil War.
With 2002 P.F. certificate
10c Green, Ty. IV (34). Position 55L1, unused (no gum), radiant color on bright paper, detailed impression, unpunched perf at leftFINE. A RARE SOUND UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 10-CENT TYPE IV. A GREAT RARITY OF THE ISSUE.
The 1857 10c Type IV stamps come from eight positions scattered throughout Plate 1 that have the top, bottom or both lines recut. Only 4% of all 10c Plate 1 stamps produced were Type IV's, and an even smaller percentage was issued with perforations.
With 1977 P.F. certificate
10c Green, Ty. V (35). Original gum, lightly hinged, dark color, choice centering with wide margins at sides, Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp, with copy of 2002 P.F. certificate for block
12c Black (36). Position 50R1 with "(E)NGRAVERS, Phila. New York, Bos(ton)" portion of Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co.'s Type I imprint in right sheet selvage, original gum, lightly hinged, choice centering with perfs clear of framelines on all four sides, detailed impressionEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1857 ISSUE IN THE FINEST CONDITION ATTAINABLE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE IMPRINT ON TOPPAN, CARPENTER, CASILEAR & COMPANY'S 12-CENT PLATE ONE.
Due to narrow spacing on the plate, most examples of this stamp (both used and unused) have perforations touching at least part of the outer frameline of the design. It is quite evident that this stamp does not fall into that category. There is a well-defined margin on each side, which is more typical of the later Plate 3 printing (Scott 36b) where the subjects were spread slightly farther apart on the plate. This stamp, with its fresh original gum, clear margins all around, bright shade and imprint, is truly superb in every sense of the word.
Unlike its Plate 3 counterpart, which survived in unused multiples when the issue was demonetized in 1861, very few examples of 12c stamps printed from Plate 1 show part of the Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co. imprint. The Type I imprint was entered alongside Positions 40, 50, 60 and 70 on the right pane (and Positions 30/40/50/60 on the left pane). Plate 3 has a plate number, but no numbers were engraved on the two other 12c plates. We call the plate used to print stamps Plate 1, but the intriguing story behind these two plates will be found in James A. Allen's chapter, "The 1851 12c Imperforate (Scott U.S. #17): Plating Update and Additional New Findings," in The 1851 Issue of United States Stamps: a Sesquicentennial Retrospective. The stamp offered here comes from the position which would ordinarily show a plate number. The absence of a plate number was a significant point in Neinken's study of the 12c plates.
Ex Concord and "J & J". With 1995 and 2006 P.F. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $6,500.00). The SMQ value does not take into consideration the rarity of the stamp with imprint.
12c Black, Plate 3 (36b). Original gum, lightly hinged, unusually choice centering with wide margins for this difficult issue, intense shade and proof-like impression on bright paperEXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1857 ISSUE FROM PLATE 3.
Plate 3 stamps (Scott 36b) are characterized primarily by uneven or broken outer framelines of the design. The subjects on Plate 1, which produced Scott Nos. 17 and 36, have even framelines that were extensively recut. Original-gum Plate 3 stamps with the centering evident in this example are very scarce -- we offer about one a year in this condition.
With 1983 and 2005 P.F. certificates
24c Gray Lilac (37). Original gum, lightly hinged, beautifully centered, wonderfully fresh color and impression on bright white paperEXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 24-CENT GRAY SHADE.
Collectors looking for Gem quality stamps (unused and used) from the 1857 perforated issue know that one of the most difficult denominations to obtain is the 24c value. The margins are often narrow, with the design almost always touched (if not in) at top or bottom. This is the finest original-gum example of the 24c Gray shade we have offered in years.
With 1987 and 2005 P.F. certificates
30c Orange (38). Original gum, lightly hinged, beautiful rich color, perfectly centeredEXTREMELY FINE. A REMARKABLE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1860 ISSUE WITH MARGINS AND CENTERING RARELY ENCOUNTERED IN THIS ISSUE. THIS MARVELOUS STAMP HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
.
With 1993 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $10,800.00). This is the highest grade awarded to date, and only four others share this grade.
90c Blue (39). Original gum, deep rich color on bright paper, wide marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1860 ISSUE. A BEAUTIFUL STAMP.
With 1979 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates