Sale 983 — The Hampshire Collection of United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday, 23 February, 2010
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 and Hoffman. With 1989 (for block) and 2003 P.F. certificates
1c Blue, Ty. II-I (20-18). Horizontal pair, left stamp Ty. II, original gum, h.r., bright color, centered slightly to top but clearly showing the Type I characteristics at bottom, fresh and Fine, attractive multiple, ex Geisler, with 1983 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. I, II, IIIa (18, 20, 22). Positions 71-73/81-83/91-93R12, block of nine, bottom six stamps Ty. I, top left Ty. IIIa, other two at top Ty. II, natural s.e. at left and selvage at bottom, original gum, lightly hinged, bright shade, few toned spots, some expertly rejoined perf separationsFINE. A RARE AND DESIRABLE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF THE 1857 PERFORATED ONE-CENT ISSUE FROM PLATE 12, WITH SELVAGE AT BOTTOM AND CONTAINING THREE DIFFERENT TYPES.
Ex Hansen. With 2007 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as block of four of Type I, pair of Types IIIa and I and singles of remaining three stamps
1c Blue, Ty. II (20). Mint N.H., from the top row of Plate 4, deep rich color on bright paper, unusually choice centering clearly showing the complete design at topVERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN INCREDIBLY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE PERFORATED ONE-CENT TYPE II FROM THE TOP ROW OF PLATE 4. THIS IS THE ONLY MINT NEVER-HINGED COPY OF SCOTT 20 FROM PLATE 4 WE HAVE OFFERED. A GREAT RARITY.
When perforations were introduced in 1857, the plates used to print stamps at Toppan, Carpenter & Co. were laid out with narrow spaces between the subjects, because no thought had been given to the concept of perforation holes between the stamps. The imperforate sheets of 1c stamps on hand were printed from Plates 1 Late, 2 and 4, and the perforations on those stamps rarely clear the design all around. The example from Plate 4 offered here is not only extremely rare as a Mint Never-Hinged copy, it is also exceptionally well-centered.
Ex Odeneal. With 1990 and 2007 P.F. certificates, the former with selvage at top. Scott Retail as hinged.
1c Blue, Ty. II (20). Plate 12, original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich color, unusually wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A GORGEOUS ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 ONE-CENT PERFORATED TYPE II.
Ex Hansen. With 1999 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. III (21). Position 66L4 with clear and wide breaks at top and bottom, intense shade and proof-like impression, cancelled by rim of circular datestamp free of Franklin's face, unusually choice centering with balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 PERFORATED ONE-CENT TYPE III.
With 2005 P.F. certificate for combination strip of three on piece
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 1857 PERFORATED ONE-CENT TYPE IIIA.
Ex Hoffman. With 1982 and 2006 P.F. certificates
1c Blue, Ty. V (24). Mint N.H., rich color, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $990.00), Scott Retail as hinged
3c Rose, Ty. I (25). Original gum, single hinge mark, radiant color, detailed impression, single short perf at right not mentioned on accompanying certificate, fresh and Very Fine appearance, ex Geisler, with 2006 P.F. certificate
5c Bright Red Brown (28b). Part original gum, marvelous intense shade on fresh paperFINE FOR THIS EXTREMELY RARE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1857 BRIGHT RED BROWN SHADE. THIS IS THE FIRST UNUSED EXAMPLE WE HAVE EVER OFFERED.
This is the first unused example of the sub-listed Bright Red Brown shade variety of Scott 28. In our analysis of the 5c 1856-61 printings, we consider the Bright Red Brown (28b) and Indian Red (28A) to be in the same printing family. There are only five examples of the Indian Red with any part of original gum, and they sell for $100,000 or more. The Bright Red Brown shade is usually the default classification for a stamp that does not have sufficiently intense color to receive an Indian Red classification, but the difference is very subtle. In fact, unused examples of the Bright Red Brown (Scott 28b) shade appear to be rarer than the Indian Red.
Many collectors know this issue by type and shade, but fewer are aware of the order of production (or release). This state of confusion is partly due to the Scott Catalogue. Based on dated covers, the 5c Type I shades were released in the following order: 1) Red Brown, Scott 28, EDU 8/23/1857; 2) Indian Red, Scott 28A, EDU 3/31/1858; 3) Brick Red, Scott 27, EDU 10/6/1858; 4) Brown, Scott 29, EDU 3/21/1859, almost certainly the last printing from the first 5c plate. The second 5c plate was made from a new six-relief transfer roll with the design projections cut away at top and bottom, to varying degrees. The Type II Brown was issued first (Scott 30A, EDU 5/4/1860), and the Orange Brown printing from the same plate followed about one year later (Scott 30, EDU 5/8/1861).
The first 5c sheets to be perforated in mid-1857 undoubtedly came from the unissued supply of 5c imperforate sheets in the "1856" Red Brown shade. These are akin to 1c perforated stamps from Plate 1 Late (Type IV, Scott 23) and Plate 2, and 3c perforated stamps from the Type I plate (Scott 25). Covers dated during the second half of 1857 and first quarter of 1858 have 5c stamps in the "1856" shade of Red Brown, which look like Scott 12 with perforations. By March 31, 1858, the EDU of the Indian Red shade, a second printing must have been made. We suspect that the entire family of Red Brown, Bright Red Brown and Indian Red shades -- all of which differ from the "1856" Red Brown -- were printed at the same time during the first quarter of 1858. Looking at the EDU's, there is a largely consistent pattern of new 5c printings at the beginning of each year in 1858 (Red Brown), 1859 (Brown), 1860 (Type II Brown) and 1861 (Type II Orange Brown). The only exceptions to this pattern are the "1856" Red Brown perforated sheets released in mid-1857, which make sense in the context of the first perforated issue, and the October 1858 Brick Red.
With 2009 P.S.E. certificate.
5c Indian Red (28A). Gorgeous warm color in the unmistakable true Indian Red color and towards the deeper end of the color spectrum, choice centering with outer projections clear of perfs on all sides, neat strike of New Orleans circular datestampEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 5-CENT INDIAN RED. A DIFFICULT STAMP TO FIND IN SUCH CHOICE CONDITION.
With 2007 P.F. certificate (XF 90)
5c Orange Brown, Ty. II (30). Original gum, h.r., deep rich color and detailed impression, reperfed at right, Fine appearance, with 2007 P.F. certificate
5c Brown, Ty. II (30A). Original gum, crisp impression, three wide margins, long and full perforations all aroundVERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1860 5-CENT BROWN TYPE II.
With 1996 and 2009 P.F. certificates
10c Green, Ty. III (33). Original gum, lightly hinged, wonderful centering with wide even margins, rich color on bright 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.
Ex Hoffman. With 2002 P.F. certificate
10c Green, Ty. V (35). Original gum, lightly hinged, attractively centered and wonderful deep rich color, Very Fine, with 1996 P.F. certificate
12c Black, Plate 3 (36B). Block of four, original gum, lightly hinged, intense shade and proof-like impression, top right stamp puled perf at right, few rejoined perf separations at bottomVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A SCARCE AND ATTRACTIVE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 12-CENT 1857 ISSUE FROM PLATE 3.
Most 12c 1857 blocks come from the multiples that were stuck together and soaked apart. This block is scarce with original gum and also has remarkable freshness of color and paper.
Ex Hansen. With 1977 and 2004 P.F. certificates as previous Scott 36b
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.
Ex Hoffman. With 1983 and 2005 P.F. certificates as previous Scott 36b
24c Gray Lilac (37). Original gum, lightly hinged, radiant color, detailed impression, fresh and Fine, with 1995 P.F. certificate
24c Gray Lilac (37). Block of four, original gum and very lightly hinged, wonderfully fresh, sharp colorFINE-VERY FINE. A BRILLIANT ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 24-CENT 1860 ISSUE.
With 2009 P.S.E. certificate
30c Orange (38). Original gum, lightly hinged, vibrant color as fresh as the day it was printed, choice centering for this difficult issueEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL LIGHTLY-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1860 ISSUE. SCARCE WITH SUCH PRISTINE COLOR.
Ex Whitman. With 1987, 2000 and 2009 P.F. certificates
90c Blue (39). Original gum, lightly hinged, well-proportioned margins, deep rich color, long and full perforationsEXTREMELY FINE. A SPECTACULAR ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1860 ISSUE.
With 2009 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85)