Sale 1255 — The David W. Gorham Collection of Outstanding Used U.S. Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Friday, 17-20 May, 2022
Category — 15c-90c 1869 Pictorial Issue (Scott 118-122)
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. I (118). Jumbo margins and outstanding centering, rich colors, light circle of wedges cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1983 and 2002 P.F. certificates
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. I (118). Wide margins, bright colors, light cork and manuscript cancels, also with blue French entry datestamp, Very Fine and choice, especially desirable with the prominent French cancel, ex Eubanks, with 1998 P.F. certificate, Scott value with a normal blue cancel and without premium for the French aspect
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. I, Double Grill (118 var). Clear second grill well-aligned top-to-bottom and making grill look extra tall, bright colors, unobtrusive cork cancel, Fine, with 2000 P.S.E. and 2003 P.F. certificates
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II (119). Beautifully balanced margins, exceptional depth of colors complemented by bold blue target cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT TYPE II 1869 PICTORIAL WITH A BOLD BLUE TARGET CANCEL.
With 1991, 2002 and 2013 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95 XQ). The "XQ" denotes "Extraordinary Quality".
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II (119). Choice margins and centering, deep rich colors, perfect strike of bold target cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $2,300.00), only one grades higher (at 98), incredibly, the population of 15c Type II stamps in the highest grades is smaller than the population of Type I stamps (similar quantities have been submitted for grading)
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II (119). Rich colors, cancelled by bold green quartered cork cancel -- a rich true green color and not a greenish blue as more often seen -- we previously mentioned a faint corner perf crease at top left but it is not noted on either accompanying certificateVERY FINE. A STRIKING EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT TYPE II 1869 PICTORIAL WITH A BOLD TRUE GREEN CANCEL.
The bicolor 1869s are extremely rare with green cancels. Perhaps four or five others are contained in Power Search for the 15c (either type).
Ex Grunin, Ishikawa and Rose. With clear 1993 and 2016 P.F. certificates.
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II (119). Three huge margins, rich colors, clear strike of red Small Star fancy cancel, Extremely Fine strike on an attractive stamp, rare struck in red, all the Scott 119s with Star cancels found in Power Search have black (most frequently) or blue cancels, with 1992 and 2016 P.F. certificates
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II (119). Rich colors, wide margins and choice centering, neat strike of blue target cancel, fresh and Very Fine, with 1996 and 2008 P.F. certificates
24c Green & Violet (120). Well-centered with nicely balanced margins, rich colors and proof-like impressions, bold red cork cancelEXTREMELY FINE USED USED EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE WITH A BOLD RED CANCEL.
Ex Dr. Morris. With 1991 and 2002 P.F. certificates.
24c Green & Violet (120). Well-centered with rich color, bold Rosette cancel, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1994 and 2006 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85)
24c Green & Violet (120). Outstanding centering, bright and fresh colors, unobtrusive cancel, Extremely Fine, ex Koppersmith, with 1984 and 2000 P.F. certificates
24c Green & Violet (120). Bright colors, clear strike of blue target cancel and circular datestamp at bottom, small corner perf crease at top right not mentioned on accompanying certificates, Very Fine appearance, ex Koppersmith and Saadi, with 1988 and 1992 P.F. certificates
24c Green & Violet (120). Block of four, beautiful rich colors and proof-like impressions on bright white paper, four neat strikes of cork cancels, unusually choice centering throughout, few expertly strengthened perf separations at right, top left stamp trivial tiny tearEXTREMELY FINE. THE BEST CENTERED USED BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE. ONLY SIX USED BLOCKS ARE RECORDED.
The six recorded used blocks of the 24c 1869, not counting the unique Invert block, are as follows (each identified by a recent owner):
1) ex Rose, VF centering, fancy circle of V's cancel neatly struck on each stamp, minor wrinkling causing light creasing, top right stamp small margin tear (Sale 1224, lot 126)
2) ex Bechtel and Dr. Heimburger, EF centering, circular cork cancels over each vignette, strengthened perf separations, trivial tiny tear, the block offered here
3) ex Ishikawa, Eubanks and Curtis (Sale 1084, lot 3339), VF centering, circle of wedges cancel, left stamps few small tears
4) ex Anderson, Fine centering to top right, circle of wedges cancel
5) ex Klein, Fine centering to left, quartered cork cancels, light corner crease at bottom right and several rejoined perfs
6) ex Lopez and Price and from our 1965, 1992 and 2001 Rarities sales, perfs cutting in at right, cork cancels (Sale 1209, lot 1146).
Ex Bechtel and Dr. Heimburger. With 2013 P.F. certificate.
30c Ultramarine & Carmine (121). Well-centered with absolutely gargantuan margins all around, fresh and bright colors on white paper, bold strike of Four Squares cancel and part of red transit cancelsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. ONE OF THE WIDEST-MARGINED 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL STAMPS WE HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED.
Ex Twigg-Smith and Floyd. With 1983 and 2002 P.F. certificates.
30c Ultramarine & Carmine (121). Wide margins and outstanding centering, bright colors complemented by bold red Leaf cancel, with red "Verviers/(Coeln/Franco)" transit handstamp, the first word of the handstamp fully visibleEXTREMELY FINE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE WITH TWO DIFFERENT RED CANCELS.
With 1984 and 2001 P.F. certificates.
30c Ultramarine & Carmine (121). Deep rich colors and proof-like impressions, wide margins, cancelled by very unusual grid of tiny squares handstamp and also by blue French entry datestamp, Very Fine and choice, ex Saadi and Laehder, with 1991 and 2011 P.F. certificates, Scott value with premium for blue cancel but not for French cancel
30c Ultramarine & Carmine (121). Radiant colors, cancelled by clear strike of Heart-Shaped Face fancy cancel, Very Fine strike, fancy cancels such as this are rarely seen on high-denomination 1869 Pictorial Issue stamps, ex Laehder, with 1990 and 2011 P.F. certificates
30c Ultramarine & Carmine (121). Three wide margins, neat blue circle of wedges cancel, Very Fine, with 2004 P.F. certificate
30c Ultramarine & Carmine (121). Outstanding centering and margins, bright colors complemented by vivid red New York 12c credit datestamp, also additional partial manuscript "N. York 18" docketing, Extremely Fine, a striking stamp, with 2006 P.F. certificate (XF 90)
90c Carmine & Black (122). Choice centering with unusually wide margins, light strike of red cork cancel, bright and fresh in every respectEXTREMELY FINE. A GORGEOUS WIDE-MARGINED USED EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL. ESPECIALLY RARE AND DESIRABLE WITH A RED CANCELLATION.
A review using Power Search shows we have offered approximately 15 unduplicated used examples of Scott 122 graded XF 90 or higher. This is the only example among that population cancelled in red.
Ex Drs. Dauer and from our 2007 Rarities sale. With 2004 and 2008 P.F. certificates (XF 90).
90c Carmine & Black (122). Huge margins at top and bottom, well-centered, deep rich colors, cork cancelEXTREMELY FINE JUMBO-MARGINED USED EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
With 2001 P.S.E. certificate. With 1979 and 2002 P.F. certificates.