Sale 1230 — U.S. and Hawaii Stamps and Postal History
Sale Date — Tuesday-Friday, 15-18 December, 2020
Category — 1861-66 Issue (Scott 56-78)
3c Brown Rose, First Design (56). Original gum, single hinge mark, brilliant color, Very Fine, ex Hansen, with 1985 and 2007 P.F. certificates
10c Dark Green, First Design (62B). Deep rich color of the First Design, well-centered, red circular datestamp cancel, reperfed at right, appears Very Fine, with 2010 P.F. certificate
10c Dark Green, First Design (62B). Intense shade on bright paper, neat "PAID" in oval and red cancels, Fine, with 1991 P.F. certificate
3c Rose (65). Cancelled by perfect strike of Clover fancy cancel of Brooklyn N.Y. (Skinner-Eno PP-C 29), stamp with rich color, light horizontal crease, an exceptional and Extremely Fine strike, with 2019 P.F. certificate
3c Lake (66). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich color, centered to bottom left, Very Good
5c Buff (67). Deep rich color, attractive centering and margins, grid cancel, Very Fine, with 1994 P.F. certificate incorrectly identifying shade as Brown Yellow No. 67a
5c Brown Yellow (67a). Bright shade nicely complemented by red grid cancel, choice centering, Extremely Fine, scarce in this quality
5c Brown Yellow (67a). Radiant color, grid cancel, Very Fine, with 1984 P.F. certificate as Scott 67
12c Black (69). Choice balanced margins, cork cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $375.00)
24c Brown Lilac (70a). Original gum, bright color, small thin spot at top, vertical crease at right mostly along perfs, small tear at right, Fine appearance, with clear 1991 P.S.E. certificate
90c Blue (72). Block of four, rich color, cork cancel, couple small perf flaws, otherwise Very Good, a scarce used block, Scott value $5,000.00
2c Black, Atherton Shift (73 var). Sharp impression and wide top margin which clearly shows the double transfer at top left, grid cancel, small surface scrape at top and reperfed at left (as usual for this straight-edge position)FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE RARE ATHERTON SHIFT, THE MOST PRONOUNCED OF THE BLACK JACK DOUBLE TRANSFERS. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH THE WIDE TOP MARGIN, WHICH COMPLETELY SHOWS THE VARIETY.
According to the Allen book, the Atherton shift got its name from Stanley Ashbrook, who first discovered it in the summer of 1923 in the collection of J. P. Atherton. Concerning this double transfer, Mr. Ashbrook wrote: "Here we have one of the most remarkable double transfers on U. S. stamps that I have ever seen. I have for years classed the One Cent 1851, Type II, 89R2, as the No. 1 among remarkable examples of this variety and in my opinion this 2c Black Jack could well rank as No. 2. Perhaps some would even rank it equal to the 1c..." He stated further that it was his opinion, supported by other authorities whom he had consulted, that the variety must surely have come from an early or first condition of one of the plates, and that later it had been burnished out and a fresh entry made. The fact that every line in the Atherton Shift "is razor sharp" led him to conclude that the plate from which it came was very new.
Ex Drews. With 1995 P.F. certificate
3c Scarlet (74). Large part original gum, h.r., brilliant color, centered to bottom right, light horizontal crease and tiny tear at top right, appears Very Good, with 1994 P.F. certificate as original gum
5c Red Brown (75). Unused (traces of original gum), lovely color, light horizontal creases, Very Fine appearance, Scott value as no gum
5c Red Brown (75). Unused (regummed), rich color, small sealed tear and small thin spot, otherwise Fine example of this scarce unused stamp, with 2020 P.F. certificate
24c Lilac (78). Original gum, detailed impression, perfs scissors-separated at bottom, Fine, with copy of 1996 P.F. certificate for block of four
24c Grayish Lilac (78a). Deep rich color, face-free segmented cork cancel, fresh and Very Fine, red backstamp, with 1992 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (VF 80; SMQ $425.00)