Sale 1367 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 9-11 December, 2025
Category — Revenues: Second and Third and Other Issues
5c Blue & Black, Second Issue, Center Inverted (R107a). Unused (no gum), deep rich color, centered to right
FINE. A FRESH AND EXTREMELY RARE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT SECOND ISSUE INVERT.
This is only the third unused example we have offered since keeping computerized records. The 5-cent invert is notorious for being off-center and having multiple faults. While this example is centered to right, it is also sound and fresh.
With 2012 P.F. certificate. Unpriced as unused in Scott. Value as used is $2,000 (for some reason a cut cancel is priced higher at $2,500).
ADDENDA: This had an old P.F. certificate (112906, not longer accompanies), which mentions "two tiny magenta ink manuscript cancellations" and a "tiny pinhole". We do not see evidence of either of these and the 2012 P.F. certificate does not mention them.
(Image Magnifier)10c Blue & Black, Second Issue, Center Inverted (R109a). Trace of cut cancel, rich colors, 14mm scissors-cut at bottom right reinforced with hinge, otherwise Fine
(Image Magnifier)50c Blue & Black, Second Issue, Center Inverted (R115a, formerly R115b). Rich color, nicely balanced margins especially side-to-side, light partial strike of blue handstamp cancel, Very Fine, in the 2018 edition of the Scott U.S. Specialized Catalogue the editors changed this (unhelpfully in our opinion) from R115b to R115a
(Image Magnifier)50c Blue & Black, Second Issue, Center Inverted (R115a). Rich colors, neat 1872 blue handstamp cancel, also with herringbone cancel, Fine
(Image Magnifier)50c Blue & Black, Second Issue, Center Inverted (R115a). Original gum called "large part" on certificate — it covers nearly the entire back and we would have just called it original gum, few gum soaked perfs at left not mentioned on certificate, nicely centered, Very Fine, with 2012 P.F. certificate as No. R115b (Scott subsequently renumbered this), Scott value as used is $1,150
(Image Magnifier)$1.00 Blue & Black, Second Issue, Center Inverted (R118a). Bright color, light manuscript cancel, certificate mentions "pen scratch" on Washington's cheek, which just seems like part of the cancel
FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE SCARCE $1.00 SECOND REVENUE ISSUE INVERT.
A review using Power Search shows that most examples of this invert without a cut or punch cancel have faults. With 2014 P.F. certificate.
ADDENDA: We described this in two old sales (pre-1990) as having an expertly filled punch cancel. The 2014 P.F. certificate does not mention this. Scott value as punch cancel is $1,150.
(Image Magnifier)$1.60 Blue & Black, Second Issue (R121). Pretty colors, cut cancel, Extremely Fine
(Image Magnifier)$3.50 Blue & Black, Second Issue (R126). Bright colors, well-balanced margins, manuscript cancel, Extremely Fine
(Image Magnifier)$5.00 Blue & Black, Second Issue, Center Inverted (R127a). Bright color, 1872 manuscript cancel, few faintly toned perfs at lower right, Fine appearance, with 2012 P.F. certificate
(Image Magnifier)$10.00 Blue & Black, Second Issue (R128). Deep rich colors, neat manuscript cancel, unusually choice centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2001 P.F. and 2017 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; Revenues unpriced in SMQ)
(Image Magnifier)$10.00 Blue & Black, Second Issue (R128). Choice centering, deep rich color, 1871 manuscript cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2012 P.F. certificate
(Image Magnifier)$10.00 Blue & Black, Second Issue (R128). Rich colors, 1872 manuscript cancel, Very Fine and choice
(Image Magnifier)$10.00 Blue & Black, Second Issue (R128). Block of four, rich colors, magenta 1872 manuscript cancels, few sensibly reinforced perf separations, minor creases, Very Fine appearance, this is the only recorded block of four, all other multiples are either strips or reconstructed multiples, ex Joyce and Curtis
(Image Magnifier)$20.00 Blue & Black, Second Issue (R129). Neat manuscript cancel, light vertical crease, few thin spots, Very Fine appearance
(Image Magnifier)$20.00 Blue & Black, Second Issue (R129). Horizontal pair, large part original gum, rich colors
FRESH AND VERY FINE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM PAIR OF THE $20.00 SECOND ISSUE REVENUE.
Ex Curtis. With 2015 P.F. certificate. Scott value as used.
(Image Magnifier)$25.00 Blue & Black, Second Issue (R130). Crisp impressions, well-balanced margins, 1871 manuscript cancel, Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp
(Image Magnifier)$50.00 Blue & Black, Second Issue (R131). Showing captured "WILCOX'S CHAMELEON PA(PER)" part imprint in right margin, rich color, fresh and Fine, desirable with the captured imprint
(Image Magnifier)$50.00 Blue & Black, Second Issue (R131). Pretty colors, magenta 1870 manuscript cancel, light vertical crease at left, Extremely Fine appearance
(Image Magnifier)$50.00 Blue & Black, Second Issue (R131). Horizontal pair, intense colors, neat Nov. 15, 1871 manuscript cancels, few minor perf separations sensibly reinforced, Very Fine, a rare and desirable pair, ex Eagle, Joyce and Curtis, with 2015 P.F. certificate
(Image Magnifier)$200.00 Red, Blue & Black, Second Issue, "Small Persian Rug" (R132). Bright colors, well-centered with perfs clear of design all around, neat May 14, 1871 manuscript cancel
VERY FINE AND CHOICE EXAMPLE OF ONE OF THE MOST COLORFUL STAMPS IN UNITED STATES PHILATELY.
Both the Small and Large "Persian Rug" stamps were printed in sheets of one. Because of their size, the large number of perforations on each stamp, and the fact that they were used on documents which were frequently folded across the stamps, most examples have faults to varying degrees. This is a desirable sound example and one of only 446 issued.
From our 1992 Rarities sale. 1990 P.F. certificate no longer accompanies.
(Image Magnifier)2c Orange & Black, Third Issue, Center Inverted (R135b). Unused (no gum), Fine, with 2013 P.F. certificate, Scott value as used $425
(Image Magnifier)2c Orange & Black, Third Issue, Center Inverted (R135b). Rich colors, appears unused, Very Fine
(Image Magnifier)30c Orange & Black, Third Issue, Center Inverted (R140a). Bright color and sharp vignette, unobtrusive blue handstamp cancel, well-balanced margins, single unpunched perf at right
VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT THIRD ISSUE REVENUE WITH INVERTED CENTER. ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE.
Ex Tolman and "Wildhorse". With 2006 P.S.E. certificate
(Image Magnifier)$20.00 Orange & Black, Third Issue (R150). Choice centering, bright colors, June 1872 manuscript cancel, Extremely Fine
(Image Magnifier)$50.00 Gray, Open Numeral Surcharge (R189). Original gum, bright color, fresh and Very Fine, a rare stamp in original-gum condition, we have offered only two others with original gum since keeping computerized records, ex Handy, Floyd and Curtis, with 2000 P.F. certificate
(Image Magnifier)$50.00 Gray, Open Numeral Surcharge (R189). Block of four, beautiful 1901 blue oval handstamp cancels and cut cancel, Fine, very attractive multiple, ex Tolman and Curtis, Scott value as cut cancel
(Image Magnifier)$50.00 Green, Ornamental Numeral Surcharge (R194). Rich color, unobtrusive cork cancel, part original gum, Very Fine, ex Curtis, Scott value as used
(Image Magnifier)$10.00 Yellow Orange, Series of 1914 (R221). Block of six, h.r., brilliant color, Fine-Very Fine, unlisted in Scott as a block, ex Curtis, Scott value as singles
(Image Magnifier)$3.00 Violet (R242). Mint N.H. left plate no. 55490 block of six, rich color, choice centering, Extremely Fine, a gorgeous plate block, ex DePriest and Curtis, Scott value as hinged singles
(Image Magnifier)1c Carmine, 1954 Issue Without Overprint, Horizontal Pair Imperforate Vertically (R654a). Mint N.H., outstanding centering rarely seen — these are normally centered top top, Extremely Fine, with 2013 P.F. certificate (XF 90 XQ)
(Image Magnifier)3c Green & Black on Green, Proprietary (RB3b). Block of 16, original gum, h.r. where some perf separations sensibly reinforced, few faults including some vertical creases, Fine-Very Fine appearance, a scarce large multiple, ex Curtis, Scott value as used blocks of four
(Image Magnifier)