Sale 1075 — 2014 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Thursday, 26 June, 2014
Category — 1857-60 Issue
1c Blue, Ty. Ia (19). Position 92L4, wide-spaced perforations at top and bottom, perfectly centered with wide margins at right and left, rich color, lightly cancelled by "Boston 18 Sep. Paid" circular datestampEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION THE FINEST RECORDED SINGLE OF THE RARE 1857 ONE-CENT TYPE IA PERFORATED. VERY FEW EXIST WITH WIDE-SPACED PERFORATIONS.THIS IS WIDELY REGARDED AS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT USED CLASSIC UNITED STATES STAMPS IN EXISTENCE. THIS MAGNIFICENT STAMP HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF SUPERB 98 JUMBO BY P.S.E.
Type Ia stamps were produced from 18 of the 20 bottom-row positions on Plate 4. After perforations were introduced in mid-1857, sheets on hand printed from Plates 1 Late and 2 were fed through the new perforating machine, but the narrow spaces between stamps made perforating difficult to accomplish without cutting into the designs. Plate 4 was produced in early 1857 when the introduction of perforations was anticipated; thus, it was entered from a new six-relief transfer roll, and the spaces between stamps were enlarged to allow for perforations. Some Plate 4 sheets were issued in imperforate form (April to June 1857), while the greater portion was issued perforated beginning in July 1857, along with perforated sheets from Plates 1L and 2.
Plate 4's most distinctive feature is that the top row (Positions 1-10L and 1-10R) was entered with the designs complete at top (Type II) and the bottom row (Positions 91-100L and 91-100R) was entered with designs complete or nearly complete at bottom (Types Ia and Ic). Although the plate layout provided sufficient space for perforations, the height of the top-row and bottom-row designs was larger than others in the sheet, which resulted in perforations cutting into either the top or bottom rows, depending on which direction the sheet was fed into the perforator. Type Ia and Ic stamps from the bottom row are almost always cut into at bottom, an unfortunate situation for collectors because the bottom part of the design is what makes Type Ia and Ic stamps desirable.
The exceptions to the normal cut-into condition of top-row and bottom-row Plate 4 stamps are those with wide-spaced perforations. It has been assumed for years that the pins of the bottom row of the perforator were reset to create more space, but some students of the 1851-57 Issue have begun to reexamine this aspect of Plate 4 production to seek alternative explanations for wide-spaced perforations. Whatever the cause, wide-spaced stamps are extremely rare and highly desirable, because they exhibit all of the features that define their respective types. The so-called Waterhouse strip (ex Sir Nicholas Waterhouse, Saul Newbury, Mortimer Neinken and Jerome S. Wagshal) is the most famous of 1c 1857 Type Ia wide-spaced examples. Although a small number of single wide-spaced stamps are recorded, the example offered in this sale is the best-centered and one of the few completely sound stamps. When it was acquired by the late Amos Eno decades ago, this extraordinary stamp realized ten times Scott Catalogue value. In our firm's 1993 private treaty sale of the stamp to Robert Zoellner and when it was acquired by the owner of the Tahoe collection at the Shreve sale of the Hinrichs collection, it realized this same multiple of catalogue. In the 2008 Siegel sale of the Tahoe collection it shattered its previous records by realizing 33 times Scott Retail value.
Ashbrook states: "I consider perforated Type IA stamps that are not touched by perforations as the rarest stamps in the 1857 perforated issue." (Neinken book, p. 279). The Scott Catalogue contains a footnote to the basic price quotes: "Copies of this stamp exist with perforations not touching the design at any point. Such copies command very high prices."
Ex Eno, Zoellner, Hinrichs and Tahoe. With 2004 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $330,000.00). The P.S.E. Population Report lists 17 graded examples of Scott 19 (16 used, 1 OG). This Superb 98J is trailed by two 95's and three 90's (the OG copy is graded 30).
1c Blue, Ty. III (21). Position 46L12, unused (no gum), incredibly choice centering, perfs clear enough from the design at top and bottom to clearly show the breaks in both outer lines, wonderfully rich color and detailed impressionEXTREMELY FINE. POSITION 46L12 PRODUCED THE ONLY PERFORATED TYPE III ON ANY PLATE OTHER THAN PLATE FOUR. A WIDELY OVERLOOKED RARITY OF THE 1851-57 ISSUE.
According to the Neinken book (p. 495), Position 46L12 is different from all other positions on Plate 12. Given the normal method of entering the positions, it should be a B Relief. However, the bottom left of 46L12 is more complete than it should be if the entry was made from the B Relief. Neinken states that after much study by himself and Elliott Perry, they concluded that it is an exact match for the T Relief used to enter the top row of Plate 11, which was created around the same time as Plate 12. Characteristics of the T Relief include a greater degree of completeness at the bottom left than is present on the B Relief. Neinken theorizes that the siderographer used the T-A-B transfer roll (used for Plate 11), and entered a single position on Plate 12 -- 46L -- perhaps to correct an earlier mistake in entering the position. Other students disagree with the idea that the T Relief was used, and the matter awaits resolution.
With 2011 P.F. certificate for a joined pair with a Type II
1c Blue, Ty. V (24). Rich color, dissected into a portrait and four corners, portrait affixed to center and segments affixed to each corner of unsealed cover to Claremont N.H., portrait tied by open grid, red Meriden N.H. circular datestamp, Extremely Fine, a very unusual use, this type of 'artistic' arrangement was tolerated at some (usually small) offices though it was strictly prohibited as mutilation, Chase note on back 'As neat a cover of this kind as I ever saw', pretty and especially unusual with a 1c stamp, probably contained a circular, ex Jarrett, with 2003 P.F. certificate
3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26). Positions 51-52/61-72/71L18, block of five, original gum, lightly hinged, few perfs scissors-separated which has the benefit of leaving part of the imprint at upper left, brilliant color and paperVERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM MULTIPLE SHOWING THE MAJOR PLATE CRACK AT POSITION 71L18. THIS REMARKABLE MULTIPLE, WITH THE PART IMPRINT, IS RESPONSIBLE FOR STUDENTS' ABILITY TO PLATE THIS VARIETY. A PHENOMENAL SHOWPIECE.
According to the Chase book (p. 61), it is really surprising that a plate as badly cracked as this should have been used in stamp production. On the same page he mentions this block and its contribution to plating the crack.
5c Brick Red (27). Large part original gum, brilliant color in the distinctive Brick Red shade, hinge removal at top causes very minor bucklingFINE AND RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 5-CENT BRICK RED SHADE.
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. The distinctive Brick Red shade of the 5c 1857 Issue comes first in the series of Scott-listed perforated 5c issues, but its true release date comes later in the sequence.
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).
After surveying 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 on two sides or were deeply cut into on one side. Almost two-thirds had stains or small faults.
With 2009 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown (28). Original gum, deep rich color in the "1856" imperforate shade, perfs touching at top and right, completely soundFRESH AND FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 5-CENT RED BROWN.
The perforated 5c “1856” Red Brown (Scott 28) stamps were made from the stock of imperforate stamps on hand in 1857 when perforations were introduced. The 1858 printing, the first after perforations were introduced, was in the Bright Red Brown and Indian Red shades. The perforated 5c Type I stamps in any shade of Red Brown are very rare in unused or original-gum condition. In the past 14 years we have offered over 200,000 auction lots. During that time, we have sold only three other Scott 28 singles with original gum and the block of four in the Whitman sale. Of the other singles, only one was completely sound (from the Whitman collection). A search of the records at the Philatelic Foundation for sound copies found only the ex-Whitman example and the stamp offered here. In our opinion, the Scott Catalogue value for Scott 28 with original gum is too low. The number of original-gum Scott 28 singles falls somewhere between the numbers for the Brick Red (Scott 27) and the Indian Red (Scott 28A), which catalogue $80,000.00 and $175,000.00, respectively.
With 2013 P.F. certificate
5c Indian Red (28A). Vertical strip of three, radiant color in the intense Indian Red shade, intact sheet selvage at right showing centerline along top stamp, tied by "New Orleans La. Sep. 15" circular datestamp on blue 1858 folded cover to Nantes, France, red "Boston Paid 6 Sep. 21" credit datestamp, "Boston Am. Pkt. Sep. 24" datestamp, French transit and receiving backstamps, light horizontal file fold well away from stampsVERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL VERTICAL STRIP OF THREE OF THE 1858 5-CENT INDIAN RED ON COVER TO FRANCE.
This cover from the Garnier correspondence was probably carried on the Inman Line's Vigo, which departed New York Sep. 25 and arrived in Liverpool Oct. 11, 1858.
Illustrated in Brookman. Accompanied by signed card from Ashbrook. It is reported that this cover inspired Ashbrook to name the distinctive shade "Indian Red."
5c Brown (29). Rich color on fresh paper, outstanding centering with wide margins, design clear of outer projections on all four sides, town and red French transit cancelsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB AND BEAUTIFULLY CANCELLED EXAMPLE OF THE 1859 5-CENT TYPE I BROWN.
With 2014 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $4,000.00). Two have graded higher, at 98, though we believe it would be difficult to improve upon this example with the red French transit datestamp. We sold one of the two 98's in the Kirke collection and it has a normal black cancel
5c Orange Brown, Ty. II, 10c Green, Ty. V (30, 35). Rich colors, tied by perfect strike of "Milton Ms. Oct. 18" (1861) circular datestamp on small blue cover to Paris, France, manuscript "prepaid" at top, red "Boston Paid 6 Oct. 18" credit datestamp, French transit datestamp, red boxed "PD" handstamp, receiving backstamp, Very Fine, a pretty cover and scarce used of the 5c Orange Brown in such superb condition, with 1983 P.F. certificate
10c Green, Ty. III/I (33/31). Block of four, bottom stamps Type I, top stamps Type III, original gum, top stamps h.r., pretty shade, accompanying certificate notes tiny black ink marks at bottom of Type I stamps, which are all but invisibleFINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM COMBINATION BLOCK OF TYPES I AND III OF THE 10-CENT 1857 ISSUE.
Very few blocks are known, especially in original-gum condition. With 2002 P.F. certificate
10c Green, Ty. II, III (32, 33). Three singles, two Type III, each with left sheet selvage, tied by bold "Sweetland Cal. Apr. 2" (1859) circular datestamps on cover to London, England, red "19" credit handstamp, red "London Paid MY 10, 1859" circular datestamp, Very Fine, a scarce use overpaying by 1c the 29c transatlantic rate from the West Coast, the Sweetland cancel predates the earliest recorded date in Williams by two years, this was carried by private express via Grass Valley to Marysville, where it went by river steamer to Sacramento and then on to San Francisco, it was then carried on the Butterfield route, departing San Francisco Apr. 4 and arriving Tipton Mo. Apr. 25, then placed on the railroad to St. Louis and on to New York where carrried on the Cunarder Europa, which departed New York Apr. 27 and arrived Liverpool May 9, ex Haas and Sevenoaks
10c Green, Ty. V (35). Horizontal strip of six, rich color, choice centering, each stamp cancelled by manuscript "#", "Holmes Hole Ms. Sep. 14" (1860) circular datestamp on yellow cover to Calcutta, India, red "New-York Am. Pkt. Sep. 15" transit circular datestamp, magenta "24" credit, red "London Paid SP 27 1860" circular datestamp, red "1" British Colonial credit also ties strip, carried on the Havre line's Fulton, which departed New York Sep. 26 and arrived Southampton Sep. 26, red receiving backstamp, barely reduced at rightVERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL COVER BEARING A STRIP OF SIX OF THE 1857 10-CENT TYPE V.
The franking pays double the 30c rate via French mail.
10c Green, Ty. V, 3c Dull Red (35, 26). 10c strip of three, tied by grid cancels, bold "Augusta Me. Dec. 20" (1860) circular datestamp on orange-buff cover to the U.S.S. Mohican at St. Paul de Loando, West Coast of Africa, addressed to Third Assistant Engineer James Atkins, red "N. York Am. Pkt. Dec. 22 Paid" exchange circular datestamp, "12" credit in magenta manuscript, red "London Paid JA 7" (1861) circular datestamp, Feb. 1861 receipt docketing on back, tiny tears at bottom from opening, center stamp pre-use tear at left, top stamp barely affected from placement at edge of cover, minor edgewearVERY FINE. A RARE USE OF THE 1857 ISSUE ON A COVER TO THE UNITED STATES NAVY SLOOP-OF-WAR MOHICAN, WHICH WAS PATROLLING THE WATERS OFF THE WEST COAST OF AFRICA IN SEARCH OF SLAVE-TRADING VESSELS.
St. Paul de Loando was the capital of the Portuguese colony of Angola and a known area of activity for slave traders. The letter is addressed to Third Assistant Engineer James Atkins on the U.S.S. Mohican, which was patrolling the waters off the African coastline. Later this same year the Mohican captured the slave-carrying ship Erie, whose captain, Nathaniel Gordon, was hanged in 1862, the first man condemned under an 1820 Federal law declaring slave-trading a form of piracy. In August 1861 she departed the African coast to take part in the Battle of Port Royal and blockade duty in the Civil War.
Ex Piller
12c Black, Plate 1 (36). Block of eight, intense shade and proof-like impression, multiple strikes of green "PAID" in circle cancel, top left stamp small thin spot, bottom left stamp few short perfs, few minor perf separationsFINE-VERY FINE. A UNIQUE BLOCK OF THE 12-CENT 1857 ISSUE WITH A TRUE GREEN CANCELLATION.
Used blocks of the 12c 1857 Issue are very scarce, and singles cancelled in green ink are rare, but the coincidence of a green cancel on a block is nothing less than miraculous. This is one of the great 1857 Issue multiples extant.
Ex Moody.
24c Gray Lilac (37). Mint N.H., wide margins and exceptional centering for this tightly spaced issue, rich color and proof-like impressionEXTREMELY FINE. THE 1860 24-CENT GRAY LILAC IS EXTREMELY RARE IN MINT NEVER-HINGED CONDITION. TO FIND AN EXAMPLE WITH THIS CHOICE CENTERING AND COMPLETELY SOUND IS VASTLY MORE DIFFICULT.
Aside from five Mint N.H. stamps contained in the block of twelve offered in our Sevenoaks sale (Sale 831) and one single contained in another block of twelve offered in our 2010 Rarities sale, we have offered only two others in Mint N.H. condition since keeping computerized records, including one other graded 85 (Sale 1048, lot 257).
With 2014 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85; unpriced in SMQ in Mint N.H. condition). This is the highest grade awarded in the P.S.E. Population Report and is shared by one other. Unpriced in Scott as Mint N.H. Scott Retail as hinged
24c Gray Lilac (37). Block of four, original gum, h.r., bright color and clear impressionFINE. AN ATTRACTIVE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 24-CENT 1860 ISSUE.
With 2006 P.S.E. certificate
30c Orange (38). Vibrant color, used with vertical strip of three of 5c Brown, Ty. II (30A), tied by large grid cancels, red "New York Am. Pkt. Sep. 8" backstamp on 1860 folded letter to Hong Kong, China, addressed to Capt. George Heely of the American clipper ship Queen of the East, in care of Olyphant & Co., sender's ship-name directive "Vanderbilt" at lower left and carried aboard the Vanderbilt, magenta manuscript "24" credit, red London Paid transit (Sep. 19) and "1d" manuscript British Colonial credit, Nov. 14 receiving backstamp, center stamp of strip has a tiny tear at left, trivial soiling along a few perfs from gumVERY FINE. A RARE 1857-60 ISSUE FRANKING TO PAY THE 45-CENT RATE TO HONG KONG BY BRITISH MAIL VIA MARSEILLES.
Built for direct competition with the British Cunard Line, the passenger mail steamship Vanderbilt was named for steamship and railroad tycoon Cornelius Vanderbilt. Flying the flag of the Vanderbilt European Line, she sailed (in summertime only) until the Civil War. The Vanderbilt was then chartered to the government as a transport, but when the Confederacy unveiled the C.S.S. Virginia, Vanderbilt offered the services of his ship -- which had 50 feet of iron plating forward -- as a ram to destroy the ironclad. Armed with two 200-pounder, twelve 9-inch, and one 12-pounder guns, she arrived at Hampton Roads after the duel between Virginia and Monitor. She then sailed in a yearlong search for the Confederate raider Alabama, during which time she captured several blockade-runners.
Accompanied by note from Calvet M. Hahn, who states that this was carried via Southampton, despite the 45c prepayment for British Mail via Marseilles.
Ex DuPuy. With 1991 P.S.E. certificate