Sale 1078 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 16-17 September, 2014
Category — 1c-90c 1857-60 Issue (Scott 19-39)
1c Blue, Ty. III/Ia (21/19). Positions 81/91L4, vertical pair with bottom sheet selvage, unused (no gum), top stamp has clear breaks at both top and bottom, type characteristics of the Type Ia stamp fully visible in selvage, deep rich color, few perf separations expertly reinforcedVERY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE UNUSED VERTICAL PAIR OF THE 1857 ONE-CENT PERFORATED, WITH THE TOP STAMP TYPE III AND THE BOTTOM STAMP TYPE Ia.
Type Ia, imperforate and perforated, only comes from 18 positions in the bottom rows of the right and left panes of Plate 4.
In Neinken's layout of Plate 4 (p. 263), Positions 81-82L are identified as Type IIIa's with Position 82L4 being a "swing position" that became Type III after the plate wore. So-called swing positions began as Type IIIa with the outer line at bottom complete, but as the plate was used, the bottom line wore and a portion disappeared, thus becoming Type III. Therefore, this pair, a late impression including one swing position -- 81L4 -- is correctly identified as a Type III/Ia combination.
With 1977 P.F. certificate signed by Neinken. Scott Retail as pair with gum $65,000.00. Scott Retail as no gum singles does not adequately convey its rarity, especially with the intact bottom selvage.
1c Blue, Ty. I (18). Plate 12, C Relief with bottom sheet selvage, original gum, lightly hinged, attractively centered, beautiful color and proof-like impression, Very Fine, with 1973 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. II (20). Plate 12, A Relief in top row, original gum, lightly hinged, precisely centered with beautiful colorEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 ONE-CENT TYPE II FROM PLATE 12.
With 1976 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. III (21). Position 46L4, rich color, distinct natural pre-printing paperfold, neat strikes of circular datestamp, Very Fine, with 2014 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. IIIa (22). Position 60R4, showing wide break at top, deep rich color, neat strike of 1858 circular datestamp, Very Fine and choice, with 2014 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. IV (23). Plate 1L, recut once at top and bottom, deep rich color on bright paper, nicely complemented by blue circular datestamps, Very Fine, a pretty stamp, with 1994 P.F. certificate
3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26). Mint N.H., brilliant color, Jumbo margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ as Mint N.H.)
3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26). Left selvage block of four, top left stamp Mint N.H., radiant color, unusually choice centering, few perf separations at bottom causing light gum soak, Very Fine-Extremely Fine, Scott Retail as block with no premium for the Mint N.H. stamp
3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26). Choice centering, rich color, perfect strike of ornamental "Paid 3" in oval handstamp, Extremely Fine Gem
5c Brick Red (27). Beautifully centered with perfs clear of design on all sides, vivid shade, lightly struck New Orleans circular datestamp, bright and fresh, natural coal speck inclusion visible only on backEXTREMELY FINE. A MAGNIFICENT LIGHTLY-CANCELLED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 5-CENT BRICK RED.
The 5c Brick Red stamps are usually cancelled at New Orleans and have scissors-trimmed perforations. This stamp is remarkably well-centered and lightly cancelled, and it has intact perforations without any trimming.
5c Bright Red Brown (28b). Intense color on bright paper, neat strike of circular datestampVERY FINE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 5-CENT BRIGHT RED BROWN SHADE.
With 1989 and 2014 P.F. certificates
5c Indian Red (28A). Wonderful intense shade and impression, well-centered with perforations clear of design all around, town cancelVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 5-CENT INDIAN RED.
Ex Emerson
5c Indian Red (28A). True Indian Red color, well-balanced margins, face-free cancel leaves entire design clearly visible, few small corner or corner perf creases, short perf at top, otherwise Very Fine, with 2012 P.F. certificate
5c Brown (29). Choice centering with balanced margins, bright shade, tied by "New Orleans La. Sep. 3, 1859" double-circle datestamp on small blue piece, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1990 P.F. certificate
5c Brown (29). Bright shade, crisp impression, neat strike of circular datestamp, Very Fine, with 2013 PSAG certificate (VF 80)
5c Brown (29). Vertical pair, rich color, face-free circular datestamps, Fine-Very Fine
5c Orange Brown, Ty. II (30). Original gum, h.r., perfectly centered with perfs well clear of design at top and bottom, wonderful warm colorEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1861 ORANGE BROWN SHADE.
From an old-time collection and offered to the market for the first time in half a century
10c Green, Ty. II (32). Unused (no gum), nicely centered with deep rich color, some tiny perf flaws, otherwise Very Fine, with 1971 A.P.S. certificate
10c Pale Green, Ty. II (32). Horizontal pair, unusual pale shade, choice centering, neat grid cancels, Very Fine-Extremely Fine, with 1990 and 1991 P.F. certificates, Scott Catalogue does not list a pale shade, which is specified as such on the certificate
10c Green, Ty. II/III (32/33). Vertical pair, top stamp Type III, bottom stamp Type II, deep rich color, neat strikes of New Orleans circular datestamps, Very Fine and choice combination pair, with 1991 and 2014 P.F. certificates, the former as on cover
10c Green, Ty. III (33). Choice centering with well-balanced margins, pretty shade nicely complemented by red "New-York" circular datestamp, reperfed at top, appears Extremely Fine
10c Green, Ty. IV (34). Position 65L1, recut at top, bright shade, wide margins, tiny surface scuff near top of Washington's head at right, otherwise Very Fine, with 2012 P.F. certificate
10c Green, Ty. V (35). Jumbo margins, bright shade, neat red New York circular datestamp, Extremely Fine Gem, a phenomenal stamp, ex Caspary
10c Green, Ty. V (35). Position 47R2, gorgeous centering, rich color, bold strike of red circular datestamp cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp in every respect
10c Dark Green, Ty. V (35). Position 52R2, choice centering with wide margins, deep rich color, bold strike of red grid of diamonds cancel of New Haven Conn., Extremely Fine, a gorgeous stamp, with 1990 P.F. certificate
12c Black, Plate 3 (36B). Original gum, almost perfectly centered, characteristic Plate 3 mottled impression, tiny corner crease bottom left, otherwise Extremely Fine, with 1976 P.F. certificate
12c Black, Plate 3 (36B). Vertical pair, choice centering with wide margins, intense shade, light strikes of blue grid cancel, Extremely Fine, a gorgeous pair, with 1993 P.F. certificate for strip
12c Black, Plate 3 (36B). Block of four, intense shade and impression, s.e. at right, unusual 12-spoke pinwheel fancy cancel, pulled perf at bottom left, otherwise Fine, with 1994 P.F. certificate declining opinion as to whether the straight edge at right comes from the interpane margin
24c Gray Lilac (37). Original gum, deep shade and detailed impression, unusually wide margins, Very Fine
24c Gray Lilac (37). Jumbo margins especially at sides, rich color, neat strike of San Francisco circular datestamp, Extremely Fine Gem, a phenomenal stamp, with 1986 P.F. certificate
24c Gray (37a). Rich color, wide and balanced margins, neat strike of large Boston "Paid" grid cancel, Extremely Fine, in our opinion the 24c 1860 Issue in the Gray shade is considerably scarcer than the main shade listing and deserves a higher catalogue value, with 1980 A.P.S. and 1982 P.F. certificates
30c Orange (38). Large part original gum, beautifully centered with marvelous vibrant color, Extremely Fine, exceptionally choice unused example of the 30c 1860 Issue, with 1976 P.F. certificate
30c Orange (38). Original gum, h.r., vibrant color, wide and well-balanced margins, few light gum soaks, otherwise Very Fine
30c Orange (38). Choice centering with unusually wide margins at sides, vibrant color, trace of blue transit and red grid cancels, Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp, with 1990 and 1991 P.F. certificates
30c Orange (38). Choice centering with balanced margins, intense shade, neat strike of Sacramento City Cal. circular datestamp, Extremely Fine, a pretty stamp, with 1996 P.F. certificate
30c Orange (38). Vibrant color, choice centering, neat strike of 11-bar open grid cancel, Extremely Fine, with 1981 and 1991 P.F. certificates
30c Orange (38). Brilliant color, well-balanced margins, circular datestamp cancel struck at lower right leaves entire design clearly visible, Very Fine and choice, with 1989 P.F. certificate
30c Orange (38). Vibrant color, neat strike of violet handstamp cancel, Very Fine and choice, exceedingly rare with a violet cancel, with 1991 P.F. certificate
30c Orange, Imperforate (38a). Unused, without gum as issued, typical small margins except right much larger than usual, rich color, Very Fine, scarce and seldom offered, with 1955 P.F. certificate
90c Blue (39). Original gum, small h.r., rich color on bright paper, well-proportioned marginsEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1860 ISSUE.
Scarce with such choice centering.
90c Blue (39). Unused (no gum), well-centered with exceptionally wide side margins, strong intense color, Extremely Fine, handsome unused example, with 1967 P.F. certificate
90c Blue (39). Deep rich color, bold strike of large Boston "Paid" grid cancel, reperfed at right, few faults incl. pulled perfs at top and bottomVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A SCARCE USED EXAMPLE OF THE SHORT-LIVED 90-CENT 1860 ISSUE.
The 90c stamp was issued in 1860, along with the 24c and 30c values, all of which were needed to prepay high international letter rates established by various postal treaties. The basic 24c and 30c rates to England, France and Germany created a volume of mail franked with those values. However, the 90c saw much more limited use, partly due to the rates in effect, but more because of the American Civil War. When supplies of current postage stamps were declared invalid in the South and ultimately demonetized by the Federal government, the 90c had been in use for only one year. For this reason, genuinely cancelled copies are scarce, and covers bearing the 90c are extremely rare.
Approximately 180 used examples have been certified by The Philatelic Foundation, of which one-quarter are sound. With 1970 and 1977 P.F. certificates, the former stating "defective" and the latter stating reperfed.