Sale 1084 — The Curtis Collection: 1847-1901 Stamps and Covers
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 5-6 November, 2014
Category — 1c 1857-60 Issue (Scott 18-24)
1c Blue, Ty. II-I (20-18). Plate 12, horizontal pair, combination of reliefs and types, right stamp Type I, original gum, lightly hinged, bright color, choice centering and wide margins clearly showing the Type I characteristics at top and bottomEXTREMELY FINE. A CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM PAIR SHOWING THE COMBINATION OF RELIEFS AND TYPES FOUND IN HORIZONTAL ROWS ON PLATE 12, INCLUDING A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF TYPE I.
Ex McKinney. With 1999 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. I, II (18, 20). Positions 64-65/74-75L12, block of four, bottom right and top left stamps Type I, original gum, lightly hinged, brilliant color, right stamps faint vertical bendFINE-VERY FINE. A SCARCE ORIGINAL-GUM COMBINATION BLOCK OF THE ONE-CENT PERFORATED ISSUE FROM PLATE 12.
With 1978 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail $8,750.00
1c Blue, Ty. I (18). Plate 12, choice centering with wide margins which clearly show the characteristics of the type, brilliant color, neat strike of "New-York Jul. 30" circular datestampEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 PERFORATED ONE-CENT TYPE I. A RARE STAMP IN SUCH SUPERB CONDITION.
The defining characteristic of Type I is that the entire design is printed, including the scrolls and plumes at bottom. Among the plates used to print imperforate stamps, only one position out of 1,000 can claim that honor (Position 7R1E, Scott No. 5). Type I perforated stamps are only known from certain positions on Plate 12. Due to the narrow spacing between perforations and difficulties of production, this issue is usually found with part of the design cut off by the perforations. The example offered here, with bright color, a clear cancel and with the design characteristics clearly visible, is a true condition rarity. The bottom part of the design, which is highly prized by specialists because it is incomplete on almost all other types, is intact.
Ex Natalee Grace. With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $6,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded
1c Blue, Ty. I (18). Plate 12, horizontal pair, fresh color and crisp impression, well-struck New York grid duplex, Very Fine and choice, with 2004 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. Ia (19). Position 97R4, unusually choice centering for this difficult issue, wide and balanced margins, deep rich color and proof-like impression on bright paper, neat strike of large Boston "Paid" grid leaves the type's defining characteristics clearly visibleEXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 ONE-CENT PERFORATED TYPE Ia. THIS IS ONE OF THE SCARCEST AND MOST DESIRABLE TYPES OF THE ISSUE.
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 spacing 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.
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 Natalee Grace. With 1998 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $31,000.00). Only three have graded higher, including the famous Zoellner-Hinrichs copy with wide-spaced perforations (graded 98J).
1c Blue, Ty. Ia (19). Position 93R4, rich color on bright paper, neat Chicago circular datestampA FINE AND ATTRACTIVE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 ONE-CENT PERFORATED TYPE Ia.
With 2005 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. Ia (19). Position 98L4, rich color, neat circular datestamp, corner crease at top right, small tears at upper left and bottom left, slightly shorter perf at bottom, otherwise Fine, an affordable example of this rare type, with 1994 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (G 30), the former noting small repair at top left instead of tear
1c Blue, Ty. Ia (19). Position 99R4, tied by "Watertown N.Y. Jan. 19, 185?" circular datestamp on brown cover to local address with Keeler & Coolidge Dry Goods, Clocks, Watches, Jewelry corner card, stamped illustration at right with "23" handstamp of unknown meaning, light soiling and missing backflapFINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT TYPE Ia PERFORATED ON A CORNER CARD COVER.
Type Ia was produced by only 18 of the 20 bottom-row positions on Plate 4. Most examples on cover are either off-center, have small faults or are used with other stamps. The example offered here, an attractive single on a corner card cover is most unusual.
With 1994 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. III-Ic-III (21-19b-21). Positions 46-48L4, horizontal strip of three, E Reliefs, outer stamps Type III, middle stamp Type Ic, pretty color, New Orleans circular datestamp cancels, a few flaws including small diagonal crease, left pair with slightly trimmed perfs, right stamp pulled perf, a few reinforced separations, Very Good appearing and extremely rare combination strip from Plate 4 with the desirable Types III and Ic, with 1994 P.F. certificate, listed but unpriced as a combination pair, Scott Retail as singles
1c Blue, Ty. III/IIIa/Ic (21/22/19b). Positions 61-62/71-72/81-82R4, vertical block of six, top stamps Type III, center row Type IIIa, both bottom stamps Type Ic, deep rich Plate 4 color, three neat strikes of large Boston "Paid" grid, couple short perfs at left, few faint creases, bottom left stamp expertly sealed tear, top right stamp tiny tearFINE TO VERY FINE APPEARANCE. THIS USED MULTIPLE CONTAINING A COMBINATION OF TYPES III, IIIa AND Ic IS UNIQUE.
Positions 81-82R4 are the only positions on the sheet which yield a horizontal pair of Type Ic. The pair is listed in Scott under 19b, but is unpriced. Scott also lists but does not price a block of four of Types III-IIIa.
Ex Twigg-Smith and Lake Shore. Illustrated in the Neinken book on page 283. With 2005 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail $10,500.00 as two singles of Scott 19b and two combination pairs of III-IIIa
1c Blue, Ty. II (20). Positions 2-3/12-13L12, block of four, original gum with three h.r. which sensibly reinforce a few perf separations, bright colorFRESH AND FINE 1857 ONE-CENT TYPE II BLOCK FROM THE TOP OF PLATE TWELVE.
Type II blocks from Plate 12 can only come from the top row. The bottom stamps in this block have very small breaks in the top outer lines.
Scott Retail $6,000.00
1c Blue, Ty. II (20). Plate 12, rich color, well-centered, neat "New York Jul. 13, 1861" circular datestamp, fresh and Very Fine, with 2004 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. II (20). Plate 12, tied by "Boston Mass. 3 Oct." circular datestamp on 1857 printed Eliot Bank Boston stockholder notice to Nashua N.H., minor tears on back, Very Fine, with 2004 P.S.E. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. II/IIIa (20/22). Positions 1/11R11, vertical pair, top stamp T Relief Type II, bottom stamp Ty. IIIa, both stamps showing clear double transfers, interpane margin and centerline at left, deep rich color, town cancels, about Fine, scarce multipe from Plate 11
1c Blue, Ty. IIIa/III (22/21). Positions 72/82L4, vertical pair, top stamp Type IIIa, bottom stamp Type III, unused (no gum), deep rich color and sharp proof-like impressionFINE. A RARE UNUSED 1857 PERFORATED ONE-CENT PAIR COMBINING TYPES IIIA AND III.
1959 P.F. certificate no longer accompanies. Scott Retail $7,850.00 as singles
1c Blue, Ty. III (21). Deep rich Plate 4 color, extra wide margins and choice centering, virtually face-free cancelEXTREMELY FINE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 ONE-CENT TYPE III.
Due to the narrow vertical spacing on this plate, stamps are most typically found with narrow margins and perforations impinging on one or more sides. The wide-margined example offered here is centered so that the type characteristics are clearly visible.
Ex Twigg-Smith. With 2011 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85 Jumbo; SMQ $3,250.00 as 85, $4,500.00 as 90).
1c Blue, Ty. III (21). Rich Plate 4 color on bright paper, with wide break at top and clear break along perforations at bottom, mostly face-free strike of town circular datestamp, fresh and Very Fine, ex Twigg-Smith, with 2001 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. III, Position 99R2 (21). Rich color, neat strike of town cancel, wide bottom margin clearly showing the wide break and double transfer that define the positionFINE. AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE PERFORATED ONE-CENT 1857 ISSUE FROM POSITION 99R2.
Plate 2 was made in late 1855, and consists of 198 stamps that are Type II, one position that is Type III (99R2) and one that is Type IIIA (100R2).
Guide dots were used to accurately lay out the subjects on the plate. Positions 79 and 89 were transferred perfectly using their guide dots. However, the guide dot to the south-east of Position 88R2, which was used to align the single B Relief for Position 99R2, was placed far out of line, resulting in the bottom part of the A Relief being transferred into the bottom part of Position 89 (and in the margin below this position) by mistake. When the fresh entry was made in Position 99R a full transfer of the design was not possible without running into the error in Position 89R. The position was therefore short transferred at top, and apparently also at bottom, creating the finest example of Type III found on any plate (see pp. 183-184 of Neinken book).
Plate 2 stamps were issued imperforate from December 1855 through June 1857. Beginning in July 1857 stamps from Plates 1 Late, 2 and 4 were issued with perforations, and Plates 2 and 4 continued to produce stamps through late 1857. Plate 2 stamps are rarer perforated than in imperforate form; conversely, Plate 4 stamps are rarer imperforate than in perforated form. Perforated 99R2 stamps are of extreme rarity.
Our census, which incorporates the records of noted student Jerome S. Wagshal, the Philatelic Foundation, the Levi records and our own work, is available at our website at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/21/21.pdf . Only one unused example is known, in a block. Twelve used singles are recorded, as are three on covers and two in strips, for a total of 18 known in any form. Virtually all have faults or are very off-center -- only three off-cover singles, including this stamp, and one on cover are confirmed as sound.
Siegel Census No. 21(99R2)-CAN-02. From our 1975 and 1991 Rarities sales and ex Ishikawa. Last offered to the market in our 1997 Rarities sale. Signed Ashbrook. With 1980 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. III (21). Position 55L4, scissors-separated, tied by "Boston Paid Jan. 1" circular datestamp on 1858 printed notice to Providence R.I., fresh and Fine
1c Blue, Ty. IIIa (22). Positions 58-60R4, horizontal strip of three, pen cancel, bleached spot at right and pulled perf at bottom of center stamp, Very Fine appearance, Position 59R4 is discussed by Neinken (p. 274) as the finest example of Type IIIa, with 2001 P.S.E. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. IIIa (22). Position 57R4, tied by New York circular datestamp on 1858 prices current to Suffield Conn., cover with minor stains at bottom, Very Fine, with 2004 P.S.E. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. IV (23). Recut once at top and twice at bottom, deep rich color and proof-like impression, choice centering with well-proportioned margins which clearly show the characteristics of the type, neat strike of Syracuse N.Y. circular datestampEXTREMELY FINE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 ONE-CENT PERFORATED TYPE IV. A BEAUTIFUL STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT.
Most examples of this issue have perforations either touching or into the recut lines. The example offered here, with intact recut lines at top and bottom, is exceedingly rare. It also has uncharacteristically deep color and detailed impression for a Plate 1 Late printing.
Ex Natalee Grace. With 1997 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $2,000.00). Only four have graded higher
1c Blue, Ty. IV (23). Positions 52-53/62-63L1L, block of four, top left stamp recut twice at top and twice at bottom, top right stamp recut once at top and twice at bottom, bottom stamps both recut once at top and bottom, deep rich color and proof-like impression, each stamp cancelled by neat ms. "X", right stamps repairedFINE APPEARANCE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE BLOCK OF THE PERFORATED ONE-CENT TYPE IV. ONLY THREE OR FOUR USED BLOCKS ARE KNOWN.
An article by Mortimer L. Neinken in the Collectors Club Philatelist (Vol. 49, No. 4, p. 210) states: "Unused blocks of the perforated Type IV are unknown... Extensive investigation has revealed the existence of only two used blocks (one ex Chase)." The Neinken book (pp. 135-136) repeats much of this information and describes a third block, on cover, that was reported at publication time. This may be the ex-Chase/Emerson block noted in the Neinken book on page 135. These three used blocks are all that we record.
The rarity of Type IV perforated stamps is explained by the fact that Plate 1 Late (containing the 199 recut positions) was not used to print stamps in mid-1857 when perforations were introduced. Some left-over imperforate Plate 1L sheets were fed through the perforator, as were sheets from Plates 2 and 4, and these stamps were issued beginning in July 1857. The latter two plates remained in production, but Plate 1L produced no additional stamps. Thus, only a small number of Type IV stamps were ever issued with perforations.
Ex Twigg-Smith. Scott Retail $25,000.00
1c Blue, Ty. IV (23). Plate 1L, recut once at top and bottom, tied by red "U.S. Mail/City Delivery/1/Nov. 10" double-circle datestamp on yellow cover to local street address, blue embossed sender's seal on top flap, Very Fine, with 2001 P.S.E. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. IV (23). Position 8R1L, recut twice at bottom, tied by "Springfield Ma. Feb. 16" circular datestamp on 1858 folded printed stockholder's meeting notice to Suffield Conn., centered to left, Fine, with 2004 P.S.E. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. V (24). Positions 39-40/49-50/59-60/69-70R10, right imprint and plate no. 10 block of eight, original gum, stamps lightly hinged, h.r. in selvage where few minor perf separations sensibly reinforced, rich color, fresh and Very Fine, an attractive plate block, ex Wampler
1c Blue, Ty. V (24). Block of four with part imprint and plate no. 10 selvage at left, original gum, h.r. where few perf separations sensibly reinforced, top stamps small thin spots, few light creases, Fine appearance, a scarce block with the imprint and plate number, Scott Retail as normal block of four with no premium for the position
1c Blue, Ty. V (24). Almost perfectly centered with wide margins at sides, deep rich color and sharp proof-like impression, light strike of "New-York Jan. 25" circular datestamp, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Twigg-Smith
1c Blue, Ty. V (24). Block of four, rich color, neat central strike of "San Francisco Cal. Dec. 7, 1860" circular datestamp, Very Fine-Extremely Fine, with 1990 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. Va (24 var). Plate 5, incredibly deep rich color on bright white paper, unusually wide margins all around, neat strike of circular datestamp, light vertical crease, Extremely Fine appearance, with 2001 P.F. certificate