Sale 1089 — The Curtis Collection: U.S. Revenues, Part 1
Sale Date — Tuesday, 16 December, 2014
Category — First Issue Blocks and Record-Size Multiples, Imperforate, 1c-60c
Lot
Symbol
Photo/Description
Cat./Est. Value
Realized
318
1c Express, Imperforate (R1a). Block of 20, large margins, manuscript cancels, some creases and repaired where split, otherwise Very Fine, this is the largest recorded multiple off document, Scott Retail as blocks of four and pairs $3,200.00
E. 400-500
1,300
319
1c Playing Cards, Imperforate (R2a). The unique reconstructed block of four from the Joyce collection, manuscript cancels, good color, the piece is rejoined horizontally and small parts of the tops of the designs added to the top two stamps, looks Fine-Very Fine, sold in the 1991 Joyce sale as a reconstructed block of four made from the original four singles when in fact this may be two horizontal pairs with heavy creasing between vertically, according to www.thecurtiscollection.com website, this is the only "block", plus there are two horizontal pairs (one repaired), and five vertical pairs, Scott Retail as two pairs $14,000.00, Scott Retail as singles $13,000.00
E. 750-1,000
1,700
Back to Top320
1c Proprietary, Imperforate (R3a). Vertical pair, large margins including top sheet margin, rich color, blue "John L. Brown & Son, Boston Mass., Jan. 3, 1863" datestamp cancels, top stamp small tear at upper right, bottom stamp small tear at left center, Very Fine appearance, this is the largest recorded multiple, only five pairs are known (two horizontal and three vertical), ex Joyce, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate
2,600
1,300
Back to Top321
2c Bank Check, Blue, Imperforate (R5a). Block of 21 which has been rejoined in two places, large margins, each stamp with neat manuscript cancel, faint crease, Very Fine appearance, this is the second largest recorded multiple, the largest is a reconstructed block of 54 (also in the Curtis Collection), ex Joyce and Halstead, Scott Retail as blocks of four and pairs $647.50
E. 150-200
400
Back to Top322
2c Bank Check, Blue, Imperforate (R5a). Block of four, huge margins, rich color, neat "R.B. & Co. Aug. 29, 1864" manuscript cancel, few tiny pinholes in bottom right stamp, otherwise Extremely Fine and beautiful block, ex Joyce and Zoellner
190
100
Back to Top323
2c Certificate, Blue, Imperforate (R7a). Block of 45 and strip of four, used with 2c Express, Blue, Perforated (R9c) on document, few faults including creased along folds, otherwise Very Fine, this is the largest recorded multiple, the next largest is a block of 15
E. 1,000-1,500
900
Back to Top324
3c Telegraph, Imperforate (R19a). Block of 31 reconstructed from blocks of 15, 12 and four which apparently were all on the same document, deep rich color, Feb. 16, 1863 manuscript cancels, the block of 15 with few sealed tears, few small flaws but far better than normally seen in such a large multiple, Very Fine appearance, this is the largest recorded multiple, the next largest is a block of 18, ex Joyce, Scott Retail as blocks of four and singles $8,600.00
E. 1,000-1,500
1,400
Back to Top325
3c Telegraph, Imperforate (R19a). Block of four, full margins to just in at right, intense shade and impression, manuscript cancels, light vertical crease mostly between stamps but affecting left pair, Fine-Very Fine appearance, this is one of only three recorded blocks of four, ex Joyce
1,200
0
Back to Top326
5c Certificate, Imperforate (R24a). Block of 12, large margins, Feb. 14, 1863 manuscript cancels, few light creases, Very Fine appearance, this is the largest recorded multiple, one other block of twelve is known, offered in the following lot, but it is reconstructed, ex Cunliffe, Scott Retail as blocks of four and pairs $570.00
E. 300-400
425
Back to Top327
5c Certificate, Imperforate (R24a). Reconstructed block of 12 consisting of three vertical strips of four, large margins, bright color, neat manuscript cancels, tiny imperfections which are meaningless on a multiple such as this, Very Fine-Extremely Fine appearance, this is tied for the largest recorded multiple, only the example offered in the previous lot exists as large, ex Joyce
E. 300-400
350
Back to Top328
5c Express, Imperforate (R25a). Block of 72, huge margins to just in at top including significant portion of adjoining stamps at right, each with neat manuscript cancel, radiant color, few faults including creases with minor splitting, few edge tears, still Very Fine, this is the largest recorded multiple, the next largest is a reconstructed block of 60, Scott Retail as blocks and pairs $3,840.00
E. 1,500-2,000
4,000
Back to Top329
10c Inland Exchange, Imperforate (R36a). Block of four, large even margins all around, intense color on crisp fresh paper, Aug. 29, 1863 manuscript cancelsVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE BLOCK OF THE IMPERFORATE 10-CENT INLAND EXCHANGE AND THE FINER OF THE TWO BLOCKS OF FOUR EXTANT.
Only one larger block is recorded in the Curtis census (a block of ten), and a strip of five is also known. This is the finer of the two recorded blocks of four (the other has uneven margins slightly cutting in).
Ex Joyce and Floyd
3,500
1,800
Back to Top330
15c Inland Exchange, Imperforate (R40a). Block of six, large margins to just clear, deep rich color, Sep. 19, 1863 manuscript cancels, Fine-Very Fine, an attractive multiple, this is the largest recorded multiple (two others are also known, one is reinforced), ex Dean, Joyce and Halstead, Scott Retail as block of four and pair $1,150.00
E. 500-750
650
Back to Top331
15c Inland Exchange, Imperforate (R40a). Expertly reconstructed block of five, large margins, bright color, neat manuscript cancels, Very Fine appearance, this is the second largest multiple recorded by Curtis (three blocks of six are recorded), ex Little, Whitman and Fay, Scott Retail as pairs and single $945.00
E. 300-400
225
Back to Top332
20c Foreign Exchange, Imperforate (R41a). Block of nine with right sheet margin, huge margins to in at bottom left, light manuscript cancel, horizontal crease of little significance for a block this size, Very Fine-Extremely Fine, this is the second largest known multiple, Scott Retail for a block, pairs and single $1,895.00
E. 750-1,000
500
Back to Top333
20c Foreign Exchange, Imperforate (R41a). Reconstructed block of eleven made from strips of five and six, Feb. 28, 1863 manuscript cancels, few light creases, small tear at top left, minor soiling at center, Very Fine appearance, this is the largest recorded multiple, the largest intact multiple is the block of nine in lot 332, ex Cunliffe, Scott Retail as pairs and single $2,095.00
E. 400-500
425
Back to Top334
20c Inland Exchange, Imperforate (R42a). Block of 25, large margins, bright color, Feb. 13, 1863 manuscript cancels, few faults including split along horizontal crease where reattached, otherwise Very Fine, this is the largest recorded multiple, the next largest is a block of twelve, ex Cunliffe, Scott Retail as blocks of four and pairs $1,417.00
E. 400-500
650
Back to Top335
25 Bond, Imperforate (R43a). Block of four, large margins to just in at top left, bright color, March 4, 1863 manuscript cancel, few creases and sealed tears, still Fine-Very Fine, a block of four is the largest recorded multiple, the other is rejoined from two pairs (lot 336), a rejoined strip of four is also known
5,000
0
Back to Top336
25 Bond, Imperforate (R43a). Reconstructed block of four, comprising two vertical pairs, large margins all around, rich color, top pair with horizontal crease ending in a tear at right, Very Fine appearance, one intact block of four is known (lot 335), no multiple larger than four is recorded in Curtis census, ex Joyce and Cunliffe
E. 750-1,000
0
Back to Top337
25c Entry of Goods, Imperforate (R45a). Block of eight, large margins to ample, neat April 2, 1863 manuscript cancel, bottom left stamp small tear at bottom, faint horizontal crease between stamps, reinforced along horizontal split in bottom stamps, otherwise Very Fine, this is the largest recorded multiple and the only block larger than a block of four (a rejoined strip of eight is also known), ex Joyce and Cunliffe, Scott Retail as two blocks of four
1,000
500
Back to Top338
25c Insurance, Imperforate (R46a). Block of 33 made from block of 21 and irregular block of twelve, large margins to clear, manuscript cancels, few faults including creases and sealed tears, still Very Fine, this is the largest recorded multiple, the next largest is a strip of eight, ex Cunliffe as two lots, Scott Retail as blocks, pairs and single $4,017.50
E. 1,500-2,000
800
Back to Top339
25c Protest, Imperforate (R49a). Block of 12, large margins to full, radiant color, Jan. 1, 1863 manuscript cancels, some faults including sealed along splits and small piece out of pos. 6, otherwise Fine-Very Fine, this is the largest recorded multiple, the next largest is a block of eight, ex Joyce and Cunliffe, Scott Retail as blocks of four and pairs $1,900.00
E. 500-750
600
Back to Top340
25c Warehouse Receipt, Imperforate (R50a). Block of four, large margins to clear, April 1, 1863 manuscript cancels, on small part of handwritten document, bottom left stamp small tear at left, otherwise Fine-Very Fine, a block of four is the second largest recorded multiple
1,200
180
Back to Top341
30c Foreign Exchange, Imperforate (R51a). Horizontal strip of 12, large margins to just in at a few spots at top, rich color, Aug. 3, 1864 manuscript cancels, few light natural pre-printing paperfolds, pos. 10 small tear at top, Fine-Very Fine appearance, this is the largest recorded multiple, ex Weill sale and Cunliffe, Scott Retail as pairs $3,900.00
E. 750-1,000
1,600
Back to Top342
30c Foreign Exchange, Imperforate (R51a). Block of four, large margins to clear, radiant color, Aug. 28, 1864 manuscript cancels, fresh and Very Fine, this is the only recorded block of this issue, two larger strips are known, but this is the only block, ex Joyce and Floyd
E. 1,000-1,500
1,500
Back to Top343
30c Inland Exchange, Imperforate (R52a). Reconstructed block of four comprising two rejoined horizontal pairs, huge margins to clear, neat manuscript cancel, Fine-Very Fine, one larger block is known (of six) and five blocks of four are recorded, Scott Retail as two pairs
1,000
250
Back to Top344
50c Conveyance, Imperforate (R54a). Block of 32, large margins to clear, bright color, neat Dec. 1, 1862 manuscript cancels, few creases to be expected, bottom right horizontal pair separated and hinged in place, few sealed tears, overall Very Fine, this is the largest recorded multiple, the next largest is a block of 20, ex Cunliffe, Scott Retail as blocks of four $4,800.00
E. 750-1,000
2,600
Back to Top345
50c Life Insurance, Imperforate (R58a). Block of 12, huge margins to just in at top right including left sheet margin, few horizontal creases causing small splits, Very Fine appearance, this is the largest recorded multiple and only one other is known (without sheet margin), ex Cunliffe, Scott Retail as blocks of four and pairs $2,020.00
E. 500-750
850
Back to Top346
50c Mortgage, Imperforate (R59a). Block of 20, large margins to clear, on piece, Dec. 1, 1862 manuscript cancels, few creases causing some paper splitting, otherwise Fine-Very Fine, this is the largest recorded multiple, the next largest is a block of ten, ex Cunliffe, Scott Retail as blocks of four $1,800.00
E. 500-750
850
Back to Top347
50c Passage Ticket, Imperforate (R61a). Block of four, large margins all around, rich color, May 7, 1863 manuscript cancels, faint vertical crease at left, Very Fine appearance, this is the largest recorded multiple, two blocks of four and four strips of four are known (the other block is reconstructed), ex Joyce and Cunliffe
1,250
600
Back to Top348
50c Probate of Will, Imperforate (R62a). Block of 32, large margins to in where some defective stamps at left rebacked to improve appearance, deep rich color, Aug. 27, 1866 manuscript cancels, few other faults including top stamps split along fold, otherwise Fine-Very Fine, this is the largest recorded multiple, the next largest is a reconstructed block of 19 made from blocks of ten and nine, ex Cunliffe, Scott Retail as blocks of four $6,800.00
E. 750-1,000
1,600
Back to Top349
50c Surety Bond, Imperforate (R63a). Horizontal strip of four, huge margins all around, detailed impression, 1863 manuscript cancel, scissors-cut at bottom of second stamp, Extremely Fine, this is the largest recorded multiple of this issue, three strips of four are known and no blocks are recorded, ex Cunliffe, Scott Retail as two pairs $2,400.00
E. 1,000-1,500
1,400
Back to Top350
60c Inland Exchange, Imperforate (R64a). Block of ten, large margins to clear, radiant color, Jan. 5, 1863 manuscript cancel, defective including internal tears and creases, otherwise Fine-Very Fine, this is the largest recorded multiple and the only one this size, the next largest is a block of nine, ex Joyce, Scott Retail as blocks of four $2,000.00
E. 500-750
500
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