Sale 1092 — Outstanding United States Stamps
Sale Date — Thursday-Friday, 19-20 February, 2015
Category — 1869 Pictorial Issue and 1875-Re-Issue (Scott 112-133)
1c Buff (112). Lightly hinged, fresh color, Very Fine, with 1984 P.F. certificate
1c Buff (112). Bright fresh color, wonderfully well-centered, light target cancels, Extremely Fine, with 1999 A.P.S. certificate
2c Brown (113). Mint N.H. with top right corner selvage (lightly hinged in selvage), rich color, well-centered with wide margins, Very Fine and choice, a premium corner-margin Mint N.H. stamp, with 2013 P.F. certificate for a pair, Scott Retail as hinged
2c Brown (113). Mint N.H. with right selvage (lightly hinged in selvage), rich color, Very Fine, with copy of 2013 P.F. certificate for a pair, Scott Retail as hinged
2c Brown (113). Unused (no gum) vertical pair with end roller grill in selvage at left, stamps with small flaws, still Fine, desirable with the end roller grill, with 1989 P.S.E. certificate for strip of three, ex Heimburger, Scott Retail as no gum singles with no premium for the variety in selvage
3c Ultramarine (114). Mint N.H. with top right corner selvage, bright color, wide and balanced margins, horizontally split grill but since this is from the top of the sheet it only shows half the grill at bottom and none at top (technically this is an unlisted variety), Extremely Fine Gem, with 2014 P.S.A.G. certificate (XF 90 Jumbo)
3c Ultramarine, Without Grill (114a). Disturbed original gum, crisp shade and impression, choice centering for this difficult issueVERY FINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE WITHOUT GRILL. THE LOWER-VALUE 1869's WITHOUT GRILL ARE MUCH RARER THAN THE HIGH VALUES, AND THEY ARE SELDOM ENCOUNTERED IN CHOICE CONDITION.
With 1995 P.F. certificates
3c Ultramarine, Without Grill (114a). Original gum, h.r., well-centered, filled thin at top right causes some faint soiling on the face, Extremely Fine appearance, a rare 1869 Pictorial variety, with 2012 P.S.A.G. certificate
6c Ultramarine (115). Original gum, bright color on crisp paperEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
With 2014 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85)
10c Yellow (116). Original gum, minor h.r., bright color, well-centered, reperfed at left and bottom, Very Fine appearance
10c Yellow (116). Jumbo margins, bright color, indistinct cancel, skillfully reperfed at right, Extremely Fine appearance
12c Green (117). Original gum, mathematically perfect centering and balanced margins all around, bright fresh color and paper, long full perforationsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
With 2014 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, Superb 98; SMQ $20,000.00). The P.S.E. Population Report lists one 98 and two 98J's for the 12c with original gum. Only one 2c, two 3c and one 10c in the 1869 Pictorial Issue with original gum have achieved a 98 grade (none higher).
12c Green (117). Deep rich color and proof-like impression, gorgeous centering with wide and balanced margins, neat strike of crossroads cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp in every respect, ex Tahoe, with 1998 P.S.E. certificate
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. I (118). Bright colors, wide margins, bold circle of wedges cancel, Very Fine
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. I (118). Bright colors, wide margins, light strike of cancel, Very Fine, with and 2006 P.F. certificates (VF 80)
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. I, II (118, 119). One of Ty. I and seven of Ty. II, one of latter regummed, one with vignette chemically removed, most others with vignette shifts ranging from moderate to dramatic, some flaws, overall appear Fine, an interesting group
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. I, Without Grill (118a). Original gum, beautiful proof-like colors and impressions, fresh and bright paperFINE. A FRESH ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 15-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE WITHOUT GRILL.
Our survey of the Philatelic Foundation records shows approximately 25 examples have been certified as genuine, of which about half have faults.
With 2010 P.F. certificate
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II (119). Deep rich colors and proof-like impressions on bright paper, choice centering, light segmented cork cancel leaves vignette clearly visible, Very Fine and choice, with 2001 P.F. certificate
24c Green & Violet (120). Original gum, wide margins and choice centering, bright colors and proof-like impressions, the vignette shows all of the extraordinary detailEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
With 2007 P.S.E. certificate
24c Green & Violet (120). Choice margins and centering, circle of wedges cancel, Extremely Fine, with 1980 P.F. certificate
24c Green & Violet (120). Bright colors and crisp impressions, blue cork cancels, Very Fine, very desirable with such a prominent colored cancel, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate
24c Green & Violet (120). Rich colors, clearly-defined grill, bold cork cancel, Very Fine, with 1980 P.F. certificate
24c Green & Violet (120). Rich colors, neat Leaf cancel, fresh and Very Fine, with 1995 A.P.S. and 2014 P.F. certificates (VF 80)
30c Ultramarine & Carmine (121). Original gum, brilliant colors, outstanding centering with wide and well-proportioned margins all aroundEXTREMELY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL WHICH HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF XF 90 BY P.S.E.
The rarity of centered original-gum examples of the 30c 1869 with grill is somewhat obscured by the availability of off-center copies of the 30c with and without grill. If the scope were narrowed to Scott 121 only, and only grades of Very Fine or Extremely Fine were considered, we estimate that fewer than 15 examples would be counted. Among the qualifying stamps, this is without a doubt one of the finest extant.
With 2015 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF 90; SMQ $17,000.00). Only two have been graded higher (at 90J and 95 -- the latter offered in our 2009 sale of the Beverly Hills collection). This is the only original-gum stamp to achieve a 90 grade
30c Ultramarine & Carmine (121). Rich colors, bold cancel, balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $900.00)
30c Ultramarine & Carmine, Without Grill (121a). Original gum, bright colors and sharp impressionsA FINE AND VERY RARE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE WITHOUT GRILL.
This stamp has the color and impression of the true Scott 121a variety, not the Double Paper/Without Grill. With 1998 P.S.E. certificate
1c-90c 1869 Pictorial Re-Issue (123-124, 126-132). The complete set less the 3c value, all unused no gum or regummed except 12c and 30c original gum, couple reperfed, etc., otherwise Fine-Very Fine appearance, unusual opportunity to acquire a nearly complete set of this scarce re-issue
1c Buff (123). Original gum, rich color, well-proportioned margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate (OGh, XF 90; SMQ $1,150.00)
1c Buff, Re-Issue (123). Choice balanced margins, light strike of violet cancel, rich color, Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp with a premium cancel, with 2014 P.S.A.G. certificate (90), Scott Retail as normal cancel
1c Buff, Re-Issue (123). Pretty shade, neat circle of V's cancel, fresh and Very Fine, with 2014 P.F. certificate (VF 80)
1c Buff, Re-Issue (123). Bright color, unobtrusive cork cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 2010 P.F. certificate
1c Buff, Brown Orange, Re-Issues (123, 133). Rich colors in distinctly different shades, neat target cancels, few minor imperfections, Fine-Very Fine
3c Blue, Re-Issue (125). Original gum, lightly hinged, radiant color on bright paper, unusually wide margins for this difficult issue, long and full perforations all aroundVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFULLY-PRESERVED EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE.
Original sales figures show that among the 1869 Pictorial Re-Issues, the 3c and 90c stamps accounted for the smallest number of units sold (1,406 and 1,356, respectively). Overall, the 1869's were popular with stamp collectors, far outselling the 1851-60 and 1861-66 Re-Issue sets. However, the 90c stamp's high denomination and the availability of ordinary 3c stamps limited demand. Today, both are rare, and handling over the years has not been kind to most of the surviving examples.
Ex Eugene Joyce and Scarsdale. With 1974 and 2000 P.F. certificates.
12c Green, Re-Issue (128). Original gum, deep rich color and proof-like impression, well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE.
With 2012 P.S.E. certificate (OGh, XF 90; SMQ $5,250.00). Only five have graded higher.
30c Blue & Carmine, Re-Issue (131). Deep rich colors and proof-like impressions on bright paper, well-struck registry oval cancelVERY FINE AND CHOICE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE.
SMQ estimates that approximately 40 are known used. Our experience has been that many are either off-center or have small faults. Small red backstamp. With 1982 and 2009 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85)
1c Buff, 1880 Re-Issue (133). Mint N.H., radiant color, choice centering with well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT 1880 RE-ISSUE OF THE 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
With 1984 P.F. certificate for a block of four, this the top left stamp. Scott Retail as hinged