Sale 1111 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 27-29 October, 2015
Category — 1861-66 Issue (Scott 56-78)
3c Brown Rose, First Design (56). Original gum, h.r., radiant color, Fine
10c Dark Green, First Design (62B). Rich color, neat strike of grid cancel, small tear at bottom right, Fine appearance
1c Blue (63). Original gum, lightly hinged, wide margins, excellent centering, lovely pastel color, Extremely Fine Gem, an uncommonly select quality example, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,800.00), only two grade higher
1c Blue (63). Block of six with bottom part imprint selvage, original gum, bottom center and bottom left stamps Mint N.H., radiant color, Very Fine, lacking the four left stamps to be a complete plate block, of which only eight are recorded, Scott Retail as block of four and pair with no premium for the two Mint N.H. stamps.
1c Blue (63). Brilliant color, blue Wells, Fargo & Co. Express double-circle datestamp, Extremely Fine, scarce marking on the 1c 1861, with 2015 P.F. certificate
3c Rose (65). Original gum, lightly hinged, well-centered with wide margins, rich color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate as Brown Red (OGph, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $700.00), only four grade higher
3c Lake (66). Unused (no gum), deep rich color, Fine, Scott Retail as original gum
24c Red Lilac (70). Rich color on bright paper, Jumbo margins, neat strike of large Boston "Paid" grid cancel, Extremely Fine, scarce with such wide margins, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90 Jumbo; SMQ $900.00 as 90, $4,750.00 as 95), the highest grade awarded is a 95
30c Orange (71). Vibrant color, perfect strike of San Francisco cogwheel cancel, choice centering and balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 2015 P.F. certificate (XF 90)
30c Orange (71). Vibrant early shade, choice centering, red grid cancel, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2005 P.F. certificate
30c Orange (71). Vivid color nicely complemented by magenta grid cancel, Very Fine and choice, ex "Golden Oak", with 1988 and 2009 P.F. certificates (VF 80), the grade in no way conveys the scarcity of this issue with a magenta cancel
90c Blue (72). Rich color, bold strike of grid cancel, fresh and Very Fine, with 1990 and 2010 P.F. certificates (VF 80)
2c Black (73). Original gum, lightly hinged, outstanding centering with uncharacteristically wide margins, rich shade and crisp impressionEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM 1863 2-CENT "BLACK JACK", GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. - THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
With 2004 P.F. and P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $3,000.00). This is the highest grade given and it is shared by only four others
2c Black (73). Crisp impression, well-struck deep green cancel, Very Fine, exceedingly scarce with a green cancel, with 1985 A.P.S. certificate
3c Scarlet (74). Four neat pen strokes, strong vibrant colorFINE. AN ATTRACTIVE EXAMPLE OF THE VERY SCARCE 3-CENT SCARLET TRIAL PRINTING.
As has been documented by Jerome S. Wagshal in a series of Chronicle articles (Nos. 56, 60, 61 and 62), Carl F. Rothfuchs, a Washington D.C. stamp dealer, obtained a supply of the 3c Scarlet in 1893 -- probably from the Post Office Department in exchange for his assistance with the Columbian Exposition -- and sold them with pen marks and original gum. The Rothfuchs lot is not from the same supply acquired by John W. Scott in the late 1870's, from which stamps exist uncancelled and cancelled with a New York City Station D oval.