Sale 1205 — 2019 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Wednesday, 26 June, 2019
Category — 1861-68 Issues
12c Intense Black, First Design (59). Original gum, superb centering with wide margins all around, deep dark shade and intense impression on bright fresh paper, long and full perfs all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. ONE OF THE FINEST OF ONLY FOUR AVAILABLE SOUND EXAMPLES OF THE 12-CENT 1861 FIRST DESIGN WITH ORIGINAL GUM. AN OUTSTANDING RARITY.
The 12c is the rarest of the 1861 First Designs and Colors, with a total of 16 examples recorded, including one in the Miller collection at The New York Public Library. Our census of the 12c 1861 First Design, available at https://www.siegelauctions.com/census/US/Scott/59 , contains only four sound copies with original gum available to collectors (excluding the Miller copy which is not available). This 12c First Design with original gum and Extremely Fine centering, is therefore one of the few finest of the 16 total copies of Scott 59 recorded.
Census No. 59-OG-15. Ex Zoellner. With 1993, 1999 and 2008 P.F. certificates
24c Dark Violet, First Color (60). Original gum, deep rich color in this distinctive First Color, outstanding centering both top to bottom and side to sideEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1861 DARK VIOLET EARLY TRIAL PRINTING. ONE OF THE RAREST OF THE 24-CENT 1861-63 ISSUE SHADES.
The Dark Violet trial printing and Violet regular issue shades are often confused, and the Scott Catalogue adds to the confusion by putting the Dark Violet (the old Scott 60) in the Trial Color Proofs section as 70TCe, while the Violet gets a front seat as Scott 70c. In our opinion, there is no good reason to relegate the Dark Violet to the Trial Color Proof section. As a result, the stamp offered here is undercatalogued in relation to other 24c stamps of equal rarity. For example, Scott 70c has a value of $35,000.00 versus Scott 70TCe (60) at $15,000.00.
With 1984 and 2002 P.F. certificates.
10c Dark Green, First Design (62B). Choice centering with wide and beautifully balanced margins, deep rich color and proof-like impression complemented by red grid cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE FIRST DESIGN 10-CENT 1861 ISSUE. AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT STAMP TO FIND IN SUCH PRISTINE CONDITION -- ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH THE RED CANCEL.
The 10c is the only denomination of the 1861-66 Issue that was actually issued in two types. Type I, Scott 62B, was printed from Plate 4. Type II stamps -- Scott 68 and its grilled counterparts -- were printed from Plates 15 and 26. It has been surmised that Type I was pressed into service to help fill strong demand for 10c stamps after demonetization of the earlier issue. The 10c stamps paid the transcontinental rate, the ship-letter rate and certain rates to foreign countries. The Plate 4 Type I stamps left very little space between the stamps for the 12-gauge perforation holes. Examples of Scott 62B are rarely seen with margins framing the design on all sides.
With 1985 and 2019 P.F. certificates (XF 90)
3c Rose (65). Bright color, perfs touch at right, tied by perfect strike of Devil & Pitchfork fancy cancel, matching "West Meriden Conn. Jul. 25" (1866) circular datestamp also ties stamp on cover to West Chester N.Y., barely reduced at right, completely soundEXTREMELY FINE STRIKE OF THE FAMOUS WEST MERIDEN CONNECTICUT, DEVIL & PITCHFORK FANCY CANCEL.
For a history of this fancy cancel go to http://www.ctpostalhistory.com/CtPP/Postal_Markings_files/D%26PArticleJan2016XXXLR.pdf . A fascinating article on this subject by William Duffney also appeared in the 2017 Congress Book. This example is offered to the market for the first time since 1974, when the consignor purchased it in Siegel Sale 444
3c Rose (65). Bright color, tied by "Manchester Ct. Jan. 4" circular datestamp on illustrated King Cotton and John Bull cartoon cover to Atticus N.Y., exceptional design depicts King Cotton with a whip, wearing a cotton plant medallion (or possibly a palmetto tree) and standing on a slave in front of bales of cotton and a sailing ship, John Bull standing beside is examining samples of cotton, barely reduced at left, Extremely Fine, a rare and outstanding design, with 2004 P.F. certificate
24c Brown Lilac (70a). Used with horizontal pair of 3c Rose (65), tied by large "Paid" grid with red "Boston Oct. 29 Paid 12" (1862) credit datestamp on red and blue Illustrated History of "The Stars and Stripes" Patriotic cover to Paris, France and forwarded to London, England, Kingsbury imprint, French transit ties 3c as does boxed "PD" handstamp, transit backstamps, 24c small internal tears and rounded cornerVERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL TWO-COLOR FRANKING ON A SPECTACULAR "HISTORY OF THE STARS AND STRIPES" PATRIOTIC COVER TO EUROPE FROM THE ANGELL CORRESPONDENCE.
Dr. Henry C. Angell was an optometrist who spent a considerable amount of time in Europe. Covers are known sent to him in France, Italy, England, Germany and Austria, plus a very few forwarded to other destinations. He was an art collector and undoubtedly appreciated the wide variety of Civil War patriotic envelopes mailed to him while he travelled abroad.
This cover, with explanations for each design, shows the evolution of the flag's design from the old St. George's Cross to the current flag of the United States. This is a very rare design and especially desirable as an overseas use of the 24c 1861 Issue.
Ex Hyzen and Mitchell
12c Black, F. Grill (97). Original gum, clearly-defined grill, beautifully centered with balanced margins, intense shade and impressionEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 12-CENT F GRILL.
With 1986 and 2008 P.F. certificates
12c Black, F. Grill (97). Block of four, slightly disturbed original gum, clear grill points, intense shade and impressionEXTREMELY FINE. A RARE BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1868 12-CENT F GRILL. VERY FEW BLOCKS WITH SUCH CHOICE CENTERING REMAIN INTACT TODAY.
Our records contain around a dozen original-gum blocks of the 12c F Grill. Some of these have probably been broken to feed collector demand for singles, and therefore the number of surviving multiples may be smaller. Blocks of four are the largest surviving multiples, since the Caspary block of eight has been broken.
10c Green, Re-Issue (106). Original gum, extra wide margins and almost mathematically perfect centering, intense shade and proof-like impressionEXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN INCREDIBLE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1861 RE-ISSUE, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. -- SURELY THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE.
The 10c Re-Issue was printed from a new plate of 100 subjects, compared to the original plate of 200 in two panes. 10,000 stamps were printed (100 impressions). Only 451 of the 10c were sold; the remaining 9,549 were destroyed on July 16, 1884.
With 1985 P.F. and 2003 P.S.E. certificates (Mint OG, Superb 98; SMQ $22,500.00). This is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by only one other (offered in our 2013 Curtis Sale 1057), a statistic that has not changed since 2008.