Sale 1235 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 19-20 May, 2021
Category — 1861-66 Issue (Scott 56-78)
3c Brown Rose, First Design (56). Mint N.H., deep rich color, well-centered, Very Fine and choice, with 1999 P.F. certificate, Scott value as hinged
5c Brown, First Design (57). Original gum, deep rich color, well-centered, slightly nibbed perf at top, reperfed at right which is not mentioned on accompanying certificate, small crease at bottom is noted on certificate and is just a minor gum creaseVERY FINE APPEARING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 5-CENT 1861 FIRST DESIGN. ONLY 37 EXAMPLES ARE KNOWN.
Our census of Scott 57, available at our website at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/57 , contains a total of 37 copies of this rarity. Of these, one is in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library. Of the 36 thought to be available to collectors, two are cancelled, 19 have no gum, five have part original gum and ten, including the example offered here, have full (or nearly full) original gum. Only two of the full or part original-gum copies are confirmed as sound.
Census no. 57-OG-09. From our 1965 Rarities sale and ex Mielstrup (Siegel sale 431). P.F. certificate no. 19601 no longer accompanies. With 1989 P.F. certificate not noting the reperfing.
10c Dark Green, First Design (62B). Original gum, deep rich color and well-centered, small natural inclusion to left of Washington portrait is not noticeable on an album page and not mentioned on accompanying certificateVERY FINE. A SCARCE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1861 ISSUE FIRST DESIGN.
With clear 1998 P.F. certificate
3c Pink (64). Original gum, very lightly hinged, radiant color in the true Pink shade, choice centering and marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A RARE CENTERED, LIGHTLY HINGED ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 3-CENT PINK.
The 3c 1861 Pink (Scott 64) is one of the most difficult stamps of the 1861-66 Issue to find in sound, well-centered, original-gum condition with fresh color. The nature of the ink used to print the 3c Pink shade is such that over the course of time, with exposure to light and other adverse elements, the color tends to oxidize or lose its vibrancy. The example offered here retains that vibrancy of color.
With 2004 P.F. certificate
3c Rose Pink (64b). Original gum, barely hinged, bright color in this better sub-shade, Very Fine and choice, with 1997 P.F. certificate
3c Rose (65). Mint N.H., rich color, well-proportioned margins, Very Fine and choice, with 1997 P.F. certificate, Scott value as hinged
3c Lake (66). Original gum, lightly hinged, beautiful centering with wide margins, vivid color and sharp proof-like impressionEXTREMELY FINE. A GORGEOUS ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 LAKE TRIAL PRINTING.
A review using Power Search reveals how difficult the 3c Lake is to find with full original gum and choice centering. Most examples have perfs touching or in on at least one side. We have offered fewer than ten examples that compare favorably to this stamp in the last 25 years.
With 1999 P.F. certificate
10c Yellow Green (68). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich color, reperfed at right, appears Very Fine
24c Brown Lilac (70a). Original gum, rich color, attractive centering with well-proportioned marginsVERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 24-CENT BROWN LILAC.
With 2003 P.F. certificate
30c Orange (71). Original gum with slight disturbance in one corner, vivid color, Fine, with copy of 1989 P.F. certificate for a block of four (this the top left stamp)
90c Blue (72). Original gum, rich color, three wide margins to clear of design at left, bright shade and fresh, Fine, an attractive original-gum example of the 90c 1861 Issue, with 1999 P.S.E. certificate
2c Black (73). Original gum, intense shade, well-centered, Very Fine, with 1997 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown (75). Original gum, wonderful depth of color, well-centered for this difficult issueVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A SCARCE SOUND AND CENTERED ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1862 ISSUE IN THE RED BROWN SHADE.
The 5c Red Brown is one of the 1861-66 stamps that challenges collectors who demand choice original-gum examples. Multiples are extremely rare, with only one recorded original-gum block; therefore, there has never been a supply of blocks from which singles could be harvested. The vast majority of original-gum singles are off-center, faulty or both.
With 2008 P.F. certificate
5c Brown (76). Original gum, warm color, well-centered, Very Fine and choice, with 2013 P.F. certificate
24c Lilac (78). Unused, we believe regummed though certified as original gum, attractive deep shade and proof-like impression on bright paper, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine, ex "Scarsdale", with 2001 P.F. certificate stating "genuine, previously hinged", Scott value without gum