Sale 1245 — United States Stamps, featuring the Sacramento Collection
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 16-18 November, 2021
Category — 1857-60 Issue (Scott 18-30A)
1c Blue, Ty. I (18). Plate 12, C Relief, rich color nicely complemented by red "Paid/U.S. Mail/City Delivery/1" one-cent integral-rate New York City carrier datestamp, well-balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, a stamp with great visual appeal, with 1982 and 2007 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85)
1c Blue, Ty. I (18). Plate 12, C Relief, exceptionally well-centered, wide margins, rich color on fresh paper, Extremely Fine, with 1994 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85; SMQ $900.00)
1c Blue, Ty. Ia (19). Plate 4, deep rich color on bright paper, light strike of circular datestamp cancels, small thin spot at top center, short perf at right not mentioned on accompanying certificateVERY FINE APPEARING USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 PERFORATED ONE-CENT TYPE Ia.
With 2002 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. II (20). Position 43L12, original gum, lightly hinged, rich color on bright paper, wide margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1988 P.F. certificate for a block, with 2004 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $4,250.00)
1c Blue, Ty. II (20). Plate 2, wide margins, deep color, light mostly face-free cancel, Very Fine and choice, with photocopy of 1998 P.S.E. certificate for a pair, with 2004 P.F. certificate as this single
1c Blue, Ty. III (21). Plate 4, deep rich color on bright paper, circular datestamp cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 ONE-CENT TYPE III, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
Due to the narrow vertical spacing on this plate, stamps are most typically found with the perforations impinging on a portion of the design. The example offered here is centered so that the type characteristics are clearly visible.
Ex Saadi. With 1982, 1989 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $9,750.00). This is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by only eight others.
1c Blue, Ty. III (21). Plate 4, excellent centering, deep rich Plate 4 color, sharp impression on fresh paperEXTREMELY FINE. A LOVELY USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 ONE-CENT BLUE TYPE III FROM PLATE 4.
Due to the narrow vertical spacing on this plate, stamps are most typically found with the perforations impinging on some portion of the design. The example offered here is centered so that the type characteristics are clearly visible.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $4,750.00)
1c Blue, Ty. III (21). Plate 4, deep rich color on bright paper, neat strike of grid cancel, Very Fine, with 1997, 2005 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (VF 80; SMQ $2,100.00)
1c Blue, Ty. IIIa (22). Plate 11, bright shade, unusually wide margins for this difficult issue, showing clear break in outer line at top, "New-York Jul. 7, 1861" circular datestamp with inverted yeardateEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A PHENOMENAL USED EXAMPLE OF THE PERFORATED 1857 ONE-CENT TYPE IIIa, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
With 1983 P.F. and 2005 and 2021 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $5,550.00). Only two grade higher (both 95J).
1c Blue, Ty. IIIa (22). Plate 4, well-centered, wide margins, beautiful color in a particularly deep shade, light circular datestamp cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 1995 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85; SMQ $900.00)
1c Blue, Ty. IV (23). Recut once at top and bottom, deep rich color, neat strikes of circular datestamp cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 2004 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $1,750.00)
1c Blue, Ty. IV (23). Recut once at top and bottom, rich color, choice centering, circular datestamp cancel, fresh and Very Fine, with 2000 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. V (24). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression, Very Fine and choice, an attractive stamp, with 2007 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (VF 80; SMQ $425.00)
1c Blue, Ty. V (24). Mint N.H., rich color, fresh and Very Fine, with 2021 P.F. certificate, Scott value as hinged
1c Blue, Ty. V (24). Outstanding centering, uncharacteristically wide top and bottom margins, light face-free cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $825.00), only five grade higher
3c Rose, Ty. I (25). Original gum, lightly hinged, rich color and choice centering, perfs to touched as always but all four framelines clearly visibleVERY FINE AND CHOICE. THE 1857 PERFORATED 3-CENT TYPE I IS RARELY FOUND IN CENTERED ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.
This stamp is extremely difficult to obtain with superior margins and centering, due to the narrow spacing on the plate, which was laid out prior to the introduction of perforations in 1857. Finding such an example in unused condition with original gum adds considerably to the difficulty. Even superb copies will show perforations impinging on at least one frameline.
Ex Curtis. 1989 P.F. certificate no longer accompanies. With 2014 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85)
3c Rose, Ty. II (25A). Brilliant color, nicely centered for this very difficult issue, town circular datestamp cancel, fresh and Very Fine, with 2021 P.F. certificate (VF 80)
3c Dull Red, Ty. II (25A). Well-centered, pretty color in the Dull Red shade, lightly cancelled, certificate notes a double transfer in "THREE CENTS", Very Fine, with 2014 P.F. certificate
3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26). Mint N.H., deep rich color, choice centering for this difficult issue, Extremely Fine, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $625.00)
3c Dull Red, Ty. IV (26A). Unusually wide and balanced margins, bold strike of grid cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,475.00), only four grade higher
3c Dull Red, Ty. IV (26A). Position 45R11L, well-centered, bright color, light blue town cancel, Extremely Fine, a pretty stamp, with 2014 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85)
5c Brick Red (27). Radiant color, well-balanced margins with perfs clear of outer projections on all sides, neat 1860 San Francisco circular datestamp, 1994 P.F. certificate (no longer accompanies) notes "large manuscript marking removed from reverse" which we see no evidence ofEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 5-CENT BRICK RED WITH OUTSTANDING COLOR, CENTERING AND A NEAT SAN FRANCISCO CANCELLATION.
Ex Curtis where we erroneously noted a tiny perf tear. 1994 P.F. certificate no longer accompanies. With 1993 and 2017 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $5,100.00). Only six grade higher (all at 95).
5c Brick Red (27). Bright color, light strikes of black and red "Paid" in circle cancel and matching transit datestamp, trivial natural inclusion at bottom not mentioned on accompanying certificates, Fine, with 1989 and 2010 P.F. certificates
5c Red Brown (28). Perfect centering with unusually wide and balanced margins, beautiful warm shade on bright paper, neat 1859 circular datestamp cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 5-CENT RED BROWN, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED AND IT IS SHARED BY ONLY ONE OTHER. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT ISSUES TO OBTAIN WITH SUCH WIDE MARGINS AND IN SUCH PRISTINE CONDITION.
Due to the narrow spacing between stamps on the 5c Plate 1, the perforations often touch or go into the outer portion of the design on one or more sides. The example offered here, with perfect centering and deep rich color, is a true condition rarity.
With 1983 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $27,500.00). This is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by only one other. This statistic has not changed since 2010.
5c Bright Red Brown (28b). Rich color, perfs just touch outer projection at left, light face-free red and black cancels, strong Fine, with 1997 P.F. certificate
5c Bright Red Brown (28b). Warm color nicely complemented by blue circular datestamp cancel, tiny corner perf crease at bottom right, Very Fine appearance, with 2016 P.F. certificate
5c Indian Red (28A). Lovely warm shade, unusually choice centering, neat strike of Philadelphia circular datestamp cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 5-CENT INDIAN RED. A DIFFICULT STAMP TO FIND IN SUCH CHOICE CONDITION.
The deepest shade of Red Brown from the 1858 printing is known as Indian Red. It is found in a short spectrum of color, ranging from a dark purplish shade to a vivid "glowing" orange shade. To be classified as Indian Red, the stamp's impression must be strong throughout, especially in the area of the oval surrounding Jefferson's head. If a stamp possesses anything less than a very deep impression with the characteristic intense red shade, it will fall short of Indian Red, Scott 28A (and that is why Scott 28b was created as "second place").
With 2004 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $8,000.00). Only one grades higher (at 95) and five others share this desirable grade.
5c Indian Red (28A). Intense color in the true Indian Red shade, light town circular datestampVERY FINE AND ATTRACTIVE EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT INDIAN RED SHADE.
With 1998 and 2014 P.F. certificates
5c Indian Red (28A). Wide margins for this, rich color in the true Indian Red shade, 1858 New Orleans circular datestamp and partial red "Paid", reperfed at bottom and small tear at bottom left corner from perf separation, Very Fine appearance, with 2021 P.F. certificate, Scott value $3,500.00
5c Brown (29). Rich color on bright paper, unusually choice centering with wide margins, design clear of outer projections on all four sides, two different datestamp cancels in black and at top left in ultramarine (subtle but identifiable)EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1859 5-CENT TYPE I BROWN, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
Ex Merlin. With 1985 P.F., 2008 and 2015 P.S.E. certificates identifying the top left cancel as ultramarine (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $4,500.00 for normal color). Only two grade higher (at 98).
5c Brown (29). Choice centering with perfs clear of projections all around, deep rich color, well-struck grid cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2000 P.F. and 2012 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $1,100.00)
5c Brown (29). Exceedingly well-centered, rich color and sharp impression, town cancels, Extremely Fine, a handsome stamp, with 1990 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $1,100.00)
5c Orange Brown, Ty. II (30). Original gum, pretty shade, well-proportioned marginsEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1860 5-CENT ORANGE BROWN TYPE II.
With 2004 P.F. certificate (OGph, XF 90; SMQ $3,300.00). Only three grade higher (two at 95, one at 95J)
5c Orange Brown, Ty. II (30). Original gum, lightly hinged, uncommonly well-centered, deep shadeEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1860 5-CENT ORANGE BROWN TYPE II.
With 1991 and 2007 P.F. certificates (XF 90), by way of comparison, only three have graded higher in the P.S.E. Population Report
5c Brown, Ty. II (30A). Intense shade and impression, neat strike of San Francisco circular datestamp, unusually choice centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 5-CENT TYPE II, SCOTT 30A
With 2014 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $2,800.00). Only three grade higher -- one each at 95J (we have never offered it), 98 (ex Bowman, realized $14,500) and 100 (ex "Natalee Grace", realized $18,000). We have offered only one other at this grade since 2012.
5c Brown, Ty. II (30A). Wide margins, deep rich color, bright red cancels, Very Fine, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate (VF 80; SMQ $300.00)