Sale 1255 — The David W. Gorham Collection of Outstanding Used U.S. Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Friday, 17-20 May, 2022
Category — 5c 1847 Issue, Double Transfers and Plate Varieties (Scott 1)
5c Red Brown, Double Transfer Ty. A (1-A). Position 80R, rich color, intermediate impression, huge margins, red grid cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 DOUBLE TRANSFER TYPE A.
With 1989 and 2010 P.F. certificates
5c Dark Brown, Double Transfer Ty. B (1a-B). Position 90R, large to huge margins, marvelous deep rich color and early impression in Dark Brown, neat manuscript cancel, Extremely Fine, ex Zoellner and Dr. Hinrichs, with 1979 and 2004 P.F. certificates
5c Orange Brown, Double Transfer Ty. C (1b-C). Position 84L, large to huge margins, exceptionally strong color from cleaned plate, red grid cancel, the double transfer is clearly evident at lower left and in the bottom frameline, when last offered in 2014 we mentioned a tiny thin speck visible only in fluid, but the P.F. certificate obtained after that sale is clear and does not note any faultsEXTREMELY FINE. AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE AND CHOICE 5-CENT 1847 WITH THE TYPE C DOUBLE TRANSFER.
In the August 1995 Chronicle, Jerome S. Wagshal summarized previous articles on this double transfer. It was first discovered by Dan Hammatt around 1920. Mr. Wagshal recorded a total of 13-1/2 copies (one is a half-stamp in a strip), including two pairs. He also echoes Ashbrook's theory that this and the Double Transfer Type D were created when the plate was reworked sometime in late 1850 and were only part of the 5th Delivery from RWH&E in January 1851. This would account for their scarcity compared to the Type A and B double transfers, and it seems to be confirmed by the two examples known on cover, which were described by Ashbrook as 1851 uses. The distinctive Orange Brown shade also points to the 5th Delivery. The Type C plate position was identified as 84L by our firm.
Ex Diamond. With 2015 P.F. certificate (XF 90 XQ). The "XQ" denotes "Extraordinary Quality".
5c Orange Brown, Double Transfer Ty. C (1b-C). Position 84L, ample to large margins, brilliant color from cleaned plate, light strike of red grid cancel, the double transfer is clearly evident at lower left and in the bottom frameline, faint pressed-out vertical creaseVERY FINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS THE DISCOVERY COPY OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE WITH THE DOUBLE TRANSFER TYPE C. VERY FEW EXAMPLES ARE KNOWN.
In an article in the August 1995 Chronicle, Jerome S. Wagshal summarized previous writings on this double transfer. It was first discovered by Dan Hammatt around 1920. Mr. Wagshal recorded a total of 13-1/2 copies (one is a half-stamp in a strip). He also echoes Ashbrook's theory that this and the double transfer Type D were created when the plate was reworked sometime in late 1850 and were only part of the 5th Delivery from RWH&E in January 1851. This would account for their scarcity compared to the Type A and B double transfers, and it seems to be confirmed by the two examples known on cover, which were described by Ashbrook as 1851 uses. The distinctive Orange Brown shade also points to the 5th Delivery. The Type C plate position was identified as 84L by our firm.
Ex Wagshal. With 2015 P.F. certificate.
5c Brown, Double Transfer Ty. E (1-E). Showing clear double transfer of "U", "Post Office" and left numeral "5", large even margins, deep rich color and early impression, bold strike of red New York square grid cancelEXTREMELY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 5-CENT 1847 "MOWER SHIFT" -- DOUBLE TRANSFER TYPE E -- OF WHICH PROBABLY NO MORE THAN A DOZEN COPIES ARE KNOWN. THE PLACEMENT OF THE CANCELLATION LEAVES ALL OF THE RE-ENTRY LINES VISIBLE.
The so-called "Mower Shift" is named after its discoverer, the San Francisco dealer R. H. Mower. In an article discussing this rare position in the November 1976 Chronicle, Duane Garrett quotes a letter from Stanley B. Ashbrook, which states "this 'E' variety is quite scarce, much more than either the 'A' or 'B', probably due to the fact that the extra lines were not cut very deep on the plate and soon wore away. I believe that we can only find the 'E' among the very earliest prints from the plate."
Ex Wagshal. With 2010 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown, Crack in "T" Variety (1 var). Position 69R, large margins, deep rich color and worn-plate impression, red grid cancel leaves the plate crack from "T" of "Post" to top of design clearly visibleVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL LARGE-MARGINED EXAMPLE OF THE RARE CRACK IN "T" PLATE FLAW ON THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE.
The Crack in "T" plate flaw was first reported by Wade Saadi in the May 1994 Chronicle. Ex Wagshal. With 2010 P.F. certificate