Sale 1310 — Outstanding United States Stamps, featuring The Dragonfly Collection
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 27-28 February, 2024
Category — 1857-60 Issue (Scott 18-39)
1c Blue, Ty. I (18). Plate 12, original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich color, unusually well-centered
EXTREMELY FINE. A CHOICE AND RARE CENTERED ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 ONE-CENT TYPE I.
This is a scarce stamp in sound original-gum condition and better than Very Fine centering.
With 2019 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, VF-XF 85). This is the second highest grade awarded to a Scott 18 (highest is 90)
1c Blue, Ty. I-II (18-20/20-18). Positions 37-38/47-48L12, combination block of four, top left and bottom right stamps Type I, unused (no gum), top left stamp double transfer, radiant color, choice centering, top left stamp trivial natural inclusion not mentioned on accompanying certificate, few minor perf separations also not mentioned on accompanying certificate
VERY FINE AND CHOICE BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE ONE-CENT 1857 ISSUE FROM PLATE 12 WITH A COMBINATION OF TYPES I AND II.
Ex Floyd and Wingate. With 1990 P.F. certificate. Scott value $8,750 as with original gum.
1c Blue, Ty. I (18). Plate 12, C Relief, choice centering with wide margins, deep rich color, bold strike of grid cancel
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 PERFORATED ONE-CENT TYPE I. A RARE STAMP IN SUCH choice CONDITION.
The defining characteristic of Type I is that the entire design is printed, including the scrolls and plumes at bottom. Among the plates used to print imperforate stamps, only one position out of 1,000 can claim that honor (Position 7R1E, Scott No. 5). Type I perforated stamps are only known from certain positions on Plate 12. Due to the narrow spacing between perforations and difficulties of production, this issue is usually found with part of the design cut off by the perforations. The example offered here, with rich color, a clear cancel and with the design characteristics clearly visible, is a true condition rarity.
Ex Merlin. With 2005 P.S.E. (XF-Superb 95) and 2019 P.F. certificates. This is the highest grade awarded and seven others share it.
1c Blue, Ty. Ia (19). Position 98R4, original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich color and proof-like impression on bright paper
VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 PERFORATED ONE-CENT TYPE Ia.
Type Ia was produced by only 18 of the 20 bottom-row positions on Plate 4. Although Plate 4 was designed with sufficient space to accommodate perforations, the height of the top row and bottom row positions resulted in the perforations often cutting into the design at either top or bottom. For this reason, stamps from the bottom row of Plate 4 with perforations slightly into the design are still desirable. The stamp offered here is one of the few sound original-gum examples.
Ex Wingate. With 1999 P.F. certificate.
1c Blue, Ty. II (20). Position 4R1L, the only position on Plate 1 Late which was not recut, rich color on bright paper, choice centering, Very Fine and choice, the entire Plate 1 Late was, with the exception of Position 4R1L, recut and transformed into Type IV stamps (Scott 9 as imperforate, Scott 23 as perforated), this position is extremely difficult to obtain, especially as a perforated stamp, ex Gorham, with 1997, 2008 P.F. and 2022 P.S.E. certificates
1c Blue, Ty. II (20). Plate 12, original gum, rich color, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 2000 P.F. and 2016 P.S.E. certificates
1c Blue, Ty. III (21). Plate 4, unusually choice centering with wide margins, intact perforations at top, deep rich color, unobtrusive strikes of circular datestamp
EXTREMELY 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 breaks in both the bottom and top lines are clearly visible.
Ex Merlin and from our 2004 Rarities sale (as a pair). With 2011 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95). This is the highest grade awarded.
1c Blue, Ty. IIIa (22). Plate 11, A Relief, disturbed original gum, well-centered nicely showing the wide break at top and complete line at bottom, deep rich color, Very Fine
1c Blue, Ty. III-IIIa (21-22). Plate 4, combination block of four, top left stamp Type III, others Type IIIa, original gum, h.r., brilliant fresh color on bright paper, beautiful impression, horizontal crease in top stamps, bottom right stamp has small tear and thin spot, bottom left Type IIIa stamp is sound
EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE AND SUPERBLY CENTERED ONE-CENT 1857 COMBINATION BLOCK CONTAINING ONE TYPE III AND THREE TYPE IIIa STAMPS.
Ex Wingate. With 1994 P.F. certificate. Scott value $27,350 as a Type III-IIIa combination pair and a pair of Type IIIa
1c Blue, Ty. IV (23). Recut at top and bottom, choice centering for this extremely difficult perforated issue, rich color, unobtrusive circular datestamp cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2011 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85)
1c Blue, Ty. V (24). Mint N.H. block of four, unusually well-centered, deep rich color, Very Fine-Extremely Fine, a lovely Mint N.H. block, Scott value as hinged block $800
1c Blue, Ty. V (24). Wide margins and near mathematically perfect centering, bright color on crisp paper, neat strike of San Francisco circular datestamp
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN EXCEPTIONAL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 ONE-CENT PERFORATED TYPE V, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
Ex Morton and Myerson. With 2011 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98). Only one stamp grades higher (at 98J) and no others share this grade.
3c Rose, Ty. I (25). Choice centering and margins, rich color, intact perforations at top and bottom, cancelled by rim of circular datestamp, Extremely Fine, with 2016 P.F. certificate (XF 90)
3c Rose, Ty. I (25). Horizontal pair, bright shade, neat strike of blue Waukesha Wis. circular datestamp cancel, Extremely Fine, ex Gorham, with 2006 and 2022 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85)
3c Dull Red, Ty. II (26). Mint N.H., outstanding centering, intense color, Very Fine and choice, Scott value $65 as hinged
3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26). With part imprint in left selvage, outstanding centering and margins, neat New York circular datestamp cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, very desirable in this choice condition with the part imprint, with 2012 P.S.E. (XF-Superb 95) and 2018 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95)
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), only four grade higher
3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26). Tied by large "PAID" grid cancel, red "Boston Mass. Oct. 12" double-circle datestamp on buff cover to Pittsford Vt. with elaborate pencil illustrated design of a three-masted ship with flag and lighthouse, banner reads "H. F. Griggs", the stamp artfully placed over the lantern room of the lighthouse with Washington gazing down at the ship off-shore, the sender also evidently decided that perforations were unsightly and trimmed them off (along with the top and bottom labels) before affixing the stamp, missing part of backflap, still Very Fine, a spectacular illustrated design, possibly executed by Samuel W. Griggs, a well-known artist who resided in Boston at this time, ex Granzow
5c Brick Red (27). Original gum, vivid Brick Red color, attractive margins and centering, completely sound
VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1858 5-CENT BRICK RED.
Many collectors know this issue by type and shade, but few are aware of the order of production (or release). This state of confusion is partly due to the Scott Catalogue. The distinctive Brick Red shade of the 5c 1857 Issue comes first in the series of Scott-listed perforated 5c issues, but its true release date comes later in the sequence.
Based on dated covers, the 5c Type I shades were released in the following order: 1) Red Brown, Scott 28, EDU 8/23/1857; 2) Indian Red, Scott 28A, EDU 3/31/1858; 3) Brick Red, Scott 27, EDU 10/6/1858; and 4) Brown, Scott 29, EDU 3/21/1859, almost certainly the last printing from the first 5c plate. The second 5c plate was made from a new six-relief transfer roll with the design projections cut away at top and bottom, to varying degrees. The Type II Brown was issued first (Scott 30A, EDU 5/4/1860), and the Orange Brown printing from the same plate followed about one year later (Scott 30, EDU 5/8/1861).
After surveying dozens of classic United States sale catalogues, we found approximately twenty examples of Scott 27 with original gum, allowing for duplicate offerings and excluding the one known original-gum block. Of the stamps we counted, about half had perfs touching on two sides or were deeply cut into on one side. Almost two-thirds had stains or small faults. This sound example is a rarity among rarities.
With 1958 A.P.S. certificate. With 1974 and 2015 P.F. certificates.
5c Brick Red (27). Brilliant Brick Red color, beautiful centering with wide and balanced margins and with outer projections completely untouched by the perfs, light strike of New Orleans circular datestamp
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 5-CENT BRICK RED, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY the p.f — the highest awarded.
With 2014 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95). By way of comparison, the highest grade awarded by P.S.E. is also 95. SCV $1,450.
5c Brick Red (27). Radiant color in the unmistakable Brick Red shade, well-balanced margins, light strike of circular datestamp and also trace of red cancel, tiny thin speck is barely noticeable, Extremely Fine appearance
5c Brick Red (27). Horizontal pair, brilliant color, choice centering, two strikes of New Orleans circular datestamp
EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL PAIR OF THE 1857 5-CENT BRICK RED.
Most multiples of this quality have already been broken.
5c Bright Red Brown (28b). Lovely warm and deep color which seems Indian Red to us but certainly at least Bright Red Brown, detailed impression, circular datestamp cancels, fresh and Very Fine, with 1982 (as Scott 28) and 2023 P.F. certificates (as 28b)
5c Indian Red (28A). Vertical strip of three, intense shade in the deepest part of the Indian Red color spectrum, neat strikes of New Orleans circular datestamp, top stamp tiny toned spots along a few perfs
VERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL VERTICAL STRIP OF THREE OF THE 1857 5-CENT INDIAN RED.
The majority of strips of three of the Indian Red shade were used to pay the 15c postage rate to France. A review of the few strips we have sold shows that most have poor centering. This fantastic strip comes from an old estate collection and did not see daylight for nearly 60 years, thus its color is truly extraordinary.
5c Brown (29). Original gum, hinge remnant, dark shade, well-centered, scissors-separated with intact perfs all around and showing full outer projections
VERY FINE. AN EXCEPTIONALLY CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1859 5-CENT BROWN TYPE I.
Experienced collectors of classic United States stamps with original gum are familiar with the challenge of acquiring the 5c Brown Type I, Scott 29 (1859 printing). Although common as a used stamp, unused examples are scarce, and copies with original gum are rare, especially in sound and well-centered condition. The example offered here was separated from the surrounding stamps with scissors, which cut away three of the other margins to leave intact perf holes on three sides.
5c Brown (29). Brilliant color, wide margins, small part of circular datestamp at left leaves the portrait untouched and practically the entire design unobscured, Extremely Fine, ex Bowman, with 1999 P.S.E. and 2000 P.F. certificates
5c Orange Brown, Ty. II (30). Beautiful rich color, essentially perfect centering with perfs far from design all around, red grid cancel
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 5-CENT ORANGE BROWN WITH A VIVID RED CANCEL, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. — THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
5c stamps in the Orange Brown shade (Scott 30) were printed from Plate 2 in 1861 (EDU is May 8). They were the last stamps of the 1857 Issue distributed before the U.S. Post Office Department demonetized all circulating stamps in August 1861, in order to prevent their use in the seceded states. Given the short period of time they could be used, the 5c Orange Brown (like the 90c) is very scarce in used condition. It is much more plentiful in unused condition due to leftover supplies found in Southern post offices after the Civil War.
Ex Lewis Hall and Myerson. With 2001 P.F. and 2012 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95). This is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by only three others.
5c Brown, Ty. II (30A). Original gum, lightly hinged, rich color and proof-like impression, superb centering with design completely framed by white margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A REMARKABLY CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE 1860 5-CENT BROWN TYPE II WITH ORIGINAL GUM.
Unlike its Orange Brown counterpart (Scott 30), the 5c Type II in Brown was not on hand in post offices when the 1861 demonetization order took effect. Therefore, original-gum examples of Scott 30A are far scarcer than Scott 30. The narrow spacing between subjects on the plate and Toppan Carpenter's imprecise perforating leave collectors with very few well-centered original-gum examples.
With 2000 P.F. certificate.
5c Brown, Ty. II (30A). Exceptional centering with beautifully balanced margins, rich color, grid cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2022 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95)
10c Green, Ty. II (32). Position 31L1 with double transfer in "Postage", large part original gum which covers nearly the entire back, rich color, attractive margins and centering
VERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 10-CENT TYPE II WITH A PROMINENT DOUBLE TRANSFER.
With 1968, 1994 and 2008 P.F. certificates.
10c Green, Ty. II (32). Wide margins and precise centering, lovely fresh color, circular datestamp cancel
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 10-CENT PERFORATED TYPE II.
Ex "Clipper City". With 2011 P.S.E. (XF-Superb 95) and 2017 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95). Only two stamps grade higher at P.S.E. (at 98).
10c Green, Ty. III (33). Position 85R1 noted on back, gorgeous centering, bold strike of red grid cancel and New York Ocean Mail circular datestamp
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 PERFORATED 10-CENT TYPE III, WITH TWO CLEAR CANCELS. THIS IS GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
Ex Mayer and "Golden Oak". With 2002 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95). Only three grade higher (two at 95J, one at 98).
10c Green, Ty. V (35). Wide margins and near perfect centering, rich color, light strikes of red circular datestamp cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp, with 2021 P.F. certificate (Superb 98), this is the highest grade awarded by the P.F. and it is shared by no others, the highest P.S.E. grade is also 98 (six examples)
12c Black, Plate 3 (36B). Position 67L3 with double frameline at right, original gum, lightly hinged, bright shade and sharp proof-like impression, well-centered with wide margins, Very Fine and choice, with 1987 and 2003 P.F. certificates
12c Black, Plate 1 (36). Choice centering and margins for this tightly spaced issue, cancelled by rim of circular datestamp, Extremely Fine, with 2022 P.F. certificate (XF 90)
12c Black, Plate 1 (36). Nicely centered with a detailed impression, part strike of rim of circular datestamp, Extremely Fine, with 2019 P.S.A.G. certificate (XF 90)
24c Gray Lilac (37). Original gum, h.r., bright shade, attractive margins and centering, Very Fine
24c Gray Lilac (37). Choice centering with unusually wide margins, rich color nicely complemented by red grid cancel, Extremely Fine, with 1987, 1998 P.F. and 2017 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90 Jumbo)
30c Orange (38). Original gum, h.r., vibrant color, choice centering for this difficult issue, minor gum soaks, otherwise Very Fine
30c Orange (38). Wide margins and outstanding centering, neat grid cancel, slightly oxidized, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2012 P.S.A.G. (XF-Superb 95) and 2013 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95 XQ)
90c Blue (39). Block of nine, original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich color and proof-like impression, bright fresh paper, exceptionally choice centering and well-balanced margins throughout, trivial natural gum bend in left vertical row, a few perf separations reinforced with tiny hinge slivers (certificate simply reads "genuine, previously hinged")
VERY FINE. A superb quality original-gum block of nine of the 90-CENT 1860 Issue—one of three recorded blocks of nine, which are the largest known multiples.
In May 1860 President Buchanan's postmaster general, Joseph Holt, issued a new order requiring prepayment by stamps on transient printed matter, and on all foreign and domestic mail, except letters permitted to be sent unpaid by international postal conventions. Holt's order sparked public demand for stamps, especially in denominations greater than 12c, the top value in circulation at the beginning of 1860. In response to a letter received from the Philadelphia postmaster, the new Third Assistant Postmaster General, Alexander N. Zevely, contacted Toppan Carpenter about producing new high-denomination stamps.
The 90c stamp was the first denomination of its kind and the highest issued in the United States from 1847 to 1893, when the dollar-value Columbian stamps were issued. The reason for a 90c stamp—30 times the 3c domestic rate—is explained in a letter from Zevely, who thought it was "necessary to have a stamp in the denomination of Ninety Cents—not only to suit that particular rate of postage, but to prepay packages, to the amount, sometimes, of several dollars." Toppan Carpenter and Zevely engaged in some back and forth discussion about the design. The printers based their engraving, a three-quarter portrait of a youthful Washington in military uniform, on one of several similar full-length portraits painted by John Trumbull. Zevely did not like it, but soon acquiesced and approved the novel design and chose the color blue, which was described as "the handsomest of them all." Philatelists agree.
The 90c stamps issued in August 1860 were one of the Civil War's early casualties. In August 1861 the federal government demonetized all previous issues of postage stamps and replaced them with new stamps that would be distributed only to post offices in loyal states. The purpose of demonetization was to prevent the South from using stamps as a medium of exchange. Demand for the high-denomination stamps in 1860 was limited, and the Civil War demonetization policy cut their lives short. Unused examples would be great rarities today if not for a cache of sheets discovered in Washington, D.C., which had been found in Southern post offices after the war and returned to the Post Office. These sheets were sold and traded to stamp dealers, and many of the unused 1859-60 issues come from this source.
There are three recorded original-gum blocks of nine of the 90c 1860 Issue, which survive as the largest recorded multiples following the division of the Caspary block of 21. The Caspary block (lot 817 in the 1956 sale) was still intact when it was part of the Benjamin D. Phillips collection, which the Weills acquired in 1968. Sometime after then, this block was divided into a block of nine from the center, two blocks of four from the bottom left and bottom right corners, and singles or pairs from the corners.
The block of nine offered here was also in the 1956 Caspary sale (lot 816), where it was acquired by the Weills for Phillips. It appeared in the Siegel 1969 Rarities of the World sale. In March 1987 the block surfaced in Switzerland at a Corinphila auction, where it was acquired by Peter G. DuPuy. It was sold by the DuPuy estate in Siegel Sale 1000 (lot 1026) to William H. Gross. The current owner acquired it in the Gross Sale 1200 (lot 51) in 2019. The third recorded block of nine was also offered on behalf of the DuPuy estate in our Sale 1000 (lot 1027).
Ex Caspary (lot 816, to Weill for Phillips), Phillips (collection sold privately to Weills, 1968), Siegel 1969 Rarities of the World (Sale 350, lot 59), Grunin (H. R. Harmer sale, 12/14-15/1976, lot 2667), DuPuy (Sale1000, lot 1026) and Gross (Sale 1200, lot 51). With 1987 P.F. certificate. Scott value $90,500 as block of four, two pairs and a single.
90c Blue (39). Deep rich color and proof-like impression on bright paper, choice centering with well-proportioned margins, neat strike of blue circular datestamp (probably Baltimore Md.)
EXTREMELY FINE. A STUNNING USED EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1860 ISSUE, WITH GORGEOUS CENTERING AND A BLUE CIRCULAR DATESTAMP CANCEL.
The 90c stamp was issued in 1860, along with the 24c and 30c values, all of which were needed to prepay high international letter rates established by various postal treaties. The basic 24c and 30c rates to England, France and Germany created a volume of mail franked with those values. However, the 90c saw much more limited use, partly due to the rates in effect, but more because of the American Civil War. When supplies of current postage stamps were declared invalid in the South and ultimately demonetized by the Federal government, the 90c had been in use for only one year. For this reason, genuinely cancelled copies are scarce, and covers bearing the 90c are extremely rare.
Ex Saadi and Gorham. With 1991, 2014 P.F. and 2022 P.S.E. certificates
90c Blue (39). Centered slightly to right and bottom, vivid red grid cancel, completely sound
FINE. FAR SUPERIOR TO THE TYPICAL CONDITION OF A GENUINELY USED 90-CENT 1860 ISSUE and desirable cancelled in red.
The 90c stamp was issued in 1860, along with the 24c and 30c values, all of which were needed to prepay high international letter rates established by various postal treaties. The basic 24c and 30c rates to England, France and Germany created a volume of mail franked with those values. However, the 90c saw much more limited use, partly due to the rates in effect, but more because of the American Civil War. When supplies of current postage stamps were declared invalid in the South and ultimately demonetized by the Federal government, the 90c had been in use for only one year. For this reason, genuinely cancelled copies are scarce, and covers bearing the 90c are extremely rare. Approximately 180 used examples have been certified by The Philatelic Foundation, of which only one-quarter are sound. This sound stamp with a vivid red cancel is very desirable.
Ex Morton. With 2009 and 2020 P.F. certificates.