Sale 1326 — 2024 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Thursday, 27 June, 2024
Category — 1847 Issue
5c Red Brown (1). Unused (no gum), large to full margins three sides and 13mm top sheet margin, dark shade and detailed early impression, small edge thin in sheet margin is immaterial as it is 4mm from the stamp design, Extremely Fine, a stunning unused 5c 1847 Issue from the First Printing, with 1963 and 1989 P.F. certificates
10c Black (2). Position 39R, showing distinctive plating marks including line through "P" and gash crossing left border opposite "P", also position dots outside frames at top and bottom, unused (no gum), full to huge margins all around with frameline of adjoining stamp at bottom, crisp impression on bright paper
EXTREMELY FINE. A VERY CHOICE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE FROM POSITION 39 OF THE RIGHT PANE.
The 1847 Issue is much scarcer in unused condition than other issues, because the stamps were demonetized in 1851. They could be exchanged for the new issue, but once the exchange period ended, the stamps would have no postage value. Considering the purchasing power of ten cents in 1851, it is not surprising that the stamps were either used or exchanged, rather than left for future generations of collectors.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate. (VF-XF 85). Only two unused examples equal this grade and only one grades higher (at 98).
10c Black (2). Huge margins all around, intense shade on deeply blued paper, well-struck greenish-blue grid cancel
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN ABSOLUTELY STUNNING USED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
Ex Bingham, Haas, Rose and Wall. With 1999 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98).
5c Red Brown (1). Large margins to clear, intermediate impression, cancelled by large black rectangular grid of squares, matching "Wilkes Barre Pa. Sep. 29" circular datestamp on buff cover to Funkhannock Pa., tiny mended opening fault at upper right, light vertical file fold well away from stamp
VERY FINE AND DESIRABLE EXAMPLE OF THE WILKES BARRE RECTANGULAR GRID OF SQUARES CANCEL. ONE OF TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE 1847 ISSUE WITH THIS CANCELLATION (THIS COVER WAS PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT TO BE UNIQUE).
The other cover with the same markings and address is dated September 26 (Sale 933, lot 155, realized $7,000 hammer).
Ex Rohloff, Haas, Garrett, Dr. Kapiloff, Boker and Gross.
5c Red Brown (1). Horizontal pair, large margins, rich color and intermediate impression, cancelled by bold strikes of black "5" numeral handstamp, matching "Wilkes Barre Pa. Aug. 14" circular datestamp on cover to Stanardsville Va., faint pressed-out vertical crease mostly between stamps
VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE AND BEAUTIFUL PAIR OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE CANCELLED BY BOLD "5" NUMERAL CANCELLATIONS. A WONDERFUL COVER.
Ex Rust, Boker and Gross.
5c Brown (1). Three full to large margins, close to barely touching bottom frameline, dark shade and intermediate impression, affixed with red wax wafer, cancelled by perfect strike of large bold "5" numeral rate handstamp in brownish-black ink, matching "Guilford Ct. Aug. 11" (ca. 1848) circular datestamp on folded cover to Middlebury Vt., sender's "Paid" notation (which, together with the red wax wafer used to affix the stamp, indicates a degree of caution about using adhesive stamps), vertical file fold clear of stamp, accompanied by two related stampless covers from Guilford, one with same "5" handstamp on folded letter to Collinsville Conn., other with woodcut "10" on buff envelope to Burlington Iowa
EXTREMELY FINE. A SPECTACULAR COVER FROM GUILFORD, CONNECTICUT, WITH THE 1847 ISSUE CANCELLED BY THE 5-CENT RATE HANDSTAMP OF THE PRE-STAMP ERA, WHICH FORMS A WONDERFUL TRIO WITH 5-CENT AND 10-CENT STAMPLESS COVERS FROM GUILFORD.
Illustrated in 1851 Sesquicentennial book (p. 221). Ex Dr. Kapiloff and Sharrer.
5c Red Brown (1). Large even margins, rich color and intermediate impression, tied by non-standard blue grid cancel and matching "Trenton N.J. Sep. 5" circular datestamp on buff cover to Lancaster Pa., Extremely Fine Gem stamp and cover made even more desirable by the perfect strikes of the Trenton datestamp and grid, absolute perfection, ex Sampson
5c Red Brown (1). Worn-plate impression, tied by clear strike of blue Hollow Star fancy cancel with matching "Trenton N.J. Aug. 4" circular datestamp on small cover to Philadelphia, original letter enclosure datelined Aug. 4, 1849, relating to a train wreck near Princeton, stamp with some edge toning and a couple tiny tears at top, cover repaired at right and top, flap probably added, the strike is Very Fine and a rare example of a true fancy cancel on an 1847 issue cover
5c Orange Brown (1b). Horizontal strip of four, large margins all around, radiant color and cleaned-plate impression, stamps with few wrinkles or small edge flaws, cancelled by black grids, red "Boston Mass. Jun. 18" circular datestamp on blue folded cover to Ludlow & Co. in Philadelphia, strip tied by matching "PAID" handstamp, pencil "20" rate, repaired around seal opening in two back panels but not affecting anything else
VERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL STRIP OF FOUR OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE, PAYING DOUBLE THE 10-CENT RATE FROM BOSTON TO PHILADELPHIA.
The USPCS website census lists six covers with four 5c stamps used from Boston, and only three are strips of four. This is a very small number from such a major city. This was likely used in 1850 or 1851, after Beebee left the firm.
Ex Gibson and Matthies.
5c Red Brown, 10c Black (1, 2). Two 5c, beautiful shade and cleaned-plate impression, one has large even margins and Dot in "S" plate variety, other has full margins to slightly in at lower left, used with 10c, three full margins to clear at top, tied by red square grid cancels, 5c stamps also tied by red "New-York Dec. 26" (ca. 1850) circular datestamp on buff cover to Farmington Me., minor wear at edges
VERY FINE AND EXTREMELY RARE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED COMBINATION OF TWO 5-CENT AND ONE 10-CENT STAMPS USED FROM NEW YORK, AND ONE OF ONLY three SUCH COMBINATIONS USED FROM ANY POST OFFICE. A PHENOMENAL RARITY.
The franking pays double the 10c rate for over-300 miles. The USPCS census lists only three covers with two 5c and one 10c stamp, including: 1) used from Boston to Philadelphia, ex Knapp, whereabouts unknown and shown in the census as an old black and white photo; 2) Baltimore to Lancaster O., pen cancels, 10c with tear halfway thru stamp, ex Mirsky (Sale 1023, lot 2250); and 3) the cover offered here. A piece is also known.
With 1997 P.F. certificate.
5c Red Brown, Reproduction (3). Without gum as issued, huge even margins all around, intense color on fresh paper
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1875 REPRODUCTION OF THE 1847 ISSUE, GRADED SUPERB 98 JUMBO BY THE P.F. A STUNNING STAMP.
With 2023 P.F. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo). By way of comparison P.S.E. has graded only two examples at 98J and one higher.