Sale 913 — 2006 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Saturday, 13 May, 2006
Category — 1c 1851-56 Issue
1c Blue, Ty. Ib, I (5A-5). Position 6R1E (one of the two best examples of Type Ib on the plate) and 7R1E (the only Type I position on any of the imperforate plates), a horizontal combination pair with full to large margins incl. part of adjoining stamp at right, bottom of Type I just touched, beautiful bright Plate 1 Early shade and fine impression, each stamp cancelled by two criss-crossing strikes of vivid red "PAID", a few tiny faint surface scrapes in edge of top margin well clear of designEXTREMELY FINE. THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE RARE ONE-CENT 1851 TYPE I CANCELLED BY A RED "PAID". WIDELY REGARDED AS THE FINEST OFF-COVER MULTIPLE CONTAINING TYPE I. ONE OF THE MOST VISUALLY STUNNING ITEMS IN CLASSIC UNITED STATES PHILATELY.
This pair was originally part of a strip of three comprising Positions 6-7-8R1E, used on a cover postmarked at Alexandria, Louisiana, and addressed to Buchannon Carroll & Co. (later known as Carroll, Hoy & Co.) in New Orleans. A photograph and listing of the original cover is found in the catalogue for the May 26-28, 1943, auction held by Harmer, Rooke & Co., which comprised Part VIII of the Col. Edward H. R. Green collection. This eighth sale of the Green estate actually comprised the Storrow collection of United States, which Green acquired intact, providing him with a large number of important classic stamps and covers. The strip was subsequently soaked from the cover and the righthand stamp was removed.
The published census compiled by Jerome S. Wagshal contains 90 unduplicated records of Scott 5. There are probably no more than ten examples existing outside of the Wagshal census population. Therefore, the 1c 1851 Type I is the rarest of all United States stamps issued regularly prior to the 1868 Grills.
Because of the significance attached to the outer portions of the 1c 1851 design, examples that have been carefully cut apart, so as not to impinge on any part of the design, are extremely desirable. The narrow spacing between stamps in the sheet and the users' indifference to the outlying ornamentation during separation are factors that contribute to the great rarity of four-margin examples.
The general consensus of classic U.S. specialists is that the four most desirable used examples of this rare type are: the strip of three on cover of Positions 7-9R1E from the Ishikawa sale, which was also owned by Newbury (and realized $150,000 hammer in 1993); the single on folded printed notice, ex Caspary; the pair with red criss-crossed "Paid" cancels offered here; and the four-margin sound single offered in the Hinrichs sale, which realized $150,000 hammer in 2005.
Ex Storrow, Col. Green, Newbury, Ishikawa and Morris. With copy of 1993 P.F. certificate.
1c Blue, Ty. I (5). Position 7R1E, large margins including part of top sheet margin, bottom plumes and balls touched but essentially intact, deep rich color in the distinctive shade of later printings from Plate 1 Early, bold strike of grid cancel, small thin spotsVERY FINE APPEARANCE. POSITION 7R1E -- THE SEVENTH STAMP IN THE RIGHT PANE OF PLATE 1 EARLY -- IS THE ONLY ONE OF THE 1,000 POSITIONS USED TO PRINT IMPERFORATE ONE-CENT STAMPS THAT SHOWS THE COMPLETE DESIGN (TYPE I). FROM A NEW FIND AND OFFERED TO THE MARKET FOR THE FIRST TIME.
The published census compiled by Jerome S. Wagshal contains 90 unduplicated records of Scott 5. This is the first addition to the Wagshal census, and there are probably no more than ten examples existing outside of the census population. Therefore, the 1c 1851 Type I is the rarest of all United States stamps issued regularly prior to the 1868 Grills.
Because of the significance attached to the outer portions of the 1c 1851 design, examples that have been carefully cut apart so as not to impinge on any part of the design, are extremely desirable. The narrow spacing between stamps in the sheet and the users' indifference to the outlying ornamentation during separation are factors that contribute to the great rarity of four-margin examples. This stamp should be considered desirable, because the type characteristics are clearly visible.
This now becomes Wagshal Census No. 5-CAN-091. With 2006 P.F. certificate.
1c Blue, Ty. Ib (5A). Position 9R1E, huge margins all around incl. part of adjoining stamp at right, radiant color nicely contrasted by light strike of red grid cancel which leaves the design characteristics clearly visibleEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 1851 ONE-CENT TYPE Ib IMPERFORATE ISSUE.
Type Ib was produced only as an imperforate stamp. Six positions on Plate 1 Early furnished stamps qualifying as Type Ib--Positions 3-6R and 8-9R--distinguished by the complete design at top and nearly complete design at bottom. When first entered on the plate, these six positions (as well as 7R1E) had the complete design at top and bottom. However, unlike 7R, small portions of the bottoms were burnished away.
With 1985 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. Ia (6). Large margins to clear incl. part of adjoining stamp at right, clear stitch watermark at top, deep rich Plate 4 color nicely contrasted by red New York carrier cancel, detailed impressionEXTREMELY FINE. A RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 1851 ONE-CENT TYPE Ia IMPERFORATE ISSUE.
The extremely rare Type Ia, showing the full design at bottom, was furnished only by 18 of the 200 subjects on Plate 4 (the remaining two bottom-row positions were sub-type Ic).
Ex Hindes. With 1986 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. II (7). Huge margins all around incl. part of adjoining stamps at all four sides, crisp impression, neat strike of blue grid cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM USED EXAMPLE OF THE IMPERFORATE ONE-CENT TYPE II ISSUE.
With 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo)
1c Blue, Ty. III, Position 99R2 (8). Three huge margins incl. part of adjoining stamp at top, just in at right, bright color, neat strike of blue circular datestamp which leaves the characteristics of this distinctive position clearly visible, small corner crease at top right entirely outside of the designVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A DESIRABLE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 1851 ONE-CENT IMPERFORATE TYPE III FROM POSITION 99R2. THIS POSITION IS THE BEST EXAMPLE OF THE TYPE III, WITH THE WIDEST BREAKS AT TOP AND BOTTOM.
Type III is defined by breaks in the outer lines at both top and bottom. Many Type III stamps have breaks that were created or enlarged by plate wear. Since the wear occurred over a period of time, a majority of stamps of this type (both unused and used) have small breaks in at least one line. The most notable exception is Position 99R2. According to the Neinken book, "The 99R2 stamp is a fresh entry, that was short transferred both at top and bottom, over an original entry that had been erased... The reason that 99R2 is the finest example of Type III is because of its very short transfer at top and at bottom, giving us the wide breaks in these lines." (p. 184).
With 2002 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. III (8). Large margins all around, deep rich color and proof-like impression, face-free town datestamp, clear beaks at top and bottom which is the defining characteristic of the typeEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE IMPERFORATE 1851 ONE-CENT TYPE III.
With 1989 P.F. certificate.
1c Blue, Ty. IIIa (8A). Plate 4, original gum, lightly hinged, large to huge margins all around, showing wide break at top, deep Plate 4 shade and beautiful rich colorEXTREMELY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF THE IMPERFORATE ONE-CENT TYPE IIIa WITH ORIGINAL GUM.
Stamps printed from Plate 4 were issued in April-June 1857 before perforations were introduced. The relatively small number of imperforate Plate 4 stamps issued during this period explains the rarity and desirability of any of the imperforate stamp types produced from this plate. The Type IIIa from Plate 4 with original gum is extremely rare.
With 2000 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. IIIa (8A). Plate 4, large balanced margins, strong color and excellent impression showing a substantial break at top, lightly and unobtrusively cancelled by the rim of a circular datestampEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE IMPERFORATE 1851 ONE-CENT TYPE IIIa.
Scott Retail for Plate 4
1c Blue, Ty. IIIa (8A). Horizontal pair, Positions 73-74R4, huge margins to barely touched incl. part of adjoining stamp at top, deep rich color and proof-like impression, neat New Orleans circular datestamp, left stamp has potential to be a Superb 98EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL PAIR OF THE IMPERFORATE ONE-CENT TYPE IIIa ISSUE.
Ex Koppersmith. With 1987 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. IV (9). Bottom row position with enormous margins all around including parts of adjoining stamps at right and top, traces at left, blurry grid cancellationEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A RARE "SUPERB 98 JUMBO" EXAMPLE OF THE IMPERFORATE ONE-CENT TYPE IV STAMP.
With 2006 P.F. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo)
1c Blue, Ty. IV (9). Position 9L1L, huge margins all around incl. sheet margin at top and part of adjoining stamp at bottom, rich color nicely contrasted by red New York Carrier cancelEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE "SUPERB 98" EXAMPLE OF THE IMPERFORATE TYPE IV ONE-CENT 1851 ISSUE WITH A RED CARRIER CANCEL.
With 1975 and 2004 P.F. certificates. With 2006 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98)
1c Blue, Ty. IV (9). Two horizontal strips of three, Positions 73-75R1L and 48-50R1L, large to huge margins incl. part of adjoining stamps at bottom of one strip, stamps creased prior to use, left strip small tear at bottom left not mentioned on accompanying certificate, tied by blue "Baltimore Md. Jun. 27" circular datestamps on incoming ship letter to Jacksonville Fla., ms. "Due 2" and also "Per Steamer Hugh Jenkins" under stamps (which were affixed in Baltimore), endorsed "Schr. Guthrie, U.S. Coast Survey" at bottom left which indicates this was carried by non-contract schooner to FloridaVERY FINE. A MOST UNUSUAL USAGE SHOWING CHARGES OF BOTH TWO CENTS AND THREE CENTS FOR THE DIFFERENT SHIP-LETTER FEES TO SEND IT TO ITS DESTINATION. THIS IS THE ONLY COVER KNOWN WITH SUCH A FRANKING.
The origin of the cover is unclear. It has been interpreted that the cover is of unknown origin and was charged 2c due for the ship captain's fee. The stamps were applied in Baltimore, where it was carried by non-contract steamer to Florida. The 3c ship fee for this non-contract sending was paid by one of the strips of the 1c stamp. The other strip paid the 3c domestic postage rate.
Ex Ishikawa. Described in Ashbrook's Special Service (No. 276) and with his notes on back. With 2002 P.F. certificate.
1c Blue, Ty. II (7). Horizontal pair, large margins to in, left stamp tear at top, cancelled by large "PAID" precancels in upper-case type and affixed to wrapper to Kingston Ala., some wearVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE LARGE "PAID" PRECANCEL ON ITS ORIGINAL WRAPPER. A MAGNIFICENT SHOWPIECE.
Little is known about the "Paid" precancels on the 1c 1851 Issue. The Ashbrook 1c book illustrates several varieties of actual and supposed precancels (Volume 2, pages 92-97), including the pair offered here. About this wrapper, Ashbrook notes that "the wrapper evidently originally enclosed a newspaper, and the stamps were unquestionably precancelled before they were applied to the wrapper."
This would make an excellent companion to the wrapper offered in our 2004 Rarities sale, which bears a pair of Scott 9 with a different variety of precancel used in Cleveland, Ohio.
1c Blue, Ty. II (7). Large margins to in, unused (no gum), printed "paid" precancel in lower-case type, used in Cleveland O., some creasing, tear affects both stampsFINE APPEARANCE AND EXTREMELY RARE. THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION HAS CERTIFIED FEWER THAN TEN EXAMPLES OF THIS PRECANCEL. ESPECIALLY RARE ON THE TYPE II STAMP.
Several different "Paid" precancels are known on the 1c 1851 Issue. The most widely known are those in either all upper-case or all lower-case type (two pairs are known with a combination of both types). Both styles of "Paid" precancel are very rare and were used in Cleveland O. (see 2005 Rarities sale, lot 254). At the time of our Dr. Morris sale in 1997, the Philatelic Foundation had certified only six copies in total -- three of each type. We have not offered one on a Type II stamp since keeping computerized records.
Ex Michaels. Illustrated in Ashbrook 1c 1851-57 book, Volume 2, page 92. With 2005 P.S.E. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. IV (9). Large margins at sides, in at top and bottom, printed "PAID" precancel in upper-case type used in Cleveland O. (see 2005 Rarities sale, lot 254)FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE SOUND PAIR OF THE "PAID" PRECANCEL. THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION HAS CERTIFIED FEWER THAN TEN EXAMPLES
With 2005 P.S.E. certificate