Sale 973 &#8212; 2009 Rarities of the World

17,500

1c Blue, Ty. IV (23). Position 7R1L, the recut state of Type I Position 7R on Plate 1 Early, typical late impression and exceptionally well-centered, light circular datestamp

EXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE SCARCE PERFORATED TYPE IV ONE-CENT AND A RARE POSITION 7R, WHICH FURNISHED TYPE I BEFORE PLATE ONE WAS REWORKED.

With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $2,200.00 as a normal Type IV position)

850

2,000

48°

3c Rose, Ty. I (25). Original gum in Mint N.H. condition, bright color and fine impression, perfs well clear of framelines on three sides

VERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN INCREDIBLY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 3-CENT PERFORATED TYPE I STAMP.

Unlike its Type II counterpart, the 3c Type I, which was produced in 1857 by perforating sheets from the earlier imperforate issue, is virtually impossible to find in Mint N.H. condition. Our search of previous auction catalogues confirms this observation. In addition, because the Type I plate did not provide sufficient space for perforations, stamps with complete lines on three sides are very scarce. Thus, a 3c Type I stamp in Mint N.H. condition with complete lines on three sides is a great rarity, of which only a sparse few exist.

With 1996 and 2004 P.F. certificates. Scott Retail as hinged

3,000

2,500

5c Indian Red (28A). Wonderful color in the true Indian Red shade, unusually choice centering for this difficult issue, long and full perforations all around incl. intact perfs at bottom, neat New Orleans circular datestamp and also red circular datestamp

EXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1857 ISSUE IN THE DESIRABLE INDIAN RED COLOR.

With 1999 and 2004 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $9,600.00). Only one has graded higher to date and only four others share this grade.

3,850

4,500

5c Brown, Ty. II (30A). Original gum, lightly hinged, choice centering for this difficult issue with perfs clear of projections on all sides, deep rich color and proof-like impression

EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1860 TYPE II. SCARCE WITH SUCH CHOICE CENTERING.

With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $5,500.00). This is one of only three examples to achieve this grade, and only one hinged and one Mint N.H. example have graded higher to date.

2,400

4,250

51°

10c Green, Ty. III (33). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich color and proof-like impression, gorgeous centering with unusually wide and balanced margins, long and full perforations all around

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THE 1857 10-CENT TYPE III IN EXISTENCE. THIS MARVELOUS STAMP HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.

The first perforated 10c stamps produced by Toppan Carpenter from sheets printed from Plate 1 are notorious among collectors for their poor centering. They are also very scarce in original-gum condition because, unlike 10c Plate 2 stamps (Scott 35), there were no supplies on hand in 1861 when the issue was demonetized due to the outbreak of the Civil War. The example offered here, with superior centering, lightly-hinged gum, fresh paper and intense color, is a true condition rarity.

With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $26,800.00). This is the highest grade awarded to date and the only example to achieve this grade.

6,250

21,000

52°

10c Green, Ty. V (35). Tied by "San Francisco Cal. Sep. 23, 1859" circular datestamp on yellow cover to Danvers Mass. with "Per Overland Mail Stage, Via Los Angeles. In hope of the [railroad]" illustrated railroad propaganda design on front and "What Cheer House" building facade on back, reduced at right, expert repairs along edges and bottom right, some overall wear

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THIS RAILROAD PROPAGANDA DESIGN. ONE OF THE GREATEST OF ALL CALIFORNIA ILLUSTRATED COVERS.

Shortly after our recent Jarrett sale, which contained the other example, the current owner of this cover sent it to us for inclusion in our Rarities sale. He has owned it for decades and is offering it now for the first time.

E. 10,000-15,000

14,000

53°

24c Gray Lilac (37). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich color and proof-like impression, unusually choice centering with balanced margins that are completely clear of outer projections

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1860 24-CENT GRAY LILAC.

With 2003 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $8,550.00). This is the highest grade awarded to date and the only example to achieve this grade.

1,600

6,000

24c Gray Lilac (37). Original gum, lightly hinged, radiant color, unusually choice centering with well-proportioned margins

EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1860 ISSUE.

With 1994 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF 90; SMQ $4,350.00)

1,600

2,200

24c Gray Lilac (37). Perfectly centered with wide and balanced margins, brilliant color nicely complemented by red integral-rate circular datestamp

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1860 ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE.

With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $10,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded to date and only three others share this desirable grade.

440

11,000

24c Gray Lilac (37). Bright shade and crisp impression, unusually choice centering, face-free strike of large Boston "Paid" grid

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1860 24-CENT GRAY LILAC.

With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $4,000.00)

425

1,900

30c Orange (38). Vibrant color as fresh as the day it was printed, crisp white paper, unusually choice centering for this difficult issue, trace of blue cancel at bottom left

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A GORGEOUS USED EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1860 ISSUE. AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT STAMP TO FIND IN SUCH SUPERB USED CONDITION.

The 30c 1860 challenges collectors for several reasons. First, the subjects were closely spaced together on the plate, leaving almost no room for perforations and little opportunity to create stamps with perforations clear of the design on all four sides. Second, the 30c and 90c 1860 were only in circulation for a brief period before the series was demonetized in the Fall of 1861. Third, this high-denomination stamp was issued for use on transatlantic mail, and postal clerks were careful to thoroughly cancel the stamps to prevent cleaning and re-use. Therefore, 30c 1860 stamps in sound, well-centered and lightly-cancelled condition defy all circumstances and are extremely rare.

Ex Renne, Yost and Scarsdale. With 1980, 1995, 2002 and 2008 P.F. certificates

500

1,300

58°

90c Sepia, Large Die Trial Color Proof on India (39TC1). On 88 x 129mm card with full die sinkage, bright color, ms. on back reads "Head of Washington from Trumbull's full length portrait at Yale College", small nick at bottom left of card

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE LARGE DIE TRIAL COLOR PROOF OF THE 90-CENT 1860 ISSUE.

Ex Lake Shore. With 2007 P.F. certificate. Scott Catalogue only lists the Black and Brown Orange shades as large die proofs. We have only sold two in Black since keeping computerized records. Scott Retail as one of the listed colors.

7,500

4,250

90c Blue (39). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich color on crisp paper, well-proportioned margins

EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1860 ISSUE.

With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, VF-XF 85; SMQ $5,400.00)

3,500

2,700

90c Blue (39). Choice centering, rich color, neat strikes of blue circular datestamp, long and full perforations all around

EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1860 ISSUE. SCARCE AND DESIRABLE WITH A BLUE CANCELLATION.

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 large 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 and covers bearing the 90c are extremely rare. Approximately 180 used examples have been certified as genuine by the Philatelic Foundation, of which approximately one-quarter are sound. Of these sound examples, many are off-center.

With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $15,500.00)

9,800

90c Blue (39). Choice margins and centering, rich color, black grid and trace of red town datestamp, short perfs and small margin thin at left

EXTREMELY FINE CENTERING. AN UNUSUALLY WIDE-MARGINED AND PERFECTLY CENTERED USED EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1860 ISSUE.

With 2006 P.F. certificate