Sale 1111 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 27-29 October, 2015
Category — 1867-68 Grilled Issue and 1875 Re-Issue (Scott 79-111)
"X" Cents Dull Claret Die Essay on Wove Paper with Crossed "Cancelled" Handstamps (79-E10b). 26 x 30mm, attributed to John M. Sturgeon (1867), Very Fine, ex Tolman
2c Black, D. Grill (84). Sharp impression, light quartered cork cancel, trivial corner crease and a couple short perfs, otherwise Fine, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate
2c Black, D. Grill (84). Clearly-defined grill, intense shade, bold cork cancel, corner crease at bottom left, few perf creases or short perfs, otherwise Fine, with 2009 Weiss certificate
10c Green, E. Grill (89). Choice centering, bright color, unobtrusive cork cancel, Very Fine, ex "Golden Oak"
15c Black, F. Grill (98). Block of four, original gum, very slightly disturbed on bottom pair, minor crease on top right stamp only visible on gum sideA FINE AND VERY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF THE 15-CENT F GRILL.
Virtually all of the better-centered blocks of this scarce issue have been broken to feed the market for choice singles.
15c Black, F. Grill, Very Thin Paper (98 var). Centrally struck target cancel, detailed impression, well-centered, Very Fine and choice example of this paper variety, ex "Golden Oak", with 1986 and 2007 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85)
1c Blue, Re-Issue (102). Original gum, wide balanced margins, rich re-issue color and sharp impression on fresh paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN EYE-APPEALING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT 1861 RE-ISSUE.
With 1995 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $3,000.00). Only three have been graded higher.
1c Blue, Re-Issue (102). Unusually choice centering with wide and balanced margins, radiant color and detailed impression, neat strike of small two-ring target cancel and part of circular datestamp, tiny tear between two perfs at lower left, Extremely Fine appearance, we record 50 used examples (Census No. 102-CAN-14), with 2004 and 2012 P.F. certificates, only the latter mentioning the tiny perf tear
5c Brown, Re-Issue (105). Original gum, uncharacteristically wide margins, choice centering, gorgeous rich color and excellent clarity of impressionEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1861 RE-ISSUE.
With 2005 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $12,000.00). Only one has graded higher (at 95J).
12c Black, Re-Issue (107). Original gum, choice centering, wide margins, strong shade and highly detailed impressionEXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1861 RE-ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
With 1998 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $13,000.00). Only four stamps grade higher
12c Black, Re-Issue (107). Huge margins on three sides, intense shade and proof-like impression, neat duplex cancelFRESH AND FINE. SOUND USED EXAMPLES OF THE 12-CENT 1861 RE-ISSUE ARE VERY RARE. ONLY FOURTEEN USED COPIES ARE RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS, OF WHICH ONLY SEVEN ARE CONFIRMED AS SOUND.
The 12c Re-Issue was printed from a new plate of 100 subjects, compared to the original plate of 200 in two panes. 10,000 stamps were printed (100 impressions). Only 389 of the 12c were sold; the remaining 9,611 were destroyed on July 16, 1884.
Our census of Scott 107 used, available at our website at http://siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/107/107.pdf , records only fourteen examples. Of these, only nine are potentially sound. Two of the nine have not been examined since the early 1970's and are not confirmed as sound, leaving only seven confirmed sound copies.
Census No. 107-CAN-07. With 1971 and 2015 P.F. certificates