Sale 1234 — The Gary Petersen Collection of Important United States Stamps
Sale Date — Thursday-Friday, 29-30 April, 2021
Category — 1861-66 Issue (Scott 56-78)
1c Indigo, First Design (55). Original gum, intense shade in the unmistakable deep dark shade of the First Design printing, bright paper and very freshVERY FINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT 1861 FIRST DESIGN. ONLY 22 UNUSED EXAMPLES ARE AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS.
Our census of Scott 55, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/55 , contains a total of 26 examples. Three have target cancels and one is in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library. Of the remaining 22 copies, at least thirteen have faults ranging from serious defects to pulled perfs. This stamp is one of only eight sound original-gum examples available to collectors.
Census no. 55-OG-20. With 1982 P.F. certificate
3c Brown Rose, First Design (56). Original gum, slightly oxidized (not mentioned on accompanying certificate), Fine, ex "Lake Shore", with clear 2000 P.F. certificate
5c Brown, First Design (57). Unused (no gum), deep rich color, small corner repair at top right is difficult to detect, slight toning at topFINE APPEARANCE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1861 FIRST DESIGN. ONLY 37 EXAMPLES ARE KNOWN.
Our census of Scott 57, available at our website at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/57 , contains a total of 37 copies of this rarity. Of these, one is in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library. Of the 36 thought to be available to collectors, two are cancelled, 19 have no gum, five have part original gum and ten have full (or nearly full) original gum. Only two of the full or part original-gum copies are confirmed as sound.
Census no. 57-UNC-26. With 1990 P.F. certificate.
12c Intense Black, First Design (59). Unused (no gum), outstanding centering with balanced margins, deep dark shade, few short perfs at upper left, a tiny tear between two perfs at top was mentioned in 1986 auction description, but is not evident and not mentioned on certificateEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A BEAUTIFULLY CENTERED EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 12-CENT 1861 FIRST DESIGN. ONLY 15 OF THE 16 RECORDED EXAMPLES ARE AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS.
The 12c is the rarest of the 1861 First Designs and Colors, with a total of 16 examples recorded, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library. Our census of the 12c 1861 First Design is available at https://www.siegelauctions.com/census/US/Scott/59 .
Census no. 59-UNC-14. Ex Peyton ("Isleham"). With 2007 P.S.E. certificate stating "unused, no gum, with several shorter perfs".
24c Dark Violet, First Color (60). Unused (no gum), deep rich First Color, attractive centering with three wide margins, negligible tiny thins in two perfs at top -- had they not been noted on certificate, we would not have given them notice or mentionVERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1861 DARK VIOLET EARLY TRIAL PRINTING. ONE OF THE RAREST OF THE 24-CENT 1861-63 ISSUE SHADES.
The Dark Violet trial printing and Violet regular issue shades are often confused, and the Scott Catalogue adds to the confusion by putting the Dark Violet (the old Scott 60) in the Trial Color Proofs section as 70TC6, while the Violet gets a front seat as Scott 70c. In our opinion, there is no good reason to relegate the Dark Violet to the Trial Color Proofs section. As a result, the stamp offered here is undercatalogued in relation to other 24c stamps of equal rarity.
With 2006 P.F. certificate. Scott value as original gum
30c Red Orange, First Color (61). Large part original gum, brilliant color, centered to right as are most, thin spot at top left has been expertly filled, small corner crease top left FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 30-CENT 1861 FIRST COLOR.
Our census of Scott 61, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/61 , contains a total of 33 examples, including one is in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library. Virtually all are centered to one side, and many are centered to two sides. A characteristic common to most examples of the 30c 1861 First Color is creasing, which in some cases is very severe and in others barely visible. Only six stamps with original gum are free of faults, and among those a few have a nibbed perf or two.
Census no. 61-OG-10. From our 1990 Rarities of the World sale. With 1974 and 2021 P.F. certificates
90c Blue, First Design (62). Original gum, very lightly hinged, choice centering with well-balanced margins, wonderful deep shade, trivial tiny tear in perf hole at bottom (barely detectable and almost unworthy of mention)EXTREMELY FINE DESPITE THE TINY FLAW. THE SECOND RAREST STAMP OF THE 1861 FIRST DESIGNS AND COLORS. ONLY EIGHT EXAMPLES OF THE 90-CENT FIRST DESIGN WITH ORIGINAL GUM ARE IN PRIVATE HANDS. A BEAUTIFUL AND EXTREMELY RARE CLASSIC STAMP.
Our census of Scott 62, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/62 , contains 22 examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library and another copy certified as a privately perforated No. 62a, which comes from a set in the Col. Green sale that was signed by John Luff (we believe this stamp to be genuine). Another has been certified as genuine with a trial cancel. Excluding the NYPL copy and the ex-Green stamp just noted, only eight examples of the 90c First Design are available with original gum. Of these eight, only three are sound. The example offered here, with a tiny tear in one perf hole, has the least noticeable flaw among the remaining five original-gum stamps.
Census no. 62-OG-15. Ex Caspary. Tiny purple backstamp. With 1971 and 2007 P.F. certificates.
3c Pigeon Blood Pink (64a). Original gum, lightly hinged, radiant color in the true Pigeon Blood Pink shade, choice centering for this difficult issue, tiny perf crease at bottom not noted on certificateVERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT PIGEON BLOOD PINK. THIS IS THE FINEST OF ONLY FIVE ORIGINAL-GUM COPIES WE RECORD THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS. EACH OF THE OTHERS WE RECORD HAS EITHER MORE EXTENSIVE FAULTS, INFERIOR CENTERING, OR BOTH.
The 3c Pigeon Blood Pink is one of the rarest of all 1861-66 Issue shades in original-gum condition. We have offered only three since 1993, including the essentially sound example offered here (ex Whitman), a faulty stamp with a piece out in 1993, and one with a diagonal crease and pulled perf in 2018 (ex Drews). The Philatelic Foundation has certified two others, both with faults and off-center, bringing the total to four certified by the P.F. plus the uncertified stamp offered by us in 1993. The P.F. has also previously certified one other as genuine, but it was withdrawn when resubmitted and so needs to be reexamined. The New York Public Library's Benjamin K. Miller collection contains another, but it is not available to collectors.
Ex Whitman. With clear 2004 P.F. certificate
3c Rose Pink (64b). Original gum, bright color, Very Fine, with 2006 P.F. certificate
3c Rose (65). Bottom imprint and plate no. 37 block of eight, original gum, stamps are Mint N.H. but with gum heavily and unevenly applied in some areas, h.r. in selvage, rich color, centered to left, about Fine, a scarce plate block, Scott value $4,750.00 as hinged
3c Lake (66). Original gum, h.r., deep rich color, centered to top, bottom right corner perf is mostly detached but its removal would still leave a full corner, Fine
5c Buff (67). Original gum, deep rich color on bright paper, well-centered and completely soundVERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN EXTREMELY RARE SOUND AND CENTERED ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 5-CENT BUFF.
The 5c Buff and its shade varieties (Brown Yellow and Olive Yellow) are recognized as being among the rarest of 1861-66 Issue stamps in sound original-gum condition. Perhaps the only shade varieties rarer than the 5c Buff are the 3c Pigeon Blood Pink and 24c Blackish Violet (Scott 64a and 78c), but Scott 67 is a major listing and is, therefore, more significant to completion of the series. This example in sound condition and with choice centering is a rarity among rarities.
Ex Sheriff. With 1986 P.F. (as 67a, in error) and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, VF-XF 85; SMQ $50,000.00). Only two original-gum examples of any of the 5c Buff shades (67, 67a and 67b) have even been submitted to P.S.E. for grading, both in the main Scott 67 shade. This is the highest graded example, with the other example graded 60. No unused examples are graded by the P.F.
5c Buff (67). Unused (regummed), beautiful bright color, small corner creaseVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 5-CENT BUFF.
Ex Geisler. With 1975 and 2007 P.F. certificates
5c Olive Yellow (67b). Deep rich color with the distinctive greenish cast of the Olive Yellow shade, target cancel, pulled perf and tiny perf tear at left, Fine appearing example of this shade, which is the rarest of the Scott 67 family, with 2006 P.F. certificate
12c Black (69). Block of four, slightly disturbed original gum, light horizontal crease at top of bottom pair, overall Very Good and scarce block of this issue, the largest recorded unused multiple is a block of six, Scott value $10,000.00
24c Brown Lilac (70a). Unused (no gum), rich color which we feel is Red Lilac (70) but both accompanying P.F. certificates state Brown Lilac (70a), most recent certificate also notes reperfed at top (we are not convinced), appears Very Fine, with 1989 (clear) and 2021 P.F. certificates
24c Steel Blue (70b). Original gum, lightly hinged, radiant color in the true Steel Blue shade, choice centering with full perforationsVERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN EXTREMELY RARE SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 24-CENT STEEL BLUE.
The Steel Blue is the most distinctive of all the 24c shades. Unlike some of the others, it is rarely mistaken or misidentified, and as such has always been a favorite of collectors. Examples with original gum are rare, and those with Very Fine or Extremely Fine centering are of tremendous rarity, probably numbering no more than a dozen (with or without faults).
Ex "Scarsdale". With 1998 and 2006 P.F. certificates
24c Violet, Thin Paper (70c). Original gum, lightly hinged, brilliant color and proof-like impression on bright paper, remarkably choice centering for this difficult issueEXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 24-CENT VIOLET ON THIN PAPER WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED. ONE OF THE RAREST 1861 ISSUE STAMPS IN SOUND, CENTERED AND ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.
The 24c 1861 exists in four basic shades of Violet: Dark Violet (August 1861 trial printing, formerly Scott 60); Violet on Thin Paper (August-September 1861 regular issue, Scott 70c -- the shade offered here); Pale Gray Violet (1861 regular issue, Scott 70d) and Blackish Violet (ca. 1863 printing, Scott 78c). All four are rare, especially in sound original-gum condition. We feel this is nearly as rare as the Blackish Violet, which has a catalogue value of $95,000.00.
Ex Whitman. With 2006 P.F. certificate
24c Pale Gray Violet, Thin Paper (70d). Original gum which accompanying certificate harshly calls slightly disturbed and with light overall gum staining, radiant color, choice centering with wide margins for this difficult issueVERY FINE AND CHOICE APPEARANCE. THE 24-CENT 1861 ISSUE IN THE PALE GRAY VIOLET SHADE ON THIN PAPER IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT SHADES TO OBTAIN IN ORIGINAL-GUM AND CENTERED CONDITION. A GREAT RARITY OF THE ISSUE.
A review of our computerized records shows we have only offered two other original-gum examples in the past 20 years, which were both repaired or reperfed. Scott 70d may well be the rarest of the 1861 Issue shades to obtain with original gum.
Ex Whitman. With 2006 P.F. certificate
30c Orange (71). Block of four, slightly disturbed original gum, bright color, about Fine, a scarce block, Scott value $17,000.00
90c Blue (72). Unused (no gum), rich color, well-balanced margins which are extra wide at top and bottom, prominent horizontal layout line just above Washington's head, Extremely Fine, ex dos Passos, with 1986 P.F. certificate
90c Blue (72). Block of four, original gum, lightly hinged, rich color on crisp paper, wide marginsFINE-VERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 90-CENT 1861 ISSUE. VERY FEW BLOCKS SURVIVE.
Ex Caspary, Lilly, Ishikawa and Whitman. With 1993 and 2003 P.F. certificates
2c Black (73). Block of 32 with selvage at left with part imprint, original gum, detailed impression, few flaws including horizontal crease affecting second row, some perf separations, toned spots and small piece out at lower rightFINE APPEARANCE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF 32 OF THE 2-CENT BLACK JACK.
This is one of the largest multiples extant. Scott value $22,0000.00 as eight blocks of four
2c Black (73). Block of four, disturbed original gum and multiple h.r. including some reinforced perf separations between bottom pair, attractive centering, couple short perfs upper right, Fine-Very Fine, Scott value $2,750.00
2c Black (73). Block of four with selvage at left, original gum, top pair light horizontal crease, some slight gum toning at top and left, appears Fine, scarce and desirable block, 2004 P.S.E. certificate no longer accompanies, Scott value $2,750.00
3c Scarlet (74). Original gum covers nearly the entire back, called "large part" on accompanying certificate, brilliant color in the unmistakable ScarletVERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT SCARLET TRIAL PRINTING.
Many examples of this stamp have either somewhat faded color, poor centering, faults or a combination of those problems. This is a particularly fresh example.
With 1968 and 2006 P.F. certificates
5c Red Brown (75). Unused (no gum), unusually choice centering with perforations completely clear of the design all around, deep rich colorFRESH AND EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1862 RED BROWN.
From our 2007 Rarities of the World sale. With 1983 and 1986 P.F. certificates.
5c Brown (76). Original gum, warm color on bright paper, beautifully centered with balanced margins, Very Fine and choice, with 2004 P.S.E. certificate
15c Black (77). Original gum described as disturbed on accompanying certificate (inaccurately, in our opinion), crisp impression, choice centering for this difficult issue, Very Fine, with 1995 P.F. certificate
24c Lilac (78). Original gum, h.r., intense color, Fine and attractive original-gum example, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate
24c Grayish Lilac (78a). Original gum, rich color, attractive centering and margins, fresh and Fine, with 2000 P.F. certificate
24c Grayish Lilac (78a). Block of four, original gum, centered to right, reinforced perf separations, top left stamp faint stain at bottom, otherwise Very Good and scarce block, Scott value for block of four of No. 78 is $18,000.00
24c Gray (78b). Original gum with pencil notations at bottom, bright color, centered to bottom with other margins nicely balanced, short corner perf at bottom left, appears Fine, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate (OGh, VG 50; SMQ $875.00)