Sale 1255 — The David W. Gorham Collection of Outstanding Used U.S. Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Friday, 17-20 May, 2022
Category — 5c 1847 Issue, Cancellations: Grid and Fancy (Scott 1)
5c Red Brown (1). Full to large margins, rich color and detailed early impression on fresh paper, cancelled by well-struck St. Johnsbury Vt. red Scarab fancy cancelEXTREMELY FINE. A CHOICE 5-CENT 1847 STAMP AND REMARKABLY SHARP AND COMPLETE STRIKE OF THE ST. JOHNSBURY "SCARAB" FANCY CANCELLATION.
Illustrated in Chronicle 217 (p. 27). Ex Saadi and Gross. With 1985, 1990 and 2013 P.F. certificates.
5c Red Brown (1). Huge margins to just in at lower right, dark shade and early impression, red 7-bar grid precancel of Wheeling, (West) Virginia at bottom left corner, tied by blue "Wheeling Va. Nov. 6" (1847) circular datestamp on small piece, stamp with corner crease at bottom leftVERY FINE. A RARE AND DESIRABLE EXAMPLE OF THE WHEELING, VIRGINIA, RED GRID PRECANCELLATION ON THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE, WITH A COMPLETE STRIKE OF THE BLUE WHEELING CIRCULAR DATESTAMP TYING IT TO A PIECE. ONLY THREE FULL 5-CENT COVERS ARE RECORDED.
The post office in Wheeling, Virginia (later West Virginia), received its first supply of 1847 stamps on August 8, 1847--1,200 5c and 400 10c--and soon after applied a red 7-bar grid to the center of blocks of four before or at the time the stamps were sold. We do not know if the red grids were struck on all 25 blocks in a pane of 100 stamps, or if they were applied to smaller units, but all of the known examples have the red grid in one corner of the stamp. There are seven recorded covers with the Wheeling grid precancel, including three 5c and four 10c covers. In addition to the covers, a few off-cover 5c and 10c stamps are known with the red grid precancel. This piece is particularly desirable as it includes a complete strike of the blue Wheeling circular datestamp. Interestingly, all of the known covers have stamps tied by a blue grid, with the Wheeling datestamp struck away from the stamp. See lot 115 for the 10c 1847 with Wheeling grid.
With 2017 P.F. certificate. Scott value $25,000.00
5c Red Brown (1). Horizontal pair, large margins to just clear at upper right, wonderful depth of color and early impression, cancelled by two clear strikes of red Hudson River Mail 17-bar grid in circle, left stamp small pre-printing crease at top and same stamp with light diagonal crease at rightVERY FINE STRIKES OF THE RED HUDSON RIVER MAIL 17-BAR GRID IN CIRCLE ON A 5-CENT 1847 PAIR WITH BRILLIANT COLOR.
With 2006 P.F. certificate.
5c Red Brown (1). Bright color, worn-plate impression, appears to us as Orange Brown, large margins all around, bold strike of blue criss-crossed "Waffle" grid in circle cancel of Ottawa, IllinoisEXTREMELY FINE STAMP AND STRIKE OF THE RARE OTTAWA, ILLINOIS, "WAFFLE" GRID CANCEL ON THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE.
Ottawa received a supply of 600 5c and 200 10c stamps on January 18, 1851. The small number of stamps delivered accounts for the rarity of this cancel. Power Search reveals only two other examples offered in our sales -- 5c and 10c off-cover stamps in our 2020 sale of the Gross collection. The USPCS census lists only three covers from Ottawa, each with a single 10c -- one is not pictured but of the other two only one has the "Waffle" grid.
With 1991 and 2013 P.F. certificates.
5c Blackish Brown (1a var). Wonderful dark shade, early impression, full to ample margins, blue rectangular grid cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 2013 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown (1). Large margins all around, rich color, intermediate impression, cancelled by well-struck blue 5-bar grid and a trace of manuscript, Extremely Fine stamp with a choice and unusual cancellation, ex Barwis, with 2003 P.S.E. and 2007 P.F. certificates
5c Orange Brown (1b). Huge to large margins with trace of adjoining stamp at top, bright shade and worn-plate impression, cancelled by unusual blue 7-bar rimless grid, Extremely Fine, with 1995 and 2010 P.F. certificates
5c Red Brown (1). Striking proof-like color and early impression, we feel this is Dark Brown but certified as Red Brown, excellent central strike of unusual blue 4-bar grid cancel with bars widely spaced, small thins at top of little importance, Very Fine appearance and one of the more distinctive cancellations found on this stamp, with 1997 P.F. certificate as Red Brown
5c Red Brown (1). Huge margins to just shaving frameline at top, attractive dark shade and intermediate impression, blue Herringbone cancel (not the Binghamton device), trace of toning in left margin and light vertical crease at bottom left, Fine appearing stamp and a choice strike of this rare cancel, ex Stollnitz, Saadi and Gross, with 1996 and 2013 P.F. certificates mentioning only the light crease
5 Dark Brown (1a). Large margins to barely clear at upper left, dark color and intermediate impression, well-struck blue grid of tiny diamonds fancy cancel, Very Fine, with 2004 P.F. certificate
5c Dark Brown (1a). Dark color and early impression, earlier of two accompanying certificates notes that the shade is "in the family of Ridgway's Chestnut Brown", large margins to clear, unusual blue circular grid of tiny diamonds fancy cancel of East Hampton Mass., small corner crease at bottom right, Fine appearance, scarce cancel and shade, ex Mirsky, with 1998 and 2012 P.F. certificates
5c Orange Brown (1b). Huge margins to just clear at top, bright color and worn-plate impression, stitch watermark, well-struck blue pinwheel fancy cancel of Wilmington and Raleigh Railroad, Very Fine stamp and choice strike of this unusual cancel, 2004 P.S.E. certificate no longer accompanies, with 2012 P.F. certificate
5c Brown (1). Large margins to just in at upper left, dark color, intermediate impression, cancelled by boldly struck Trenton N.J. blue Hollow Star fancy cancel, completely soundVERY FINE STRIKE OF THIS RARE AND DESIRABLE FANCY CANCELLATION ON THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE.
With 2006 P.F. certificate