Sale 1326 — 2024 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Thursday, 27 June, 2024
Category — 1851-57 Issues
3c 1851 Issues, Dr. Wilbur F. Amonette Color Study (10-11A). Group of 68 used stamps arranged by year and hinged on eleven index cards, with typed labels for years and colors, showing a wonderful range, including ten Nos. 10/10A Orange Brown in different shades including a beautiful Copperish, two Nos. 11A Experimental Orange Brown, No. 11A in the rare Plum shade (neat N.Y. circular datestamp cancel), wide range of other shades for Nos. 11/11A, attractive stamps with a fair number of four-margined examples and neat cancels including a few in blue, possibly some small faults but the condition is overall good, the cards are not signed by Dr. Amonette, but the printing and format matches sets known to have been prepared by him
A FRESH AND BEAUTIFUL SHADE STUDY OF THE 3-CENT 1851 ISSUE BY DR. AMONETTE.
The late Dr. Amonette's shade identifications are the gold standard. However, this lot or any item in it may not be returned if an expert committee disagrees with the color identification. Scott value as just the basic stamps is $5,125.
5c Red Brown (12). Large part original gum which covers about two-thirds of the back, rich color, full margins to clear on all sides
VERY FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1856 ISSUE WITH LARGE PART ORIGINAL GUM.
With the exception of some rare types of the 1c and 10c, such as Scott Nos. 5 and 16, the 5c stamp is the most difficult denomination to obtain with four margins in sound original-gum condition. The spacing between stamps was very narrow, leaving little margin for error when separating the stamps, which explains why so few examples are known with four margins.
With 1979 P.F. and 2023 P.S.E. certificates. SCV $30,000 as original gum.
5c Red Brown (12). Enormous margins all around including large part of adjoining stamps at sides, deep rich color and proof-like impression, neat strikes of New Orleans circular datestamp
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN ABSOLUTELY STUNNING USED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1856 ISSUE, GRADED SUPERB 98 JUMBO BY THE P.F.
With 2015 P.F. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo). By way of comparison, P.S.E. has graded only five at this grade with one higher (at 100).
5c Red Brown (12). Full margins to clear, used with two pairs of 10c Green, Types II and III (32, 33), bright shade, tied by "Troy N.Y. Paid Feb. 2, 1858" circular datestamps and square grid cancels on light blue folded letter to Saugor, Hindustan (India), sender's directive "Overland via Southampton" and "Paid" with correct 45c postage for British Mail via Southampton—carried on the Cunarder Europa, departing New York February 3, 1858, and arriving at Liverpool February 15—red "New-York Br. Pkt. Feb. 3" backstamp, magenta manuscript "40" credit, red London Paid datestamp (February 16)—the journey to India continued from Great Britain on the Peninsular & Oriental Line steamer Colombo, departing Southampton February 20, and arriving at Alexandria (Egypt) March 5; carried overland to Suez and from there by the steamers to Aden and Bombay—red Bombay transit and Saugor receiving datestamp (April 14) on back, receipt docketing "Recd Ap. 14, 1858", left 10c small tear, 5c small corner crease
VERY FINE. ONLY THREE 5-CENT 1856 ISSUE COVERS TO INDIA ARE RECORDED. A BEAUTIFUL COVER FROM THE FITZ-EDWARD HALL CORRESPONDENCE.
Ex "Patrick Henry" (Molesworth), Mayer, Hackmey and Gross. Illustrated in Frajola-Mayer, The United States Five Cent Stamp of 1856 (p. 133). With 2006 P.F. certificate.
5c Red Brown (12). Vertical pair, large to huge margins including bottom left corner sheet margins and trace of adjoining stamp at top, tied by light strike of "Albany N.Y. Apr. 4" circular datestamp, second strike at right, on cover to Stockton Cal., edges of cover have been pressed and cover lightly cleaned (it is exactly as it was in Caspary sale)
EXTREMELY FINE PAIR OF THE 5-CENT 1856 ISSUE ON A COVER FROM NEW YORK TO CALIFORNIA. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE FROM A CORNER SHEET MARGIN POSITION.
Our census contains eight covers with pairs from the east coast to California, plus one with two pairs also used from Albany to Stockton (ex Caspary).
Ex Caspary, Gore, Matthies and Haas.
5c Red Brown (12). Horizontal pair, margins to touched or slightly in, used with horizontal pair of 5c Red Brown, Perforated (28), both tied by red "New York Paid Jan. 12" (1858) circular datestamps on cover front only to Havana, Cuba, red Daniel Curtis & Co. New York merchant's oval handstamp at bottom left, bold blue "NA" handstamp and matching "3" (reales) due handstamp, manuscript "12", the lettersheet front has been affixed to a different folded letter to appear complete, small ink erosion in address and one 5c perforated stamp with small corner crease
Fine appearance. THIS IS the only recorded cover with a combination of THE 5-cENT 1856 Imperforate and 5-cENT 1857 Perforated issues, as well as the only recorded 5-cENT 1856 cover to Cuba.
This was carried by the New York & Charleston Steam Ship Co. Nashville, departing New York Jan. 16, 1858, and arriving Charleston Jan. 18. From Charleston it was carried by the steamer Isabel, operated by M. C. Mordecai, departing Jan. 19 and arriving Havana Jan. 22. A logical explanation for this mixed-issue franking is that the sender posted the letter with imperforate stamps and uprated postage with perforated stamps, probably at the post office.
Illustrated in the Frajola-Mayer book (p. 145). Ex Mayer and Eubanks. With 2006 P.F. certificate.
1c Blue, Ty. II (20). Mint N.H., Plate 2, brilliant color on bright paper, beautiful centering with the design characteristics clearly visible
EXTREMELY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE PERFORATED ONE-CENT TYPE II IN THE FRESHEST STATE OF PRESERVATION. A BEAUTIFUL STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT.
When perforations were introduced in 1857, the plates used to print stamps at Toppan, Carpenter & Co. were laid out with narrow spaces between the subjects, because no thought had been given to the concept of perforation holes between the stamps. The imperforate sheets of 1c stamps on hand were printed from Plates 1 Late, 2 and 4, and the perforations on those stamps rarely clear the design all around.
With 1990, 2002 and 2012 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85). SCV as hinged $850.
1c Blue, Ty. IIIa (22). Plate 11, A Relief, rich color, unusually wide margins, bold strike of New York circular datestamp
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A PHENOMENAL USED EXAMPLE OF THE PERFORATED 1857 ONE-CENT TYPE IIIa, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
Ex Hansen. With 1984 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95). Only two grade higher (at 95J).
3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26). Tied by blue "Louisville Ky. Dec. 4" circular datestamp on yellow cover with blue Alexander, Ellis & Co. lumber yard and builder's illustrated cameo design, depicting several buildings with horses and carriages, to Pawtucket R.I., slightly reduced at left, some expert restoration mostly along edges, stamp with clipped corner at top right
VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A SPECTACULAR CAMEO ADVERTISING COVER, WITH THE DESIGN TAKING UP OVER HALF OF THE COVER.
Ex Gallagher (Sale 801, lot 1).
3c Brownish Carmine, Ty. IV (26A). Right selvage block of four with "n. Carpenter & Co. BANK NOTE ENGRAVERS. Phila. New York.Bo" of imprint and "No. 11" plate number, remarkable rich color, cancelled (and tied between perfs) by several strikes of red grids on 1857 orange-buff cover to Waren, Mecklenburg, Germany, red "New York Paid Hamb. Pkt. 10 Nov. 3" 10c credit datestamp, blue manuscript "3", Hamburg backstamps, block straight edge at bottom, some tiny creasing in bottom pair
VERY FINE AND AN EXTRAORDINARY USE—THE UNIQUE EXAMPLE OF A 3-CENT 1857 TYPE IV BLOCK WITH PLATE NUMBER AND IMPRINT ON COVER.
The recently introduced Bremen-Hamburg rate was 15c. As there is no evidence of a missing stamp, the remaining 3c appears to have been paid in cash.
Ex Dr. Amonette and Alexander. With 1997 P.F. certificate.
5c Brick Red (27). Gorgeous color, neat strike of New Orleans circular datestamp, unusually choice centering
EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 5-CENT BRICK RED, SCOTT 27.
5c Red Brown (28). Block of twelve, tied by multiple strikes of "Richmond Va. May 14, 1858" circular datestamp on legal-size cover front to Paris, France, red "New York Paid 48 May 18" 48c credit datestamp (four-times credit to G.B.)—carried by Cunarder Europa from Boston on May 19, 1858, arriving Liverpool May 30—red "P.D." in frame and black French receiving datestamp (May 31), block with vertical crease in third row, some perf faults and faint toning, cover front has a sealed tear at center and scattered toning, all of these issues would be expected in such a large multiple
A STRIKING AND UNIQUE USE. THIS IS THE LARGEST RECORDED MULTIPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1857 RED BROWN ON OR OFF COVER—USED TO PAY THE FOUR-TIMES RATE TO FRANCE BY BRITISH PACKET.
Illustrated in Brookman (p. 219), where described as the largest recorded multiple. Ex Bechtel, Piller and from our 1993 Rarities sale.
5c Brown, Ty. II (30A). Three singles, one with straddle-pane margin, used with two singles of 3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26), tied by large Boston "Paid" grid cancels, manuscript docketing of Dec. 28, 1860 (ties one 3c) on folded letter to Calcutta, India, red London Paid datestamp (Jan. 10, 1861), manuscript "8" debit, bold strike of "Calcutta Steam Letter 1861 Feb. 10 Steam Bg/Indian Do" backstamp, bright and fresh, Extremely Fine cover from the Goddard correspondence, an attractive franking paying the 21c rate via American Packet to Great Britain and then by British Mail to India
12c Black, Plate 1 (36). Original gum, lightly hinged, exceptional centering almost never seen on an original-gum example of this issue, intense shade on fresh paper
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1857 ISSUE IN THE FINEST CONDITION ATTAINABLE—GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
Any multiple of the 1857 12c Black from Plate 1 will demonstrate the narrow layout of this plate, which produced Scott 36. Even when the perforations are aligned between stamps, they still punch out part of the outer frameline. Plate 3, which produced Scott 36B, remedied this problem by allowing more space for perforations.
The stamp offered here is completely sound with proof-like impression and original gum. It shows the outer frameline on all four sides virtually without interruption. There are very few examples of Scott 36 that exist in condition comparable to that of the stamp offered here.
With 1989 P.F. and 2024 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF-Superb 95). This is the highest grade awarded to an original-gum Scott 36 by P.S.E. and it is shared by only one other. The next highest grades are XF 90 (one example) and VF 80 (one example), so for the collector of superb original gum classics, it would be difficult to compromise by dropping down a grade from this Gem.
24c Gray Lilac (37). Block of four, original gum, bright color, well-balanced margins
VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1860 24-CENT GRAY LILAC.
Ex Hansen and Petersen. With 1992 P.F. certificate.
90c Blue (39). Used on piece of blue cover with horizontal pair and single of 3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26), 10c Green, Ty. V (35) and 12c Black, Plate 1 (36), all stamps tied by Boston large “Paid” grid cancels, each slightly overlapping, piece shows part of address and red London transit datestamp, stamps with few trivial faults
VERY FINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS THE LARGEST RECORDED PIECE BEARING THE 90-CENT 1860 ISSUE. AN EXCELLENT ALTERNATIVE TO A FULL COVER.
The highest value of the 1851-60 series—the 90c stamp with a portrait of the youthful George Washington in military uniform—was issued in 1860 (earliest recorded use is September 11). Its use was limited by the high denomination and the stamp’s relatively short life, due to the demonetization of all United States stamps in August 1861, a measure designed to preclude the sale of stamps originating in rebel states’ post offices. There are just seven recorded complete covers with the 90c 1860 (see Sale 1211, lot 333, for a list of the seven covers).
The total postage present on this piece is $1.21. We believe additional 1c and 10c stamps were possibly on the cover, making a $1.32 quadruple 33c rate, and likely addressed to Edwin Howland at the Cape of Good Hope.
Signed and dated by Ashbrook (Dec. 19, 1955). With 1956 and 2011 P.F. certificates. Ex Krug, Haas, Rose, DuPuy and Ambassador Middendorf.