Sale 1116 — United States Stamps and Possessions
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 16-17 December, 2015
Category — 1851-56 Issue (Scott 5A-17)
1c Blue, Ty. Ib (5A). Position 6R1E, full even margins, just touching upper side ornaments, bright Plate 1 Early color on crisp paper, bold strike of unusual Maltese Cross cancel, minute picked-out inclusion speck not mentioned on accompanying certificateEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A STRIKING EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 1851 ONE-CENT TYPE Ib FROM PLATE ONE EARLY, FROM ONE OF THE TWO POSITIONS THAT FURNISHED THE BEST TYPE Ib EXAMPLES.
Type Ib was produced only as an imperforate stamp. Six positions on Plate 1 Early furnished stamps qualifying as Type Ib -- Positions 3-6R and 8-9R -- distinguished by the complete design at top and nearly complete design at bottom. When first entered on the plate, these six positions (as well as 7R1E) had the complete design at top and bottom. However, unlike 7R, small portions of the bottoms were ironed out when the entries were made below them. Positions 6R and 8R had less of the bottom erased than the other Type Ib positions, and for this reason they are more desirable examples of the type.
All Type Ib stamps are very scarce, and the two best examples (6R and 9R) are rare. These top-row positions usually have an ample top margin, but frequently the margins are close or cutting into the sides or bottom. A Type Ib with full margins all around is a great rarity. This stamp has the added attraction of an unusual early type of fancy cancel.
Ex Wagshal. With 1979 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. IV (9). Recut once at top and bottom, original gum, lightly hinged, three huge margins including large parts of adjoining stamps at top and bottom, full at left, deep rich colorEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB LIGHTLY HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1851 IMPERFORATE ONE-CENT TYPE IV.
With 2015 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $5,000.00). Only four have graded higher
1c Blue, Ty. II (7). Plate 2, unused (no gum), large margins to barely touched at top, bright color, Very Fine and choice, with 1982 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85; SMQ $525.00)
1c Blue, Ty. IV (9). Position 9R1L, recut once at bottom (only eight such recuts on plate), large margins all around clearly showing the entire design, small portions of adjoining stamps at left and bottom, Extremely Fine, a handsome example, this top-row position from the right pane of Plate 1 produced Type Ib stamps during the early state of the plate, signed and plated by Ashbrook
1c Blue, Ty. IV (9). Position 78L1L, large margins, bright color and fine impression, light town cancels, Extremely Fine, with 2002 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $700.00)
3c Orange Brown, Ty. II (10A). Exceptional depth of color, even margins all around, New York circular datestamp cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful stamp, with 2015 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,200.00)
3c Dull Red, Ty. I (11). Original gum, lightly hinged in one corner, vivid color on fresh paper, large margins including portions of five adjoining stamps, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp in every respect, with 2015 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, Superb 98; SMQ $2,550.00), only one hinged stamp has been graded higher (plus two Mint N.H.)
3c Dull Red, Ty. I, Trial Printing on Thick Gummed Paper (11 var). Positions 1-3/11-13/21-23/31-33R4, vertical block of twelve (3 x 4) with corner interpane margins and centerline at left, large margins other sides except just in at right on Position 3R, original gum, eight or ten stamps have heavy creases (some reinforcement) and couple thins, otherwise Fine-Very Fine, a remarkable 3c 1851 item, the thick gummed paper and its plate origin (Plate 4) strongly suggest that this might have been produced in 1854 at the time Toppan, Carpenter sent "Brush Stroke" 3c 1851 proofs on India paper (also from Plate 4) to the British firms of Bemrose and Perkins Bacon for perforating experiments (see Sale 964, lots 212-213), we do not know of any catalogue or reference work that lists the 3c 1851 on thick gummed paper
3c Dull Red, Ty. II (11A). Position 100L2L, huge margins including bottom right interpane margin and centerline and parts of adjoining stamps at top and left, light circular datestamp, Extremely Fine Gem
3c 1851 Issue, Color Chart (10A-11A). Seven examples neatly mounted on card from 1851-57 showing the shade varieties of the 3c 1851 Issue, identified as Orange-Brown, Brownish-Carmine, Dull Rose-Red, Deep Rose-Red, Dull Rose, Rose-Carmine and Plum (though we have our doubts and not returnable if a certificate fails to state Plum), reverse of card is signed by Ashbrook, mixed condition, Fine
5c Red Brown (12). Large margins to full, rich color, neat town cancel, Very Fine, ex Welch
5c Red Brown (12). Ample to large margins, rich color and detailed impression, grid cancel, Very Fine
10c Green, Ty. I (13). Huge margins all around including left sheet margin, rich color, neat pen strokes cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful sheet-margin example of the imperforate 10c Type I with a cancel that leaves the defining characteristics clearly visible (complete shell at bottom right and nearly complete at left), Scott Retail as pen cancel
10c Green, Ty. I (13). Large margins including part of bottom sheet margin, deep rich color, neat circular datestamp cancel, slight thin and nearly invisible repair at top right, Extremely Fine appearance, accompanied by original H. R. Harmer lot sheet from a 1972 sale where this stamp brought $700
10c Green, Ty. I (13). Margins ample to clear showing design all around, rich color, light blue town datestamp, Fine
10c Green, Ty. II (14). Original gum, lightly hinged, large margins to clear including trace of adjoining stamp at top, intense dark shade and proof-like impressionFRESH AND VERY FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1855 10-CENT TYPE II.
With 2012 P.S.E. certificate
10c Green, Ty. III (15). Huge margins all around, rich color and detailed impression, New Orleans circular datestamp, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1992 P.F. (as strip of three) and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $950.00)
10c Green, Ty. IV (16). Position 74L1, recut at top, slightly disturbed original gum, ample to full margins all around, completely soundVERY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE SOUND, FOUR-MARGIN ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1855 10-CENT TYPE IV IMPERFORATE. ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL CLASSIC UNITED STATES UNUSED STAMPS.
Our sale records contain only six examples of the imperforate 1855 10c Type IV with large part original gum or full original gum, including the stamp offered here. None of the other five stamps are sound. This represents an extraordinary opportunity to obtain this rare classic imperforate stamp in sound original-gum condition.
Ex "Ambassador." With 2015 P.F. certificate
10c Green, Ty. IV (16). Position 74L1, recut at top, large margins to full at top, town cancel, Very Fine, ex Welch
10c Green, Ty. IV (16). Positions 54-55L1, horizontal pair, both recut at bottom, huge margins including parts of three adjoining stamps, full at right, rich color on bright paper, bold grid cancels, left stamp tiny scuff at bottom entirely outside of the design of little consequenceVERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE AND SCARCE PAIR OF THE 10-CENT TYPE IV 1855 ISSUE.
With 1975 P.F. certificate
12c Black (17). Original gum, full margins to just in at top right, detailed impression, thin spots and small toned spot, otherwise Fine, with 1975 A.P.S. certificate
12c Black (17). Full even margins, bright shade and crisp impression, face-free grid cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2004 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,250.00)
12c Black (17). Full to large margins including left sheet margin, neat red grid cancel, Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp