Sale 1133 — United States and Possessions
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 26-27 July, 2016
Category — 1861-66 Issue (Scott 56-78)
3c Brown Rose, First Design (56). Original gum, h.r., brilliant color on crisp paper, fresh and Very Fine
3c Brown Rose, First Design (56). Original gum, radiant color, couple short perfs at top, otherwise Very Fine
1c Blue (63). Bold Heart fancy cancel of New York City, Extremely Fine strike on a choice stamp, particularly scarce on the 1c, ex Dr. Morris, with 1996 P.F. certificate
3c Pigeon Blood Pink (64a). Rich color, wide margins barely touching at left, neat "Paid" cancel, corner crease and minute thin, otherwise Fine, with 1972 P.F. certificate
3c Rose (65). Cancelled by wonderful strike of Eagle and Olive Branch fancy cancel of Woonsocket Falls R.I., stamp centered to lower right, Extremely Fine strike of this scarce and desirable cancel, with 2016 P.F. certificate
3c Lake (66). Original gum, lightly hinged, rich color and proof-like impression on fresh paperVERY FINE AND CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT 1861 ISSUE IN THE LAKE SHADE.
With 1975, 1990 and 2005 P.F. certificates
5c Buff (67). Part original gum (certificate notes "trace" which we feel is harsh), warm rich color, small corner crease, Fine appearance, a scarce original-gum example of the 5c Buff, with 2012 P.S.A.G. certificate as Scott 67a, Brown Yellow, Scott Retail $27,500.00 as original gum, $10,500.00 as unused (no gum)
5c Buff (67). Rich color, unusually choice centering with wide and balanced margins, neat strike of grid cancel, long and full perforations all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 5-CENT IN THE BUFF COLOR. SCARCE WITH SUCH CHOICE CENTERING.
There has been some confusion in nomenclature over the years with regard to the shades of the 1861 5c stamps. The three main shades are Buff (67), Brown Yellow (67a) and Olive Yellow (67b). The Buff is the darkest of the three; the Brown Yellow shows strong hints of Yellow; the Olive Yellow is the most distinct and rarest of the three, with strong Olive undertones.
Ex Hinrichs and Natalee Grace. With 1986 and 2004 P.F. certificates as Brown Yellow. With 2009 P.S.E. certificate as Buff (XF 90; SMQ $3,000.00). Only five have graded higher (at 95)
5c Buff (67). Intense color, well-centered, bold strike of blue Baltimore circular datestampEXTREMELY FINE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 5-CENT BUFF SHADE.
Ex Rose and "Golden Oak". With 1998 P.F. certificate
5c Buff (67). Radiant color, neat strike of grid cancel, well-proportioned margins, Very Fine and choice, with 2002 P.F. certificate
5c Buff (67). Deep rich color nicely complimented by blue Baltimore circular datestamp, well-centered, Very Fine and choice, a pretty example, with 2003 P.F. certificate
5c Buff (67). Bright shade, neat strike of "Paid" in oval handstamp, reperfed at left (not mentioned on accompanying certificate), Very Fine appearance, ex "Golden Oak", with 1981 P.F. certificate
5c Buff (67). Horizontal pair, tied by blue "Wells, Fargo & Co's Express 21 Aug." double-circle datestamp, Very Fine and choice, a handsome used pair with the Wells, Fargo & Company datestamp, ex Saadi, with 1989 and 2014 P.F. certificates (as hinged on piece which has been subsequently removed), the former as 67a, Scott Retail $2,130.00
5c Brown Yellow (67a). Magnificent centering and margins, vivid shade, neat red grid cancel, bright and freshEXTREMELY FINE GEM USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 5-CENT BROWN YELLOW WITH AN ATTRACTIVE LIGHTLY-STRUCK RED GRID CANCELLATION.
Unlike many of the 5c 1861's offered today, this wonderful example of the Brown Yellow retains its original color, having been kept in a dark vault for more than a half century.
With 2014 P.F. certificate
5c Brown Yellow (67a). Radiant color nicely complemented by red grid cancel, choice centering with well-proportioned marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 5-CENT IN THE BROWN YELLOW COLOR.
Ex Rose and "Natalee Grace". With 2001 P.F. certificate as Buff shade
5c Brown Yellow (67a). Brilliant color nicely complemented by red New York grid cancel, Very Fine and choice, a beautiful stamp, the "hole" at center distinguishes the New York grid from others, ex Saadi, with 1986 and 1991 P.F. certificates, the former as No. 67b
5c Brown Yellow (67a). Pretty shade, bold strike of N.Y. town circular datestamp, Very Fine, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate (F-VF 75; SMQ $875.00)
5c Brown Yellow (67a). Bright shade, nicely centered, cancelled by red New York "Paid" circular datestamp, Very Fine, ex Hall, with 2000 P.F. certificate
5c Brown Yellow (67a). Bright shade, well-centered, blue target cancel, Very Fine and choice, ex Hall, with 1993 P.F. certificate as Buff, No. 67
5c Olive Yellow (67b). Rich distinctive color, bold blue Baltimore circular datestamp, rounded corner at top right and barely noticeable toned spot at left, still a Fine appearing example of this rare shade, with 2016 P.F. certificate
24c Red Lilac (70). Beautifully centered with perfs clear of design all around, rich color, bold 6-point Star in circle cancel (Skinner-Eno ST-6P-29), Extremely Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $850.00)
24c Violet, Thin Paper (70c). Excellent centering, rich color, small repair at top left, minute thin and couple lightly toned perfs, otherwise Very Fine, with 1993 P.F. certificate
24c Pale Gray Violet, Thin Paper (70d). Rich color and detailed impression, crisp red grid cancel, one perforation added and another repaired at top right, Extremely Fine appearance, ex Chapin, with 1996 and 2016 P.F. certificates (the former not mentioning the faults)
3c Scarlet (74). Unused (no gum), radiant color on fresh paper, Fine, an attractive and sound example of this rare trial printing, with 2001 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as original gum
3c Scarlet (74). Four neat pen strokes, brilliant colorFINE. AN ATTRACTIVE EXAMPLE OF THE VERY SCARCE 3-CENT SCARLET TRIAL PRINTING.
As has been documented by Jerome S. Wagshal in a series of Chronicle articles (Nos. 56, 60, 61 and 62), Carl F. Rothfuchs, a Washington D.C. stamp dealer, obtained a supply of the 3c Scarlet in 1893 -- probably from the Post Office Department in exchange for his assistance with the Columbian Exposition -- and sold them with pen marks and original gum. The Rothfuchs lot is not from the same supply acquired by John W. Scott in the late 1870's, from which stamps exist uncancelled and cancelled with a New York City Station D oval.
3c Scarlet (74). Four neat pen strokes, strong vibrant color, couple small faults including horizontal crease at top and ink erosion tear, Fine appearance, a scarce stamp, with 2016 P.S.A.G. certificate
5c Red Brown (75). Unusually wide margins, rich color, beautifully cancelled by bold blue "Baltimore Md. Sep. 23" circular datestamp, Extremely Fine, the 5c Red Brown is truly rare in this choice used condition with a colored cancel, ex Wagshal, with copy of 1985 and 2005 P.F. certificates
5c Red Brown (75). Deep rich color on bright paper, outstanding centering, neat grid cancel, Extremely Fine, Brookman notes (in something resembling English) "I consider the used Red Brown to be more scarce than Buff but the Buff is more scarce unused", with 2013 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $1,250.00), only six have graded higher (all at 95)
5c Red Brown (75). Intense color towards the more fiery end of the spectrum, nicely complemented by blue Baltimore circular datestamp, Extremely Fine, a stamp with wonderful visual appeal, ex "Golden Oak", with 1987 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown (75). Wonderful warm color, bold red circular datestamps, well-proportioned margins, Extremely Fine, a pretty stamp, ex "Golden Oak", with 1992 and 2009 P.F. certificates
5c Red Brown (75). Lovely warm shade and strong impression, well-struck black target cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate
5c Red Brown (75). Gorgeous rich shade and detailed impression, choice centering, neat target cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 2012 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown (75). Rich color, unobtrusive black grid cancel, Very Fine, with 1996 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown (75). Barest trace of cancel (appears unused at a glance), slightly nibbed perf at bottom of little significance, Very Fine appearance, with 2010 P.S.A.G. certificate
5c Red Brown (75). Original gum, deep rich color on fresh paper, reperfed at top, Fine, a scarce original-gum example, with 2016 P.F. certificate
5c Brown (76). Attractive shade, wide margins for this difficult issue, neat strikes of blue circular datestamp, Very Fine and choice, with 2012 P.S.E. certificate
24c Blackish Violet (78c). Deep rich color in this distinctive shade on bright paper, target cancel, small thin spot at leftFINE EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT BLACKISH VIOLET, WHICH IS THE MOST DIFFICULT STAMP OF THE 1861-66 SERIES TO OBTAIN.
Our census of Scott 78c, available at our website at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/78c/78c.pdf , records a total of 46 used examples of this issue, not all of which have been certified as genuine by The Philatelic Foundation. We also record nine on cover plus three unused, for a total of 58 potential examples.
Census No. 78c-CAN-06. With 1980 and 2016 P.F. certificates