Sale 1187 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday, 25 July, 2018
Category — 1861-66 Issue (Scott 56-78)
3c Brown Rose, First Design (56). Original gum, outstanding centering and margins, rich color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2010 P.F. certificate
5c Brown, First Design (57). Unused (no gum), deep rich color, reperfed at rightVERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 1861 5-CENT FIRST DESIGN. ONLY 37 EXAMPLES ARE RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS.
Our census of Scott 57, available at our website at http://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/57 , contains a total of 37 copies of this rarity. Of these, one is in The New York Public Library collection. 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. Approximately half the full or part original gum stamps in private hands have faults.
Census No. 57-UNC-37. With 2015 P.F. certificate
10c Dark Green, First Design (62B). Slightly disturbed original gum described on accompanying certificate as "original gum", rich color, Fine, scarce in unused condition, with copy of 1991 P.F. certificate for block of four
30c Red Orange, First Color (61). Part original gum called "small part" on most recent certificate, vibrant color, centered to right with perfs just touching, light diagonal crease at top right (a typical characteristic of the 30c First Color)FINE 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 in the Miller collection at 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-09. Ex Waterhouse, Crocker and "Ambassador" (Siegel Sale 300) and from our 1995 Rarities sale. With 1955 and 2008 P.F. certificates
1c Ultramarine (63a). Original gum, lightly hinged, radiant color in this distinctive shade, Very Fine, in his 1c book, Don Evans devotes almost an entire column on p. 33 to a discussion of the Ultramarine shade, he notes that it is "extremely scarce" and that apart from the Ultramarine and Indigo shades, "the remaining shades are comparatively plentiful.", with 2011 P.S.E. certificate
3c Pink (64). Unused (no gum), radiant color, Fine, scarce in unused condition, large backstamp shows thru at center, with 1960 P.F. certificate
3c Pigeon Blood Pink (64a). Brilliant color, neat grid cancel, small tear at top right and a couple pulled perfs, otherwise Fine example of this rare shade, with 2001 P.F. certificate
3c Rose (65). Bottom imprint and plate no. 32 block of twelve, original gum, barely hinged with several Mint N.H., brilliant color, centered to left as are many plate blocks of this issue, Fine, an attractive and scarce plate block, Scott Retail as plate block of eight and two pairs
3c Lake, Trial Color Plate Proof on Gummed Stamp Paper, Imperforate (66TC6a). Mint N.H. horizontal pair, large margins, intense color on bright paper, Extremely Fine, with 2016 Weiss certificate
5c Buff (67). Original gum, rich color, decent margins and centering, small repairs and light creaseVERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN ATTRACTIVE AND COLLECTIBLE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 5-CENT BUFF.
The 5c Buff and Brown Yellow shades are among the rarest of 1861-66 Issue stamps in any kind of unused condition with original gum. While the flaws on this example do not visually detract, they will make it much more affordable.
With 2017 P.S.E. certificate
5c Brown Yellow (67a). Unused (no gum), radiant color, expertly reperfed at bottom and rightVERY FINE APPEARING UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 5-CENT BROWN YELLOW, SCOTT 67a.
The Brown Yellow is a distinct shade, and is even scarcer than the Buff in unused condition.
Bit heavy backstamp just shows thru. With 1959 P.F. certificate as 5c Buff (Scott 67) and not mentioning the reperfing
5c Buff (67). Unused (no gum), radiant color, filled thin and pulled perf at upper right, otherwise Fine example of this scarce unused stamp, with 2018 P.F. certificate mentioning only the thin
5c Buff (67). Essentially prefect centering, radiant color on bright white paper, beautifully complemented by central strike of blue grid cancel, also trace of red cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 5-CENT BUFF IN THE FINEST CONDITION ATTAINABLE -- PARTICULARLY DESIRABLE WITH THE BLUE CANCEL. THIS STAMP IS GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. AND SUPERB 98 BY P.S.A.G. -- THE HIGHEST GRADES AWARDED.
Due to narrow spacing on the 5c plate, it is very difficult to find centered copies with the perforations clear of the design on all sides. The stamp offered here, with its choice centering, fresh color and attractive cancel is a great condition rarity.
Ex Kirke. With 2010 P.F., 2008 P.S.E. (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $6,500.00) and 2013 P.S.A.G. certificates (98 Used). These are the highest grades awarded for both expertizing services. In the P.S.E. Population Report, only four others share the 95 grade
5c Buff (67). Nice margins and centering, rich color complemented by blue Baltimore Md. circular datestamp cancel, manuscript notation on back does not show thru, Very Fine and choice, with 2014 P.F. certificate
5c Brown Yellow (67a). Almost perfectly centered, bright shade, neat double-circle datestamp cancel.EXTREMELY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 5-CENT BROWN YELLOW.
With 2016 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $3,000.00), only three grade higher (all at 95)
5c Olive Yellow (67b). Radiant color nicely complemented by red grid cancel, small corner crease at bottom left, Fine appearing example of this rare shade, we have offered approximately a dozen unduplicated examples of the Olive Yellow shade in any condition since keeping computerized records, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate
10c Yellow Green (68). Rich color with neat red circular datestamp cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2004 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $300.00)
12c Black (69). Redistributed original gum, choice centering, few short perfs at right, appears Very Fine, with 2014 Weiss and 2018 P.F. certificates
24c Brown Lilac (70a). Slightly disturbed original gum, pretty shade and detailed impression, Fine and attractive example, the color of which is a soft brownish shade, which is quite distinctive and much different than the Red Lilac (1862) or later Lilac (1863-66) printings, with 2015 P.S.E. certificate
24c Steel Blue (70b). Manuscript cancel removed (appears unused), rich color, small thin spot and two short perfs at top, otherwise Fine, with 2018 P.F. certificate
24c Violet, Thin Paper (70c). Choice centering, rich color nicely complemented by bold blue grid cancels (possibly Cincinnati or Louisville)EXTREMELY FINE. A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF THE TRUE 24-CENT 1861 VIOLET ON THIN PAPER.
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).
Ex "Golden Oak". With 1999 and 2014 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85)
30c Orange (71). Original gum, vibrant color, fresh and Fine, with 1998 P.S.E. certificate
30c Orange (71). Vibrant color, well-struck target cancels, balanced margins, Very Fine and choice, with 2008 P.S.E. (VF-XF 85; SMQ $350.00) and 2009 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85)
30c Orange (71). Block of four, s.e. at right, bright color nicely contrasted by multiple strikes of target cancel, bottom pair light vertical crease, bottom right stamp tiny nick at lower right and corner crease, otherwise Fine
90c Blue (72). Unused (no gum), intense shade, well-centered top to bottom, Fine, with 2002 P.S.E. certificate
90c Blue (72). Rich shade, well-proportioned margins, Very Fine and choice, with 2018 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85)
3c Scarlet (74). Original gum, vivid Scarlet shade, faults including reperfed, slight gum soiling at top and tiny thins, otherwise Fine, with 2008 P.F. certificate
3c Scarlet (74). Unused (regummed), intense shade, reperfed at bottom, Very Fine appearance, Scott Retail as with original gum
24c Lilac (78). Block of four, original gum, multiple h.r., a few faults including creases in bottom pair, short perfs where lightly stained on top right stamp, tiny thin top left stamp, otherwise Fine, the top left stamp would make a worthy single