Sale 978 — The Beverly Hills Collection of Outstanding United States Stamps
Sale Date — Friday, 4 December, 2009
Category — 1869 Pictorial Issue
2c Brown (113). Original gum, lightly hinged, wide margins and magnificent centering, lovely fresh colorEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MARVELOUS ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL.
P.S.E. encapsulated (OGh, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $3,150.00). Only two others share this high grade with only three higher.
3c Ultramarine (114). Original gum, lightly hinged, brilliant color on bright paper, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful stamp, P.S.E. encapsulated (OGph, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,250.00), this is the highest grade awarded to date to a hinged copy (two have graded NH 98)
6c Ultramarine (115). Original gum, lightly hinged, rich color on bright paper, well-defined grill, unusually choice centering with well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE, WHICH BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. A STUNNING STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT.
P.S.E. encapsulated (OGph, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $13,750.00). This is the highest grade awarded to date and only three others share this grade. One of the others was recently offered in our sale of the Whitman Collection.
10c Yellow (116). Original gum which is very lightly hinged, deep rich color and sharp proof-like impression, beautiful centering with wide and balanced margins all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE. SCARCE IN SUCH PRISTINE CONDITION. THIS STAMP IS GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E., WHICH IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO THIS ISSUE THUS FAR.
Ex Dr. Morris, Billington and Scarsdale. P.S.E. encapsulated (OGph, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $10,200.00)
12c Green (117). Rich color and proof-like impression, bold strike of cork cancel and also part of red transit cancel at right, perfectly centered with unusually wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE.
P.S.E. encapsulated (Superb 98; SMQ $2,400.00). This is the highest grade awarded to date.
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. I (118). Brilliant colors, choice centering with wide margins, neat strike of rosette cancel and also part of red cancel at lower leftEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT TYPE I 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
P.S.E. encapsulated (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $4,150.00). Only three have graded higher to date.
24c Green & Violet (120). Exceptionally well-centered with wide and balanced margins, detailed impressions, unobtrusive strike of cork cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING USED EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
P.S.E. encapsulated (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $4,150.00). Only four have graded higher to date.
24c Green & Violet, Center Inverted (120b). Deep rich colors and detailed impressions, bright paper, rosette cancel leaves vignette clearly visible, tiny trivial corner crease at bottom rightVERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN UNUSUALLY ATTRACTIVE EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE INVERT. ONLY 89 USED EXAMPLES OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL INVERT ARE RECORDED.
Our published 1869 Invert census (with unpublished updates) contains 89 copies of the perforated 24c Invert, including four unused stamps and used multiples.
Ex Seymour, Ishikawa and Dauer. Census No. 120b-CAN-SW14. P.S.E. encapsulated (F 70; SMQ $63,500.00). This is the highest grade awarded to date. The Scott value is for "fine centered copies with only minimal faults."
30c Ultramarine & Carmine (121). Original gum, brilliant colors, perfectly centered with wide margins all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL IN THE FINEST CONDITION ATTAINABLE. A WONDERFUL STAMP IN TERMS OF GUM, COLOR, CENTERING, FRESHNESS OF PAPER AND IMPRESSION. THIS MARVELOUS STAMP HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO ADTE AND THE ONLY EXAMPLE TO ACHIEVE THIS GRADE.
The rarity of centered original-gum examples of the 30c 1869 with grill is somewhat obscured by the availability of off-center copies of the 30c with and without grill. If the scope were narrowed to Scott 121 only, and only grades of Very Fine or Extremely Fine were considered, we estimate that fewer than 15 examples would be counted. Among the qualifying stamps, this is without a doubt one of the finest two or three.
P.S.E. encapsulated (OGph, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $28,300.00). This is the highest grade awarded to date and the only example to achieve this grade.
30c Ultramarine & Carmine (121). Rich colors, beautiful centering with wide and balanced margins, bold strike of cork cancelFRESH AND EXTREMELY FINE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. -- ONLY ONE HAS GRADED HIGHER TO DATE.
P.S.E. encapsulated (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $3,150.00)
90c Carmine & Black (122). Deep rich colors and proof-like impressions, unusually choice centering with wide and balanced margins, cork cancel leaves design clearly visibleEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
P.S.E. encapsulated (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $9,900.00). Only two have graded higher to date. This is the highest grade for a used stamp that we have offered to date.