Sale 1057 — The Curtis Collection: 1847-1901 Issues
Sale Date — Thursday, 7 November, 2013
Category — 1861 Issue First Designs and Colors (Scott 55-62)
1c Indigo, First Design (55). Unused (no gum), deep rich color and intense impression as is typical for this First Design rarity, short perf and tiny thin spot at topVERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE RARE ONE-CENT 1861 FIRST DESIGN. ONLY 24 ARE AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS.
Our census of Scott 55, available at our website at: http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/55/55.pdf , contains a total of 25 examples of this stamp. Of these, one is in The New York Public Library collection. Of the 24 available to collectors, nine have no gum, thirteen have gum and two are used. Approximately half are defective to some extent. A footnote in Scott Catalogue states that this stamp "is valued with perfs cutting slightly into the design at top."
Census No. 55-UNC-21. Ex. Dr. Claiborne Johnson, Jr. With 1992 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as original gum
3c Brown Rose, First Design (56). Original gum, lightly hinged, fresh color, Very Fine and choice, with 2006 P.F. certificate
3c Brown Rose, First Design (56). Original gum, intense shade and impression, Fine
3c Brown Rose, First Design (56). Block of four, original gum, fresh color, well-centered, Very Fine multiple, Scott Retail as four hinged singles
5c Brown, First Design (57). Original gum described as "redistributed" on accompanying certificate, rich color, detailed impression, small flaws incl. added perf tip at top left and small stains removedFINE APPEARANCE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 5-CENT FIRST DESIGN.
Our census of Scott 57, available at our website at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/57/57.pdf , contains a total of 36 copies of this rarity. Of these, one is in The New York Public Library collection. Of the 35 thought to be available to collectors, two are used, 18 have no gum, seven have part gum and nine have full original gum. None of the nine full-gum copies is completely sound. Four of the part-gum copies are sound. Of the no-gum copies, two are sound; three others may be sound but need to be reexamined as they have not been seen in decades, and thirteen have faults of varying degrees.
Census No. 57-OG-35. Ex Lessin. With 1998 P.F. certificate
12c Intense Black, First Design (59). Part original gum covering a bit less than half the back, gorgeous intense shade, small surface scrape in bottom marginFINE APPEARANCE. ONLY SIXTEEN EXAMPLES OF THE 12-CENT 1861 FIRST DESIGN ARE RECORDED. ONE OF THE GREAT RARITIES OF THE 1861 ISSUE AND THE RAREST OF THE FIRST DESIGNS AND FIRST COLORS.
The 12c is the rarest of the 1861 First Designs and Colors, with a total of 16 examples recorded, including one in the Miller collection at The New York Public Library. Our census of the 12c 1861 First Design, shown at left and available at http://www.siegelauctions.com/enc/census/59.pdf , contains only four sound copies (three have original gum).
Census No. 59-UNC-13. Ex Lutwak and Lessin. With 1976 and 2002 P.F. certificates
30c Red Orange, First Color (61). Original gum, unmistakable intense August shade, well-centered for this difficult issue with three wide margins, barely touched at left, light vertical crease (as most do have)VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1861 FIRST COLOR. A DIFFICULT ISSUE TO FIND WITH SUCH CHOICE CENTERING.
Our census of the 30c 1861 First Color, available at http://siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/61/61.pdf , contains a total of 32 examples, including one in the Miller collection at The New York Public Library. A characteristic common to most examples of the 30c 1861 First Color is faint creasing.
Census No. 61-OG-16. This was the left stamp in the pair offered in the 1967 Lilly sale. Previous P.F. certificate as pair no longer accompanies. With 1989 P.F. certificate as single
90c Blue, First Design (62). Unused (no gum), choice centering with balanced margins, deep shade and proof-like impression, small tears at top and bottom rightVERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 90-CENT FIRST DESIGN. THIS IS THE SECOND RAREST STAMP OF THE 1861 FIRST DESIGNS AND COLORS.
Our census of the 1861 First Designs and Colors, available at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/62/62.pdf , contains 22 examples of Scott 62, including one copy in The New York Public Library collection and another copy certified as a privately-perforated No. 62a which comes from a set in the Col. Green sale that was signed by John Luff (we believe this stamp to be genuine). Another has been certified as genuine with a trial cancel.
Census No. 62-UNC-10. With 1974 and 2003 P.F. certificates. Scott Retail as original gum
10c Dark Green, First Design (62B). Original gum, strong "August" shade, margins to just clear of designFINE AND SCARCE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 10-CENT FIRST DESIGN.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, VG 50; SMQ $4,250.00). With 2008 P.F. certificate (Fine 70) as regummed, an opinion with which we strongly disagree. Scott Retail as original gum