Sale 1084 — The Curtis Collection: 1847-1901 Stamps and Covers
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 5-6 November, 2014
Category — 1861-66 Issue (Scott 56-69)
10c Dark Green, First Design (62B). Unused (no gum), copies of four certificates for this stamp with four differing opinions, including 1990 APS stating torn, 2008 APS stating reperfed at right and cleaned stain at bottom, 2008 PSE stating reperfed at left, 2008 PF stating small painted over toned area at bottom left, whichever opinion you choose to believe this is still an attractive stamp, Scott Retail $3,250.00
10c Dark Green, First Design (62B). Deep rich color and detailed impression, bold strike of San Francisco cogwheel cancel, Very Fine, ex Collier, with 1993 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (F-VF 75; SMQ $1,150.00)
10c Dark Green, First Design (62B). Rich color, tied by grid cancel, red "Charlestown Ms. Nov. 4, 1861" double-circle datestamp on cover to Stockton Cal., reduced at left, slight edgewear, Fine, with 1987 P.F. certificate
1c Blue (63). Bottom left corner margin imprint and plate no. 27 block of 20, natural s.e. at right, three stamps paper h.r., other 17 stamps Mint N.H., deep rich color, remarkably fresh and intact, tiny toned spot in margin under Position 99 (clear of plate block), deep rich color, centered to bottomFINE AND RARE PLATE BLOCK OF THE ONE-CENT 1861 ISSUE. ONE OF ONLY FIVE RECORDED FULL IMPRINT AND PLATE NO. MULTIPLES. A WONDERFUL RARITY.
The Chapin census, updated by Don Evans in his book The United States 1c Franklin, 1861-67, records only five full plate number and imprint multiples: two from Plate 9 (a block of 20 and a block of 98), and three from Plate 27 (a complete pane of 100, one block of 12, and the block of 20 offered here).
Illustrated in the Evans book on p. 30. Scott Retail $11,000.00 as a plate number and imprint block of eight, two hinged blocks of four and four hinged singles
3c Pink (64). Original gum, vivid color in the true Pink shade, well-centered with perfs clear of design all around, slight perf crease at lower right not mentioned on any of three accompanying certificatesVERY FINE APPEARING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 3-CENT PINK. ONE OF THE RAREST 1861 ISSUE SHADES IN ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.
The nature of the ink used to print the 3c Pink shade is such that over the course of time, with exposure to light and other adverse elements, the color tends to oxidize or lose its vibrancy. This is a desirable example with vibrant color.
Ex Cole. With 1945 A.P.S. certificate. With 1988 and 1991 P.F. certificates
3c Pink (64). Bright color, bold target cancel, fresh and Very Fine, with 1999 P.F. certificate
3c Pink (64). Brilliant color, tied by "Worcester Ms. Nov. 8" circular datestamp on bank corner card cover to Norton Mass., fresh and Very Fine, a beautiful cover, ex Hulme, with 2005 P.F. certificate
3c Pigeon Blood Pink (64a). Remarkably choice centering, bright shade, tied by bold "Westerly R.I. Sep. 23" circular datestamp on buff cover addressed to "Seamans Chaplain, Caribean Island, Coast of Labrador" in care of the Seaman's Friend Society in Boston, neat 1861 docketing "Newbt 14 Oct" probably referring to Newburyport Mass., Very Fine and unusual use of the 3c 1861 Pigeon Blood Pink, signed Ashbrook, who notes "The Pigeon Blood", Scott Retail $5,500.00
3c Rose (65). Block of four, original gum, radiant color, Very Fine and choice, an attractive block
3c Rose (65). Bottom imprint and plate no. 14 block of twelve, original gum, most stamps lightly hinged, brilliant color, pos. 2 tiny thin speck, pos. 4 and 10 faint vertical crease, still Fine, Plate 14 is one of the scarcer plates to obtain as a plate block, ex Chapin, Scott Retail $4,740.00 as plate block of eight and two pairs
3c Rose (65). Bottom right corner selvage imprint and plate no. 11 block of 40, original gum, all stamps except for two far from plate block Mint N.H., natural s.e. at left into two stamps, natural gum spillage in selvage, thin spot in top right selvage not near plate block, Very Good, a rare and attractive multiple, Scott Retail $9,650.00 for various components
3c Rose (65). Complete pane of 100 including imprint and plate no. 37 at bottom and imprints at top and left, 97 stamps Mint N.H., three stamps in bottom row and selvage at top h.r., few perf separations to be expected, one s.e. stamp at right (Position 70) tiny sealed tearFINE. AN INCREDIBLY RARE COMPLETE PANE OF 100 OF THE 3-CENT 1861 ISSUE.
Only three complete panes have been reported to us. Scott Retail $20,190.00 as hinged plate block, two pairs and 22 blocks of four.
5c Buff (67). Radiant color, gorgeous centering with wide and balanced margins all around, long and full perforations, neat strikes of grid cancel and circular datestampEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 5-CENT BUFF IN THE FINEST CONDITION ATTAINABLE.
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, may be considered a condition rarity.
With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $6,500.00). This is the highest grade awarded and only four others share this grade.
5c Buff (67). Rich color nicely complemented by red grid cancel, bright paper, Very Fine and choice, Brun backstamp, with 1999 P.S.E. certificate as Scott 67a
5c Buff (67). Tied by Boston large "Paid" grid cancel on Nov. 11, 1861 blue folded letter to Calcutta, India, red London and "Calcutta Steam Letter" backstamps, Very Fine use from the Goddard correspondence
5c Olive Yellow (67b). Rich color, bold strike of San Francisco cogwheel cancel, small repair at bottom left, small tear at bottom right, reperfed at top, still a Very Fine appearing example of this rare shade, with 2005 P.F. certificate
10c Yellow Green (68). Bright shade, choice centering with Jumbo margins, target cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2004 and 2005 P.F. certificates (XF 90 Jumbo)
12c Black, Vignette Die Essay on Ivory Paper (69-E5b). 53 x 52mm, fresh and Very Fine
12c Black (69). Almost mathematically perfect centering with Jumbo margins, crisp impression on bright paper, light cancel leaves the design unobscuredEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SPECTACULAR USED EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1861 ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED SUPERB 98 JUMBO BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
Although the 12c 1861 plate provided ample space between the subjects, the 12-gauge perforation holes use up much of that space, and the lines of perforations were rarely applied in a way that created four balanced margins around the design. This stamp is a one-in-a-million example of perforating outside the normal boundary line on all four sides.
Ex Kirke. With 1989 P.F. and 2002 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $2,750.00 as 98). Only three other examples have achieved this grade and none has graded higher.
12c Black (69). Block of six and block of four, former with manuscript cancels and tied by light target cancels on orange piece, latter with unobtrusive cork cancels, light creases, Fine used blocks, Scott Retail $2,430.00