Sale 1115 — A European Connoisseur's Collection of U.S. Classic Issues
Sale Date — Tuesday, 15 December, 2015
Category — 5c 1851-56 Issue (Scott 12)
5c Red Brown (12). C Relief, huge margins all around showing parts of three surrounding stamps, lightly cancelled by face-free circular datestamp, rich color and remarkably fresh and brightEXTREMELY FINE GEM. ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF THE 1856 5-CENT RED BROWN IN EXISTENCE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED SUPERB 98 JUMBO BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE.
With 2015 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $9,500.00). This is the highest grade awarded, and only three others share it.
5c Red Brown (12). D Relief, huge margins all around including large part of adjoining stamp above, wonderful rich color and sharp impression cancelled by clear strike of New Orleans circular datestampEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SPECTACULAR LARGE-MARGINED EXAMPLE OF THE 1856 5-CENT RED BROWN.
M. Galvez (Spanish dealer and expert) purple backstamp does not show thru. Ex Newbury (accompanied by our original lot sheet showing Weill as agent for the European Connoisseur at $350 in 1961). With 2015 P.F. certificate graded Superb 98 XQ (denoting Exceptional Quality)
5c Red Brown (12). C Relief, large margins including right interpane and centerline margin, rich color, lightly cancelled by New Orleans circular datestampEXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN OUTSTANDING CENTERLINE SHEET-MARGIN EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1856 ISSUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
Ex Caspary. With 2015 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $2,000.00). The grade and SMQ value for 95 does not factor the centerline margin into the equation.
5c Red Brown (12). B Relief, large to huge margins, rich color, lightly cancelled by New Orleans circular datestampEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB LARGE-MARGINED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1856 ISSUE.
With 2015 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $2,000.00)
5c Red Brown (12). D Relief, large to huge margins including right interpane margin and centerline, rich color, cancelled by New Orleans Feb. 28, 1857 circular datestampEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A RARE AND CHOICE CENTERLINE SHEET-MARGIN EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1856 ISSUE.
Ex Moody
5c Red Brown (12). Position 70R1, D Relief, with right sheet margin and traces of imprint, other sides full to large, rich color, cancelled by light strike of Boston large "Paid" grid, fresh and Extremely Fine, ex Caspary (where described as "superb" and realized $400 in 1956)
5c Red Brown (12). D Relief, large to huge margins including part of adjoining stamp at top, neatly cancelled by black town circular datestamp and red grid leaving Jefferson's face unobscured, deep rich color and very fresh, Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp, ex Caspary, with 2015 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90 Jumbo; SMQ $1,600.00)
5c Red Brown (12). B Relief, large even margins all around, lightly cancelled by red grid, bright color, Extremely Fine, with 2015 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $1,375.00), considering the margin width and red cancel, this stamp is far more desirable than its numerical grade of 90 would indicate
5c Red Brown (12). C Relief, large to huge margins showing part of adjoining stamp at left, rich color, lightly struck New Orleans circular datestamp, Extremely Fine, with 2015 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $1,375.00), this is a very strong 90 and certainly comparable to several graded XF-Superb 95 in past years
5c Red Brown (12). D Relive, full to large margins, rich color, cancelled by neat strike of New Orleans circular datestamp, Very Fine and choice, ex Caspary (this was the lead-off used single, described as "superb", realized $320 in 1956) and Hill
5c Red Brown (12). C Relief, large to huge margins, wonderful rich color and impression, very lightly cancelled by Boston large "Paid" grid, Very Fine and choice
5c Red Brown (12). B Relief, large even margins, rich color, cancelled by neatly struck Boston large "Paid" grid, Very Fine and choice, faint red backstamp
5c Red Brown (12). A Relief, full to large margins, rich color, cancelled by New Haven Conn. large circle of tiny diamonds in red, negligible corner crease at top right, Very Fine appearance, unusual cork cancellations are extremely rare on the 5c 1856 Issue, especially in color, a spectacular stamp
5c Red Brown (12). D Relief, huge margins all around, red grid cancel, the impression is oddly rubbed, possibly caused by cleaning, otherwise Extremely Fine
5c Red Brown (12). D Relief, large margins to full at top, shows part of adjoining stamp at right, lightly struck New Orleans circular datestamp, corner crease at top right, Very Fine appearance
5c Red Brown (12). Two vertical pairs, each is a B/C Relief combination, it is possible they were originally a block of four, large to huge margins, beautiful deep rich color, tied by two neat strikes of "Albany N.Y. Apr. 18" circular datestamp with a third strike on cover to Stockton Cal., small sealed opening tear in cover at right not affecting the stamps and not mentioned on certificateEXTREMELY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING FRANKING FOR THE DOUBLE 10-CENT TRANSCONTINENTAL RATE FROM ALBANY, NEW YORK, TO STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA. ONE OF THE GREATEST DOMESTIC COVERS BEARING THE 5-CENT 1856 ISSUE.
Ex Caspary, where this cover sold in 1956 for $4,300 to Henry W. Hill (it was not, however, in our 1959 sale of the Hill collection). Signed by Ashbrook. With 2015 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown (12). D Relief, enormous margins on three sides showing parts of the surrounding stamps, full at bottom, wonderful rich color and early impression, tied by "New Orleans La. Sep. 1" (1856) circular datestamp on light manila envelope (unusual -- usually used on folded letters) to St. Malo, France, with sender's geographic directive "Ille et Vilaine", red "New-York Br. Pkt. Sep. 9" circular datestamp, Calais arrival datestamp (Sep. 22) and bold "13" decimes due handstamp, red London backstamp (Sep. 22) and French receiving backstamp, refolded around the edges to improve appearance, about half of top backflap missingEXTREMELY FINE. A MAGNIFICENT BRITISH PACKET COVER TO FRANCE WITH THE 1856 5-CENT RED BROWN.
Ex Caspary and Lehman. This was the lead-off cover in the celebrated 1956 Caspary auction. Herbert J. Bloch described the stamp as "a glorious copy of beautiful color," and the cover realized $1,500, about three times what the other single 5c 1856 covers brought in the same sale.
5c Red Brown (12). D Relief, full to large margins, tied by lightly struck "New Orleans La. Dec. 14" (1856) circular datestamp on greenish folded letter to Cornimont, France, sender's faint blue oval handstamp, red "New-York Br. Pkt. Dec. 24" circular datestamp, clearly struck "GB/1F60C" Anglo-French accountancy handstamp, Calais arrival datestamp (Jan. 6, 1857), "8" decimes due handstamp, French transit backstamps, slight bleaching around red New York marking, Very Fine, a scarce Three Months period use by British Packet, ex Caspary
5c Red Brown (12). D Relief, full to large margins, tied by lightly struck "New Orleans La." (Feb. 1857) circular datestamp on greenish folded letter to Marseille, France, sender's blue oval handstamp, "Boston Br. Pkt. 25 Feb." backstamp, red London transit backstamp (Mar. 9), clearly struck "GB/1F60C" Anglo-French accountancy handstamp, Calais arrival datestamp (Mar. 10, 1857), "8" decimes due handstamp, French transit backstamps, fold in lettersheet passes under stamp but does not affect it, Very Fine, scarce Three Months use, European dealers' handstamps at bottom right