Sale 1120 — Outstanding United States Stamps
Sale Date — Thursday-Friday, 17-18 March, 2016
Category — 1c-3c 1857-60 Issue (Scott 18-26A)
1c Blue, Ty. I (18). Mint N.H., from Plate 12, warm shade, fresh and Fine, scarce in Mint N.H. condition, we have offered only four others in Mint N.H. condition since keeping computerized records, with 2012 P.S.E. and P.F. certificates, the former as part of a block, Scott Retail as hinged
1c Blue, Ty. I (18). Plate 12, perfect centering which clearly shows the characteristics of the type, deep rich color, razor-sharp impression on pristine paper, pretty strike of red New York Paid City Delivery circular datestampEXTREMELY FINE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 PERFORATED ONE-CENT TYPE I. PARTICULARLY EYE-APPEALING WITH THE RED NEW YORK CITY CARRIER DATESTAMP.
The defining characteristic of Type I is that the entire design is printed, including the scrolls and plumes at bottom. Type I perforated stamps are only known from certain positions on Plate 12. Due to the narrow spacing between perforations and difficulties of production, this issue is usually found with part of the design cut off by the perforations. The example offered here, with bright color, a clear cancel and with the design characteristics clearly visible, is a true condition rarity.
Ex Dr. Hinrichs. With 1999 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. Ia (19). Bottom row of Plate 4, unused (no gum), well-balanced margins revealing the key design characteristics at top and the all important plumes at bottom, rich color, completely soundVERY FINE AND CHOICE AND EXTREMELY RARE. THIS IS THE ONLY SOUND AND CENTERED UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 PERFORATED ONE-CENT TYPE Ia WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED.
Type Ia was produced by only 18 of the 20 bottom-row positions on Plate 4. Although Plate 4 was designed with sufficient space to accommodate perforations, the height of the top row and bottom row positions resulted in the perforations often cutting into the design at either top or bottom. For this reason, stamps from the bottom row of Plate 4 with perforations clear of the design are especially desirable, since the characteristics of the type is complete (Type Ia) or nearly complete (Type Ic) at bottom. The stamp offered here is the only centered, sound unused example that we can find in our records.
With 2015 P.F. certificate (VF 80). Scott Specialized Catalogue value for "Very Fine"
1c Blue, Ty. II (20). Mint N.H., Plate 12, bright shade, three wide margins, fresh paperVERY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE PERFORATED ONE-CENT TYPE II. THIS IS ONLY THE SEVENTH MINT NEVER-HINGED COPY OF SCOTT 20 WE HAVE OFFERED IN SEVENTEEN YEARS.
Ex Hoffman. With 2004 and 2011 P.F. certificates. Scott Retail as hinged
1c Blue, Ty. II (20). Mint N.H., Plate 12, lovely shade, trivial natural inclusion not mentioned on accompanying certificate, Very Fine and choice, a rare Mint N.H. example of Scott 20, we have offered only six others since keeping computerized records, with copy of 2012 P.S.E. certificate for irregular block, Scott Retail as hinged
1c Blue, Ty. III (21). Intense shade and impression on crisp paper, well-balanced margins with perfs completely clear of design on all sides, dark blue cancelEXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 ONE-CENT PERFORATED TYPE III.
Ex Dr. Morris. With 1999 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. III (21). Position 80L4 with interpane margin and centerline at right, blind perfs between selvage and stamp, gorgeous centering, rich color nicely complemented by blue circular datestampEXTREMELY FINE. A STUNNING USED INTERPANE MARGIN AND CENTERLINE EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 ONE-CENT TYPE III.
Only six positions along the two adjacent vertical rows of Plate 4 can possibly be Type III; therefore, centerline examples are rare (especially since the selvage was often removed). Accompanied by small plating chart showing the distinctive marks on this position.
Ex Wagshal. With 2011 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. III (21). Position 68R4, deep rich color, grid cancel, remarkably well-centered and clearly showing breaks at top and bottom, Very Fine and choice, with 2015 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. IIIa (22). Plate 11, B Relief, original gum, lightly hinged, unusually choice centering with wide margins showing clear large break at top and complete outer line at bottom, fresh color on bright paperEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 PERFORATED ONE-CENT TYPE IIIa.
With 2013 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85 XQ)
1c Blue, Ty. IIIa (22). Plate 11, B Relief from the bottom row with intact bottom sheet selvage, well-centered with margins clear of design on all sides, dark color on brilliant paper, well-struck blue Batavia N.Y. circular datestampEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT TYPE IIIa PERFORATED ISSUE AND A TRUE CONDITION RARITY WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
Ex Dr. Hinrichs. With 1994 and 2003 P.F. and 2016 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $5,550.00). Only two examples grade higher (from Natalee Grace and ex Kirke)
1c Blue, Ty. IIIa (22). Plate 11, A Relief, bright and fresh color, extra wide margins at sides and choice centering top-to-bottom with wide break at top and complete outer line at bottom, neat strike of grid cancel leaves entire design clearly visibleEXTREMELY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF THE PERFORATED ONE-CENT TYPE IIIa FROM PLATE 11.
With 2000 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. V (24). Mint N.H. vertical pair with part imprint and "No." selvage at left, deep rich color, well-balanced margins, Very Fine, a rare Mint N.H. pair with part imprint and part plate number, this pair also shows how narrow the spacing can be on this issue, with little room at top and bottom for the perforations, with 2010 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as hinged pair
1c Blue, Ty. V (24). Excellent centering within wide margins, pretty shade, clear red U.S. Mail, City Delivery circular datestamp, Very Fine and choice
1c Blue, Ty. V (24). Perfectly centered, showing double perforations at sides, lovely fresh color, light double-circle datestamp, Extremely Fine, an unusual item for the specialist
3c Rose, Ty. I (25). Original gum in Mint N.H. condition, bright color and fine impression, perfs well clear of framelines on three sidesVERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN INCREDIBLY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 3-CENT PERFORATED TYPE I STAMP.
Unlike its Type II counterpart, the 3c Type I, which was produced in 1857 by perforating sheets from the earlier imperforate issue, is virtually impossible to find in Mint N.H. condition. Our search of previous auction catalogues confirms this observation. In addition, because the Type I plate did not provide sufficient space for perforations, stamps with complete lines on three sides are very scarce. Thus, a 3c Type I stamp in Mint N.H. condition with complete lines on three sides is a great rarity, of which only a sparse few exist.
Ex Silver Lake. With 1996 and 2004 P.F. certificates. Scott Retail as hinged
3c Rose, Ty. I (25). Original gum, bright color, margins clearly showing the framelines all around which define the type, small natural inclusion not mentioned on accompanying certificate, Very Fine for this difficult stamp, with 2012 P.S.A.G. certificate
3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26). Mint N.H., with selvage at right, unusually wide margins for this tightly spaced issue, choice centering, brilliant color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2015 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90 Jumbo; SMQ $625.00 as 95, $1,250.00 as 95), Scott Retail as hinged
3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26). Mint N.H., superb centering with perfs well clear of design at top and bottom as well as sides, bright shade, detailed impression, Extremely Fine Gem, ex "Scarsdale", with 2000 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as hinged
3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26). Radiant color nicely complemented by green Pascoag R.I. circular datestamp, choice centering for this difficult issue, Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp with fantastic eye appeal, with 2002 A.P.S. certificate
3c Dull Red, Ty. IV (26A). Mint N.H. block of four, choice centering, bottom pair particularly nice with perfs clear all around, fresh paper, positions 1 and 3 with bit of light soiling, one unpunched perf at leftVERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED BLOCK OF THE 1857 3-CENT PERFORATED TYPE IV. THIS IS THE FIRST WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED.
A review using Power Search failed to find even a single Ty. IV in Mint N.H. condition and only seven blocks of four or larger of the much more common Ty. III (26).
Ex Wagshal. With 2010 P.F. certificate. Unpriced in Scott as Mint N.H. Scott Retail as hinged block of four