Sale 1159 — 2017 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Tuesday, 27 June, 2017
Category — 1857-60 Issue (Scott 18-39)
1c Blue, Ty. I (18). Plate 12, original gum, deep rich color, unusually well-centeredEXTREMELY FINE. A CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 ONE-CENT TYPE I STAMP.
This is a scarce stamp in sound original-gum condition and better than Very Fine centering.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, VF-XF 85; SMQ $4,750.00).
1c Blue, Ty. Ia (19). Plate 4, unused (no gum), rich color, margins to just in but the bottom plumes are largely present and identify the type, horizontal crease at upper right and small edge tear at rightFINE APPEARING AND RARE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 PERFORATED ONE-CENT TYPE Ia.
Type Ia was produced by only 18 of the 20 bottom-row positions on Plate 4.
With 2004 P.S.E. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. III (21). Position 67R4, original gum, rich color on crisp paper, choice centering for this difficult issueVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A SCARCE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE PERFORATED 1857 ONE-CENT TYPE III.
This stamp was printed from Plate 4, which originally produced imperforate stamps and was used only briefly after the introduction of perforations in 1857 before being discontinued. Original-gum examples of stamps from Plate 4 are extremely scarce.
Ex Wagshal. With 1980 P.F. certificate.
1c Blue, Ty. III (21). Large part original gum which covers all the back except the edges, gum is toned which slightly affects the color on the front, perfs to just in at top, wide break evident at bottomFINE APPEARANCE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE PERFORATED 1857 ONE-CENT TYPE III.
With 1987 P.F. certificate stating "heavily toned". However, much of the toning on the front has subsequently been removed
1c Blue, Ty. III (21). Plate 4, choice margins and centering showing clear breaks at top and bottom, rich color, lightly canceled leaving the entire design clearly visibleEXTREMELY FINE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 ONE-CENT BLUE TYPE III FROM PLATE 4.
Due to the narrow vertical spacing on this plate, stamps are most typically found with the perforations impinging on some portion of the design. The example offered here is centered so that the type characteristics are clearly visible.
With 2003 P.F. and 2012 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85; SMQ $3,550.00)
1c Blue, Ty. III, Position 99R2 (21). Deep rich color and proof-like impression, neat strike of Boston circular datestamp, completely sound, top and bottom perfs well clear of the significant portions of the design, extra wide right margin shows the characteristic double transfer, single nibbed perf at bottom left corner (not mentioned on accompanying certificates)VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE PERFORATED ONE-CENT 1857 ISSUE FROM POSITION 99R2. THIS POSITION FURNISHED THE BEST EXAMPLES OF TYPE III.
Plate 2 was made in late 1855, and consists of 198 stamps that are Type II, one position that is Type III (99R2) and one that is Type IIIA (100R2).
Guide dots were used to accurately lay out the subjects on the plate. Positions 79 and 89 were transferred perfectly using their guide dots. However, the guide dot to the south-east of Position 88R2, which was used to align the single B Relief for Position 99R2, was placed far out of line, resulting in the bottom part of the A Relief being transferred into the bottom part of Position 89 (and in the margin below this position) by mistake. When the fresh entry was made in Position 99R a full transfer of the design was not possible without running into the error in Position 89R. The position was therefore short transferred at top, and apparently also at bottom, creating the finest example of Type III found on any plate (see pp. 183-184 of Neinken book).
Plate 2 stamps were issued imperforate from December 1855 through June 1857. Beginning in July 1857 stamps from Plates 1 Late, 2 and 4 were issued with perforations, and Plates 2 and 4 continued to produce stamps through late 1857. Plate 2 stamps are rarer perforated than in imperforate form; conversely, Plate 4 stamps are rarer imperforate than in perforated form. Perforated 99R2 stamps are of extreme rarity.
Our census, which incorporates the records of noted student Jerome S. Wagshal, the Philatelic Foundation, the Levi records and our own work, is available at our website at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/21/21.pdf . Only one unused example is known, in a block. Twelve used singles are recorded, as are three on covers and two in strips, for a total of 18 known in any form. Virtually all have faults or are very off-center -- only three off-cover singles and one on cover are confirmed as sound and not all have decent centering.
Ex Sheriff and Wagshal. With 1986 and 2011 P.F. certificates.
1c Blue, Ty. IIIa-IIIa/III-IIIa (22-22/21-22). Positions 73-74/83-84R4, block of four comprising three Type IIIa and one Type III (at bottom left), original gum, lightly hinged, a few minor perf separations, slight trace of gum toning, faint horizontal crease along top edge of top stamps, these trivial imperfections are barely noticeable and only the last is noted on most recent certificateVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A REMARKABLE AND EXTREMELY RARE BLOCK OF THE 1857 ONE-CENT PERFORATED ISSUE FROM PLATE FOUR, COMBINING TYPES III AND IIIa.
This block was printed from Plate 4, which originally produced imperforate stamps and was used only briefly after the introduction of perforations in 1857 before being discontinued. Original-gum examples of stamps from Plate 4 are extremely scarce.
This was part of the vertical block of six in the Grunin and Klein collections. After the 1988 Klein sale it was divided into this block and two singles (Positions 63R and 64R).
Ex Grunin, Klein and Hall. With 1991 (as sound) and 2015 P.F. certificates (mentioning faint horizontal crease at top). The Scott U.S. Specialized Catalogue lists combination blocks from Plate 4, but does not value them. The Type III-IIIa combination pair and Type IIIa pair have a combined value of $27,750.00
1c Blue, Ty. IIIa (22). Plate 4, original gum, lightly hinged, brilliant color, well-balanced margins, clearly showing the characteristics of the type with wide break at topVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A REMARKABLY FRESH ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 ONE-CENT TYPE IIIa PERFORATED ISSUE.
Ex Hansen. With 2005 P.F. certificate
5c Brick Red (27). Unused (no gum), rich color, well-centered with margins clear of projections on all sides, tiny corner crease at bottom right and natural inclusion at centerVERY FINE APPEARING AND RARE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1858 5-CENT BRICK RED.
With 2012 P.F. certificate
5c Indian Red (28A). Unused (no gum), exceptional intense color in the true 1858 Indian Red shade, proof-like impression on bright paperFINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE AND DESIRABLE SOUND UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1858 5-CENT INDIAN RED.
Our search of old auction catalogues and the records of The Philatelic Foundation and P.S.E. yielded only eleven unused examples of Scott 28A. Of these, the majority are without gum.
With 2002 P.F. certificate
5c Indian Red (28A). Wonderful depth of color in the true Indian Red shade, well-centered with margins clear of projections on all four sides, lightly cancelled with just the corner of a town datestamp at lower leftVERY FINE AND CHOICE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 5-CENT INDIAN RED.
With 2002 P.F. certificate for a vertical pair
5c Brown (29). Original gum, lightly hinged, bright color and crisp impression, choice centering for this difficult issueVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1859 5-CENT TYPE I BROWN.
With 1997 and 2005 P.F. certificates.
5c Brown, Ty. II (30A). Original gum, spectacularly wide margins all around including "NGRAVERS Phila. New York, Bost(on)" portion of imprint at right, wide white margins at top and bottom, dark shade and proof-like impressionEXTREMELY FINE GEM. WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THE 5-CENT BROWN TYPE II STAMP IN EXISTENCE -- PROBABLY THE FINEST OF THE FEW "CAPTURED IMPRINT" STAMPS.
Unlike its Orange Brown counterpart, the 5c Type II in Brown was not on hand in post offices when the 1861 demonetization order took effect. Therefore, original-gum examples of Scott 30A are far scarcer than Scott 30. The narrow spacing between subjects on the plate, as well as Toppan Carpenter's imprecise perforating, leaves collectors with very few well-centered original-gum examples. This remarkable stamp, with the captured imprint at right, is among the finest we have located among auction sales of the past 65 years.
Ex "Sevenoaks." With 1996 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF 90; SMQ $6,000.00 without premium for the imprint)
10c Green, Ty. I (31). Original gum which covers the entire back other than where hinged at top (called "large part o.g." on accompanying certificate), rich color, centered to bottom left, two tiny thin spots near topFINE APPEARANCE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 10-CENT TYPE I.
The scarcer types of the perforated 10c 1857 (Scott 31 and 34) are rarely found with original gum. With 1979 and 2012 P.F. certificates
10c Green, Ty. II (32). Original gum, rich color, intact perfs at bottom with small part of adjoining stampVERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 10-CENT TYPE II.
With 2007 P.S.E. certificate
24c Gray Lilac (37). Original gum, lightly hinged, radiant color, unusually choice centering with well-proportioned marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1860 ISSUE.
With 1994 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF 90; SMQ $3,250.00)
30c Orange (38). Original gum, vivid color, well-centered with balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1860 ISSUE.
From our 1997 Rarities sale. With 1996 P.F. certificate
90c Blue (39). Original gum, deep rich color, choice centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE AND FRESH ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1860 ISSUE.
With 2001 and 2013 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85)