Sale 1234 — The Gary Petersen Collection of Important United States Stamps
Sale Date — Thursday-Friday, 29-30 April, 2021
Category — 1869 Pictorial Issue and Re-Issue (Scott 112-132)
1c Buff (112). Block of six, original gum, four stamps h.r., rich color, positions 2 and 3 affected by light diagonal crease, Fine appearance, Scott value $6,700.00 as block of four and pair
2c Brown (113). Unused (no gum), deep rich color and proof-like impression, Very Fine and choice, with 2003 P.F. certificate
2c Brown (113). Block of 20 with straddle-pane margin at right, original gum, most stamps Mint N.H., bright color, few insignificant toned specks around a few perfsFINE AND RARE LARGE MULTIPLE OF THE 2-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE, WITH MOST STAMPS MINT NEVER-HINGED.
Scott value $17,200.00 as four blocks of four and two pairs with no premium for any Mint N.H. stamps
3c Ultramarine (114). Wide bottom imprint and plate no. 26 block of twelve, original gum, barely hinged, a few stamps Mint N.H., deep rich color on bright paperFINE-VERY FINE. A RARE IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF TWELVE OF THE 3-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
Scott value $8,025.00 as plate block of ten and pair
6c Ultramarine (115). Block of four, original gum, top stamps small h.r., bright and fresh color, well-centered for a block of this issue, vertical crease in left pair, diagonal crease in top right stamp just touches corner of bottom right stampFINE APPEARANCE. AN ATTRACTIVE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF THE 6-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
Ex Kuphal. 1995 P.F. certificate no longer accompanies. Scott value $16,500.00
6c Ultramarine (115). Unused (no gum), brilliant color on bright paper, well-balanced margins, short perf at bottom right not mentioned on accompanying certificate, otherwise Extremely Fine, ex Geisler, with 1984 P.F. certificate
10c Yellow (116). Unused (no gum), vibrant color, choice centering, Extremely Fine
12c Green (117). Unused (no gum), intense shade and impression, light horizontal crease at top, Fine appearance, with 1998 P.F. certificate
12c Green (117). Vertical block of six, original gum, h.r., short gum at bottom, rich color, few perf separations sensibly reinforcedFINE. THIS IS THE THIRD LARGEST RECORDED UNUSED MULTIPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
The Rose book on the 1869 Pictorial Issue notes eight unused blocks, including blocks of twelve (ex Col. Green and Rust), nine (ex Wunderlich and Ishikawa) and three blocks of six. We have offered two additional blocks of nine, in our 2009 and 2013 Rarities sales. Nearly all of the unused blocks are more or less off-center.
Scott value $18,000.00 as block of four and pair
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. I (118). Unused (no gum), deep rich colors, three wide margins, Fine, with 1980 P.F. certificate
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II (119). Unused (no gum), deep rich colors and proof-like impressions, fresh and Fine, with 2004 P.S.E. certificate (F 70; SMQ $550.00)
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II (119). Block of four, slightly glazed original gum, rich colors, right pair tiny hinge slivers at right, top right stamp short perf at lower right, Very Good, a collectible and scarce block of the 1869 Pictorial 15c Type II, Scott value $16,500.00
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II (119). Block of twenty with left sheet margin and part of dividing guide at lower left, Positions 11-15/41-45 in sheet of 100 (left pane, second through fifth rows), marvelous rich colors and impression, extraordinarily well-centered throughout, the upper half of the block is Extremely Fine, original gum, Positions 21-23 and 31-34 are Mint N.H., faint crease affects Positions 31-35 (second row from bottom) and 41 (bottom left), Positions 42 and 43 small creases, minor hinge remnants or disturbance on a few stamps in top and bottom rows, few minor perf separations sensibly reinforcedFINE-VERY FINE. A BLOCK OF 20 IS THE LARGEST RECORDED MULTIPLE OF THE 15-CENT TYPE II 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE. A WONDERFUL SHOWPIECE.
We record four unused blocks of 20:
1) Block of 20 with selvage at left, from our 2002 Rarities sale and ex Wingate (Siegel Sale 1180), the block offered here
2) Bottom right corner selvage with imprint and plate no., ex previous Rarities sales (including 1977), Walske and Dr. Heimburger
3) Block of 20 with bottom right selvage and imprint and plate no. 23, centered strongly to bottom and right, originally a block of 33 and reduced in size to a block of 20 sometime after our 1966 Stern sale (Siegel Sale 309, lot 144)
4) Block of 20, centered to bottom right, offered in our 1999 Rarities sale
The block of 20, ex Worthington and Caspary, has been broken.
Ex Wingate. With 2002 P.F. certificate. Scott value $78,000.00 as four blocks of four and two pairs
24c Green & Violet (120). Unused (no gum), rich colors, fresh and Fine, with 2006 P.F. certificate
30c Ultramarine & Carmine (121). Large part disturbed original gum described on accompanying certificate as disturbed original gum, bright colorsVERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
Ex Geisler. With 1985 P.F. certificate
30c Ultramarine & Carmine (121). Block of six, original gum, lightly hinged, bright colors, clearly defined grills, few perf separations expertly reinforcedFINE. THIS IS THE LARGEST RECORDED UNUSED BLOCK OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE WITH GRILL. A PHENOMENAL SHOWPIECE.
The Rose 1869 book (pp. 152-153) provides a census of unused blocks of the 30c. The largest recorded unused grilled multiple (Scott 121) is the block of six offered here, followed by two blocks of four. The centering of the block offered here is superior to the two blocks of four. Five multiples without grill are also recorded. These are all the Double Paper/Without Grill variety.
Ex Hind and Gibson. Scott value as block of four and pair $49,500.00
30c Ultramarine & Carmine (121). Block of ten consisting of block of nine with an extra stamp at bottom, rich colors, clear grill points, cork cancels which are lighter than those normally found on used blocks of the 30c, few pulled or short perfs, bottom left stamp tear at bottom, light creases, Fine-Very Fine appearance, the largest recorded used multiple is a block of twelve (3-4 known), Scott value $6,200.00 as block of four, two pairs and two singles
90c Carmine & Black (122). Original gum, clearly defined grill, rich colors, reperfed at top, Fine appearance, with 1989 Holcombe certificate
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II, Center Inverted (119b). Beautiful deep rich colors and intense impressions, light strike of cork cancellation leaves vignette clearly visible, centered slightly to lower left but perfs are clear all aroundFINE. ONE OF THE FEW SOUND EXAMPLES OF THE 15-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL INVERT ERROR IN EXISTENCE.
Our census of Scott 119b, available at our website at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/119b , records three unused and 102 used copies (there are an additional three used examples of Scott 119c). Two of the used copies are in institutions -- the Tapling Collection at The British Library and the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library. We estimate that approximately fifteen used copies are sound, including copies with tiny corner creases. A large number -- more than half -- have serious faults or repairs. The stamp offered here, in completely sound condition, is a very desirable example of this rarity.
Census no. 119b-CAN-69. Small purple backstamp. With 1990 and 2002 P.F. certificates
24c Green & Violet, Center Inverted (120b). Rich colors, light cork cancel red circular datestamp which allow the vignette to be clearly seenFINE. A RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE INVERT, WHICH IS ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE BY VIRTUE OF THE RED COLORED CANCEL. A SMALL MINORITY OF THE 94 EXAMPLES RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS ARE SOUND.
Our census of 24c 1869 Inverts, available at our website at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/120b , contains four unused, 83 used singles, one used pair, one on cover and the unique block of four, for a total of 94 copies of the perforated 24c Invert. Excluding the unused singles, used block and used pair, there are perhaps 15 sound singles. The example offered here is particularly desirable by virtue of the red cancel.
Census no. 120b-CAN-53. Ex Lopez and Dr. Dauer. With 1957, 1990 and 2005 P.F. certificates. Scott value is for "fine centered copies with only minimal faults."
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30c Ultramarine & Carmine, Flags Inverted (121b). Choice centering with wide margins, incredibly rich and bright colors on fresh white paper, circle of eight wedges cancelVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A STUNNING AND RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL INVERT. EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES IN EXISTENCE.
Our census of 30c 1869 Inverts, available at our website at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/121b , contains a total of 47 stamps, including 7 unused and 40 used (one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library and one used in the Tapling collection at the British Library). Of the ten used "centered" copies, only three are sound. This example, in sound condition and with Very Fine centering, is a great condition rarity.
Census no. 121b-CAN-18. Ex Crocker, Moody, LeBow and Hoffman. With 1969, 2004 and 2008 P.F. certificates
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2c Brown, Re-Issue (124). Large part disturbed original gum, rich color, Extremely Fine
3c Blue, Re-Issue (125). Unused (no gum), rich color on bright paper, Fine, small red backstamp, with 1984 P.F. certificate
6c Blue, Re-Issue (126). Original gum, h.r., bright color, reperfed at right, Very Fine appearance
12c Green, Re-Issue (128). Unused (no gum), deep rich color and proof-like impression, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 1986 P.F. certificate
30c Ultramarine & Carmine, Re-Issue (131). Unused (no gum), rich colors on bright paper, well-proportioned margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1996 P.S.E. certificate
90c Carmine & Black, Re-Issue (132). Unused (no gum), rich colors, few pulled perfs, few thin spots, otherwise Very Fine