Sale 1235 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 19-20 May, 2021
Category — 1869 Pictorial Issue and Re-Issue (Scott 112-133)
1c-3c 1869 Pictorial (112-114). Original gum, 1c lightly hinged with bright color, Very Fine, with 1996 P.S.E. certificate as "o.g." (implying Mint N.H.), 2c original gum, rich color and well-centered, Very Fine, with 1978 P.F. certificate, 3c barely hinged, Very Fine
6c Ultramarine (115). Original gum, three wide margins, fresh and Fine, with 1999 P.F. certificate
10c Yellow (116). Original gum, vivid color, well-centered with wide margins, Very Fine and choice, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate
12c Green (117). Original gum, three wide and balanced margins to well clear of design at top, fresh and Very Fine, with 1999 P.F. certificate
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. I (118). Original gum, rich colors, attractive centering and margins on bright and fresh paperVERY FINE. A SCARCE SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT TYPE I 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
The 15c Type I comes from the first 1869 printing; in May 1869 the 15c went to press using the second frame plate, which produced Type II. In a condition census, both Type I and II would show similar numbers known in the top tier of original-gum condition. However, Type I is generally a rarer stamp and carries a much higher Scott Catalogue value. Very few of this quality are listed in Power Search.
With 2003 P.F. certificate
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II (119). Original gum, incredibly deep and rich colors, choice centering and well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A PREMIUM ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT TYPE II 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
Even though the supply of Type II stamps (Scott 119) is more plentiful than its Type I counterpart (Scott 118), we have found that it is similarly difficult to find in such superb original gum-condition.
With 2006 P.S.E. certificate
24c Green & Violet (120). Original gum, brilliant colors on bright paperVERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
The 24c 1869 Pictorial is found in original gum condition more often than some of its bicolor brothers of the issue, such as Scott 118 and 122. However, it is very elusive in sound and centered original-gum condition -- qualities possessed by this choice example.
With 2005 P.F. certificate
30c Ultramarine & Carmine (121). Original gum, bright and fresh colors, three wide margins and well clear of design at bottomFRESH AND VERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
With 2002 P.F. certificate
90c Carmine & Black (122). Original gum, exceptionally deep and rich colors more reminiscent of the 1875 Re-Issue, wide margins and choice centering on bright paperEXTREMELY FINE. A MAGNIFICENT ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE, WITH EXCEPTIONAL COLOR, WIDE MARGINS AND CHOICE CENTERING.
The 90c 1869 Pictorial is widely admired for its beautiful engraving and dignified portrait of Abraham Lincoln. However, collectors have been frustrated in their efforts to acquire choice examples of this issue. Used 90c stamps are typically heavily cancelled, because the high denomination was cause for postal clerks to thoroughly obliterate any chance for re-use. Naturally, the significant monetary value of 90c in 1869 limited the number of unused stamps that would be saved for future collectors. Therefore, the collector ideals of "well-centered with original gum" and "lightly cancelled" are seldom obtainable in the available supply of 90c 1869's. The stamp offered here, with full original gum, rich color and choice centering, probably ranks among the top 1% of surviving 90c 1869's in unused state.
With 2010 P.F. certificate
1c Buff, 1875 and 1880 Re-Issues (123, 133). Original gum, rich colors, attractive centering and margins, No. 133 with small thin spot, Very Fine or appear so, No. 123 with 1998 P.F. certificate
2c Brown, Re-Issue (124). Original gum, well-centered with balanced margins, rich color, Extremely Fine, with 1998 P.F. certificate
3c Blue, Re-Issue (125). Original gum, deep rich color and detailed impressionVERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE.
Original sales figures show that among the 1869 Pictorial Re-Issues, the 3c and 90c stamps accounted for the smallest number of units sold (1,406 and 1,356, respectively). Overall, the 1869s were popular with stamp collectors, far outselling the 1851-60 and 1861-66 Re-Issue sets. However, the 90c stamp's high denomination and the availability of ordinary 3c stamps limited demand. Today, both are rare, and handling over the years has not been kind to many of the surviving examples.
With 1993 P.S.E. certificate
6c Blue, Re-Issue (126). Original gum which is slightly disturbed on upper half but described on accompanying certificate as "previously hinged", well-centered, Very Fine, with 2000 P.F. certificate
6c Blue, Re-Issue (126). Unused (no gum), brilliant color, fresh and Very Fine, with 1984 and 2021 P.F. certificates
10c Yellow, Re-Issue (127). Original gum, fiery color, wide margins, Very Fine, with 1998 P.S.E. and P.F. certificates
12c Green, Re-Issue (128). Original gum, Jumbo margins and choice centering, wonderful depth of color showing every detail of the beautiful S.S. Adriatic engravingEXTREMELY FINE JUMBO-MARGINED ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate
15c Brown & Blue, Re-Issue (129). Original gum, wide margins and choice centering, deep rich colors, bright and freshEXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE.
With 1996 P.F. and 1997 P.S.E. certificates
15c Brown & Blue, Re-Issue (129). Large part original gum which covers all but a small portion of the back at top, huge margins and outstanding centering, light corner crease at top right not mentioned on accompanying certificate, Extremely Fine appearance, with 1997 P.S.E. certificate as "part o.g." Scott value as original gum
24c Green & Violet, Re-Issue (130). Original gum, lightly hinged, huge margins and choice centering, crisp impression and rich colors on bright white paperEXTREMELY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING LIGHTLY HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE.
With 2000 P.F. certificate
30c Blue & Carmine, Re-Issue (131). Original gum, fresh and bright colors, attractive centering and marginsFRESH AND VERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE.
With 2000 P.F. certificate
90c Carmine & Black, Re-Issue (132). Original gum, deep rich colors and proof-like impressions on bright paper, wide marginsVERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE.
Only 1,356 were sold. With 1999 P.F. certificate