Sale 1254 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 6-7 April, 2022
Category — 1847 Issue and Reproduction
5c Dark Brown (1a). Full to large margins, early impression, deep shade, tied by well-struck blue "5" in circle cancel of Philadelphia on small piece, Extremely Fine
5c Brown (1). Full margins to barely in at upper left, early impression, deep rich color, perfect strike of red circle of "V's fancy cancel on small piece with matching oily strike of "Paris Ky. Dec. 13" circular datestamp, Very Fine, ex Rohloff, Ishikawa, Saadi and Gross, with 1993 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown (1). Large margins to ample, cleaned-plate impression, rich color, cancelled by bold strike of black quartered cork in circle cancel, thin spot at top left, Very Fine appearance, a very unusual cancel on the 1847 Issue
5c Red Brown (1). Large margins to clear, rich color, intermediate impression, well-struck red Hudson River Mail 16-bar grid cancel, Very Fine, with 1976 and 1996 P.F. certificates, Scott value with no premium for the cancel
5c Red Brown (1). Large margins to just touched at left, bright shade approaching the Orange Brown, cleaned-plate impression, well-struck blue pinwheel cancel of Wilmington & Raleigh R.R., also with red French accountancy marking at lower left, small thin spots, Fine appearance, an attractive stamp, with 1996 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown (1). Huge margins to clear including left sheet margin, worn-plate impression, well-struck blue square grid cancel, tiny scissors-cut at top right entirely in margin, Very Fine, with 1994 P.S.E. and 2008 P.F. certificates
5c Red Brown (1). Large to huge margins, intermediate impression, deep rich color, neat red grid cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 1984 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown (1). Position 1R1, gorgeous rich color, early impression, three large to huge margins, ample at bottom, light red square grid cancel (early state of New York City grid), Very Fine, a pretty stamp, ex Gilbart, with 1978 and 2015 P.F. certificates
5c Red Brown (1). Four well-proportioned margins, intermediate impression, red New York square grid cancel, Very Fine, tiny backstamp barely shows thru
5c Brown (1). Large margins, dark shade, early impression, neat pen cancel (likely Baltimore), Extremely Fine
5c Red Brown (1). Appears unused but cancel has been removed, margins all around, Very Fine, with 2021 P.F. certificate
5c Orange Brown (1b). Large to huge margins including part of adjoining stamp at bottom, radiant color and intermediate impression, red grid cancel, trivial pressed-out vertical crease at left outside of the design is noted on 2009 P.S.E. certificate (no longer accompanies), Extremely Fine appearance, with 2017 P.F. certificate as sound (XF-Superb 95)
10c Black (2). Original gum, lightly hinged at top, huge to large margins, detailed impression clearly showing every detail of the engraving, fresh deeply blued paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM AND EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE IN EXISTENCE. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT STAMPS TO OBTAIN IN COMPLETELY SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION WITH FOUR LARGE MARGINS. THIS SUPERB STAMP IS A TRUE CONDITION RARITY AND A MARVELOUS EXAMPLE OF THE FIRST UNITED STATES GENERAL ISSUE.
The Act of March 3, 1847, signed by President Polk, specified that Postmaster General Cave Johnson "be authorized to prepare postage stamps, which when attached to any letter or packet, shall be evidence of the payment of the postage..." The law's effective date was July 1, and the Post Office acted immediately to secure a contract with Rawdon, Wright, Hatch and (the new partner) Edson, so that stamps could be distributed by that date. The Washington vignette is based on the iconic image painted by Gilbert Stuart.
With 2011 P.F. certificate and 2011 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF 90; SMQ $130,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded and the only example to achieve this grade.
10c Black (2). Large to full margins at top, two neat strikes of blue numeral "5" handstamp, tiny 1mm closed tear at top right, Very Fine appearance, ex Saadi and Gross, illustrated in Chronicle 217 (p. 25), with 1994 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown, Reproduction (3). Without gum as issued, large margins, tiny natural inclusion, Extremely Fine
10c Black, Reproduction (4). Without gum as issued, large even margins, crisp shade and impression, Extremely Fine
10c Black, Reproduction (4). Without gum as issued, full to large margins all around, Very Fine and choice