Sale 937 — 2007 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Saturday, 16 June, 2007
Category — 1861-66 Issue
24c Dark Violet, First Color (60). Original gum, choice centering, distinctive dark First Color shade, proof-like impressionEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 24-CENT DARK VIOLET EARLY TRIAL PRINTING. ONE OF THE RAREST OF THE 24-CENT 1861-63 ISSUE SHADES.
The Dark Violet trial printing and Violet regular issue shades are often confused, and the Scott Catalogue adds to the confusion by putting the Dark Violet (the old Scott 60) in the Trial Color Proofs section as 70TCe, while the Violet gets a front seat as Scott 70c. In our opinion, there is no good reason to relegate the Dark Violet to the Trial Color Proof section. As a result, the stamp offered here is undercatalogued in relation to other 24c stamps of equal rarity. For example, Scott 70c has a value of $35,000.00 versus Scott 70TCe at $8,000.00.
With 2007 P.F. certificate
3c Pigeon Blood Pink (64a). Choice centering, brilliant color, tied by blue "Saint Denis Ma. Nov. 14" rimless circular datestamp on orange cover to Lewiston Me.EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL COVER BEARING THE 3-CENT PIGEON BLOOD PINK. SCARCE IN SUCH CHOICE CONDITION.
With 2004 P.S.E. certificate
3c Rose (65). Calendar containing 366 stamps on twelve hand-made pages (one for each month), incl. Feb. 29 on the title page, also with dates of birth for notable persons from 1865, each stamp cancelled by clear strike of circular datestamp, range of shades, range of cancels incl. few blue, red, usual "plating quality"A RARE CALENDAR OF THE 3-CENT 1861-66 ISSUE. AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT GROUP TO ASSEMBLE.
After June 23, 1860, new postal regulations prohibited postmasters from using town markings to cancel stamps. Most stamps were cancelled by other devices, such as circle of wedges, corks, etc. As this calendar illustrates, not all postmasters adhered to the new regulations.
Scott Retail of $1,098.00 does not adequately reflect the rarity of this calendar.
3c Lake (66). Original gum, lightly hinged, brilliant color on bright paper, almost perfectly centered with unusually wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT 1861 LAKE TRIAL PRINTING WITH UNCOMMONLY WIDE MARGINS. A BEAUTIFUL STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT.
With 1968 and 2002 P.F. certificates. P.S.E. encapsulated (XF-Superb 95; unpriced in SMQ)
3c Lake (66). Original gum, deep rich color and proof-like impression on bright paper, two slightly short perfs at right, otherwise Extremely Fine
5c Buff (67). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich color on bright paper, completely soundVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT BUFF 1861 ISSUE.
Our sales during the past several years have contained a number of original-gum 1861-66 Issues, and we have made frequent reference to the rarity of these stamps in such choice condition. The 5c Brown Yellow and Buff are recognized as the rarest of 1861-66 Issue stamps in sound original-gum condition. Perhaps the only shade varieties rarer than the 5c Brown Yellow or Buff are the 3c Pigeon Blood Pink and 24c Blackish Violet (Scott 64a and 78c).
Ex Sheriff. With 1986 P.F. certificate. P.S.E. encapsulated (VF-XF 85; SMQ $24,000.00)
5c Buff (67). Unused (no gum), radiant color, centered to bottom right but with perfs barely touching and other sides wideFINE. A SCARCE SOUND UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 5-CENT BUFF.
With 1992 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates
5c Brown Yellow (67a). Part original gum redistributed over small thin spot, bright color, single toned perf at top leftFINE APPEARANCE. A SCARCE EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1861 BROWN YELLOW SHADE WITH PART ORIGINAL GUM.
The 5c Brown Yellow and its shade varieties (Buff and Olive Yellow) are recognized as the rarest of 1861-66 Issue stamps in original-gum condition. We have offered less than a dozen unused examples in any condition since keeping computerized records.
With 1997 P.F. certificate
24c Steel Blue (70b). Original gum, lightly hinged, radiant color in the true Steel Blue color, choice centering with full perforationsVERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN EXTREMELY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 24-CENT STEEL BLUE.
The Steel Blue shade was produced early in the series of 24c 1861 shades, and it is scarce in any condition. Examples with original gum are rare, and those with Very Fine or Extremely Fine centering are of tremendous rarity, probably numbering no more than ten.
Ex Scarsdale. With 1998 and 2006 P.F. certificates
24c Steel Blue (70b). Bright color in the true Steel Blue shade, tied by red "3" and also by blue "Batavia N.Y. Nov. 14" circular datestamp on red and blue "Our Country" Flag and Globe Patriotic cover front only to Brighton, England, blue "Paid 24" at left, 1861 London transit, light vertical file fold well away from stamp, Very Fine, attractive usage, if this were a full cover it would be worth many times our estimate, the stamp itself is a beauty with blue town and red numeral cancels, with 1997 P.F. certificate
24c Violet, Thin Paper (70c). Choice centering with balanced margins, deep rich color and proof-like impression nicely complemented by blue Springfield double-circle datestampEXTREMELY FINE. A GORGEOUS USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1860 24-CENT VIOLET ON THIN PAPER. A DIFFICULT STAMP TO FIND IN SUCH CHOICE CONDITION.
This is especially desirable with the blue town cancel, which leaves the entire design clearly visible.
90c Blue (72). Original gum, lightly hinged, brilliant color, well-proportioned marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1861 ISSUE.
With 2002 P.F. certificate
2c Black (73). Mint N.H. horizontal pair with top sheet margin, beautifully centered, handsome charcoal shade and sharp proof-like impression on fresh paperEXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE CHOICEST MINT NEVER-HINGED PAIRS OF THE 1863 2-CENT BLACK JACK EXTANT.
With 2002 P.S.E. certificate. Scott Retail as hinged pair.
2c Black (73). Block of eight with bottom right corner selvage incl. part imprint, original gum, choice centering, intense shade, detailed impression, one stamp with faint creaseVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF EIGHT OF THE 2-CENT 1863 BLACK JACK ISSUE SHOWING PART IMPRINT.
Ex Lilly, Grunin and Klein (where this block realized $2,400 hammer against its then-current $950 Scott value). Scott Retail as two blocks of four
3c Scarlet (74). Unused (no gum), beautifully centered and vibrant color, two tiny perf tip creases and pinpoint paper flaw in top margin above right "3", possibly reperfed at top, Extremely Fine appearance, Scott Retail as with gum
5c Red Brown (75). Unused (no gum), unusually choice centering with perforations completely clear of the design all around, deep rich colorFRESH AND EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1862 RED BROWN SHADE.
With 1983 and 1986 P.F. certificates.
5c Brown (76). Vertical pair with straddle-pane margin at left, dark color and detailed impression, clearly-struck "Forwarded by U.S. Consul, Kanagawa, Japan" oval handstamp with border of stars, bottom stamp sealed tear at right, Very Fine appearance, an exceedingly rare cancel, perhaps three or four are known, ex Knapp and offered for the first time since that 1941 auction
24c Grayish Lilac (78a). Block of four, original gum, lightly hinged, rich color in the true Grayish Lilac shade, detailed impression, remarkably well-centered, very fresh and intactEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 24-CENT GRAYISH LILAC. A RARE BLOCK IN THE FINEST CONDITION WITH OUTSTANDING COLOR AND FRESHNESS.
The 24c Grayish Lilac is an incredibly rare stamp in choice original-gum condition. Most of the remaining well-centered sound blocks have been broken for singles, This block is an extremely rare exception. Very few multiples of this issue in this quality remain.
With 2002 P.F. certificate for block of nine, this being the bottom right corner block.