Sale 959 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Monday-Wednesday, 23-25 June, 2008
Category — 1861-66 Issue (Scott 56-78)
3c Brown Rose, First Design (56). Original gum, fresh and Very Fine, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate as Bright Orange Red instead of Brown Rose
24c Dark Violet, First Color (60). Original gum, deep rich color and proof-like impression, choice centering with well-balanced margins, small gum covered thin spot at top leftVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE 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.
With 2001 and 2007 P.F. certificates, the former identifying this as No. 70c
1c Blue (63). Original gum, bright color, choice centering, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2001 P.F. certificate
1c Blue (63). Original gum, deep rich color and detailed impression, well-proportioned margins, light natural gum bend at bottom left, Very Fine, ex Lessin, with 1985 P.F. certificate
1c Blue (63). Brilliant color on bright paper, wide and balanced margins, well-struck "Paid" in oval handstamp, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2002 and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $500.00), only three have graded higher to date
1c Blue, 3c Rose (63, 65). Original gum, 1c lightly hinged, well-centered, 3c particularly so (and nicely margined), bright colors, Very Fine-Extremely Fine
3c Rose (65). Mint N.H., exceptionally well-centered, wonderfully fresh and bright with fine impression, Extremely Fine, with 1992 and 2002 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as hinged
3c Rose (65). Mint N.H., wide margins and very attractive centering, wonderfully fresh, Very Fine and choice, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate, Scott Retail as hinged
3c Rose (65). Magnificent centering and lovely bright color, bold Star in Circle cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $200.00 as ordinary cancel)
3c Rose, Imperforate (65c). Block of four, unused (no gum), large margins, overall soiling, small tear in margin at bottom left, otherwise Very Fine, scarce block, Scott Retail as two original-gum pairs
3c Lake (66). Original gum, lightly hinged, far better than usual centering, beautiful color and impression, Very Fine, with 2008 P.F. certificate
3c Lake (66). Original gum, beautiful intense color and sharp impression, fresh and Fine, a scarce 1861 trial printing, with 1987 P.F. certificate
5c Buff (67). Original gum, outstanding deep rich color, diagonal crease bottom rightFINE APPEARANCE. A RARE AND DESIRABLE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 5-CENT BUFF, ESPECIALLY WITH ORIGINAL GUM AND STRONG COLOR.
With photocopy of 1992 P.F. certificate
5c Buff (67). Choice centering, bright color, neat strike of blue Baltimore circular datestamp, Very Fine and choice, with 2003 P.F. certificate
5c Buff (67). Exceptionally well-centered with marvelous deep rich color, small almost face-free grid cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 2001 P.F. certificate
5c Brown Yellow (67a). Nice margins and attractive centering, rich color, blue circular datestamp, light crease, Fine appearance
10c Yellow Green (68). Large part original gum described as "OG" on certificate, rich color, well-centered, Very Fine and choice, with 1982 P.F. certificate
10c Yellow Green (68). Three, beautifully centered, two with unusually wide margins, cancels incl. Star in Circle (SE-6P29), Magenta Circle of Wedges and blue cork (defective "TAG" transfer), two with 2006 P.S.E. certificates (miniscule perf tear mentioned on Star-cancelled one), otherwise Extremely Fine
12c Black (69). Original gum, slight disturbance from hinge removal, crisp shade and impression, Very Fine and choice, attractive and unusually fresh
12c Black (69). Unusually choice centering, crisp shade nicely contrasted by blue quartered cork cancel, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1994 P.F. certificate
12c Black (69). With "National Bank N(ote)" part imprint selvage at top, attractive margins and centering, a scarce sheet-selvage copy, especially in sound well-centered condition, Very Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate
24c Red Lilac (70). Unused (no gum), attractively centered, excellent rich color, Very Fine and choice, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate
24c Red Lilac (70). Incredibly well-centered, rich color, bold fancy Six-Point Star in Circle with Dot in Center cancel (S-E ST6P-29), Extremely Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $1,200.00 with ordinary cancel)
24c Brown Lilac (70a). Part original gum, exceptionally well-centered, marvelous color and impression on crisp paperVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFULLY-CENTERED AND FRESH UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 24-CENT BROWN LILAC.
With 1988 and 2003 P.F. certificates
24c Brown Lilac (70a). Magnificent centering with margins clear of the design all around (uncommon occurrence), lovely color, bold San Francisco cogwheel cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $800.00)
24c Steel Blue (70b). Beautiful color in the true Steel Blue shade, well-balanced margins, neat strike of grid cancel, most recent certificate notes enhanced perf at upper left, Very Fine appearance, with 1998 and 2008 P.F. certificates
30c Orange (71). Horizontal pair, disturbed original gum, light shade, left stamp few short perfs, otherwise Very Good-Fine
90c Blue (72). Original gum, wide margins and very choice centering, rich colorEXTREMELY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1861 ISSUE. RARELY FOUND IN THIS CHOICE CONDITION.
We have encountered perhaps a half-dozen sound 90c 1861 stamps with original gum and Very Fine or Extremely Fine centering. The multiples that were broken to furnish singles were generally off center.
90c Blue (72). Original gum, attractive color, couple tiny perf flaws, otherwise Fine
90c Blue (72). Fabulous margins and incredibly well-centered, lovely color, light multiple strikes of Boston "Paid" grid cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. TRULY OUTSTANDING USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 90-CENT BLUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $5,150.00)
90c Blue (72). Exceptionally wide margins and handsome centering, face-free cork cancel at left edge, Very Fine and choice, a beautiful stamps, with 2008 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $970.00)
2c Black (73). Original gum, lightly hinged, essentially perfectly centered, fresh and Extremely Fine, an outstanding stamp, with 2008 P.F. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $1,000.00)
2c Black (73). Slightly disturbed original gum, minor double transfer at bottom, unusually well-centered, Very Fine and choice, with 2008 P.F. certificate
2c Black (73). Mint N.H. block of four, sharp proof-like impressionVERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE. A RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED BLOCK OF THE 2-CENT "BLACK JACK". THE RIGHT PAIR IS TRULY SUPERB IN EVERY RESPECT.
With 2001 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as hinged
5c Red Brown (75). Fantastic intense shade, well-balanced margins and nearly perfect centering, lightly cancelled, Extremely Fine, rare in this superb condition, with 2001 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown (75). Precise centering, deep rich color, bold grid cancel, Extremely Fine, a superb stamp, with 2001 P.F. certificate
5c Brown (76). Block of four, original gum, rich color, light creases or bend, reperfed at left, Very Good-Fine appearance, scarce
5c Brown (76). Beautifully centered with margins essentially clear of design all around, rich color, light circular datestamp, Extremely Fine, with 2005 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $445.00)
24c Lilac (78). Original gum, lightly hinged, attractive deep shade and proof-like impression on bright fresh paper, well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE. THE 24-CENT 1861-63 ISSUE IS EXTREMELY RARE IN SOUND AND WELL-CENTERED ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION. A FAR GREATER CHALLENGE TO ACQUIRE IN THIS GRADE THAN MANY COLLECTORS REALIZE.
Scott values, which are influenced by the quantity of poorly-centered copies extant, are irrelevant in the current market for choice original-gum classics.
With 2001 P.F. certificate
24c Lilac (78). Original gum, minor h.r., beautiful color and sharp impression, Very Fine and quite attractive, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate
24c Lilac (78). Original gum, h.r., excellent color and impression, centered to top, Very Good
24c Lilac (78). Unbelievably wide margins well clear of design all around, excellent color, circle of wedges cancel, tiny tear in top margin just above right hand star, otherwise Extremely Fine, with 2004 A.P.S. certificate that does not mention the trivial tear