Sale 968 — The Alan B. Whitman Collection of Outstanding United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 27-28 January, 2009
Category — 1861-66 Issue (Scott 73-78c)
2c Black (73). Mint N.H. and with selvage at top, bright shade and crisp impression, well-proportioned marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A SCARCE MINT NEVER-NEVER HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT BLACK JACK.
With 1999 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as hinged
2c Black (73). Block of four, original gum, very lightly hinged, intense shade and proof-like impression, beautiful centering throughout, top left stamp trivial toned speck at right which may in fact be a natural inclusionEXTREMELY FINE. A STUNNING BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 2-CENT BLACK JACK ISSUE. THIS IS THE BEST-CENTERED BLOCK OF THIS ISSUE WE HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED.
A review with Power Search failed to find another block that equals this in terms of centering or overall freshness.
Ex Metzger and used as a frontispiece for his Black Jack exhibit collection. With 2002 P.F. certificate.
5c Red Brown (75). Original gum, deep rich color in the distinctive Red Brown shade, well-balanced margins for this difficult issue with perforations clear of projections on all sidesEXTREMELY FINE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1862 ISSUE IN THE RED BROWN SHADE. THIS STAMP IS ESPECIALLY SCARCE IN ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION IN THE HIGHER GRADES.
The 5c Red Brown -- issued in early 1862 after the Buff printing -- is one of the 1861-66 stamps that challenges collectors who demand choice original-gum examples. Multiples of the Red Brown are extremely rare, with only one recorded original-gum block; therefore, there has never been a supply of blocks from which singles could be removed. The vast majority of original-gum singles are off-center or faulty. The example offered here is remarkable for several reasons: the color is in the distinctive Red Brown shade, drifting towards the deeper end of the color spectrum, it has full original gum, the perforations are well-formed, and the stamp is almost perfectly centered.
With copy of 1979 P.F. certificate for pair and 2001 P.F. certificate as single
5c Brown (76). Original gum, lightly hinged, brilliant color and detailed impression, wide marginsVERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1863 5-CENT BROWN.
With 1993 P.F. certificate
15c Black (77). Mint N.H., sharp proof-like impression on bright and fresh paper, wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE. AN UNBELIEVABLY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT 1866 ISSUE IN THE FINEST CONDITION ATTAINABLE. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF SOME SHADE VARIETIES, THE 15-CENT LINCOLN IS PERHAPS THE RAREST OF THE 1861-66 SERIES STAMPS IN SUCH CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.
We have made frequent reference to the rarity of the 1861-66 Issue stamps in choice condition. With the exception of the rare 3c, 5c and 24c shades, our experience shows that the 15c Lincoln is the most difficult stamp to obtain in sound, choice original-gum condition. It is most often found without gum or with disturbed gum. Examples with full original gum are frequently off-center. The block of six (straight edge at left), ex Caspary, Lilly and Ishikawa, is well-centered with original gum, but our search of numerous other major auction sales produced few other examples apart from the block. Therefore, this stamp could be the rarest face-different design of the 1861-66 series in choice original-gum condition. As a Mint Never-Hinged stamp, its rarity is increased exponentially.
With 1987 and 2000 P.F. certificates. Scott Retail as hinged
24c Lilac (78). Original gum, lightly hinged and with pristine gum, wonderful warm shade on crisp paper, gorgeous centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM IN THE FINEST CONDITION ATTAINABLE. THE 24-CENT 1861-63 ISSUE IS VERY RARE IN SOUND AND WELL-CENTERED ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION. THIS PHENOMENAL STAMP HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E., WHICH IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE.
With 1987 and 1995 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (OGh, XF-Superb 95). This is the highest grade awarded to date and the only example to achieve this grade. Despite the fact that only two have been graded, collectors who hold out for a potential 98 will likely have a very long wait -- it may not exist in higher grades.
24c Gray (78b). Original gum, choice centering with well-balanced margins all around, beautiful bright colorEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1863 ISSUE IN THE GRAY SHADE.
This shade is particularly difficult to obtain in sound, centered and original-gum condition. A Power Search of our sale records will confirm this statement.
With 2001 P.F. certificate
24c Blackish Violet (78c). Original gum, deep rich color in the true Blackish Violet shade, sharp proof-like impression on crisp paper, exceptional centering for this difficult issue with long and full perforations all aroundEXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS THE EX CASPARY-LILLY-SEYMOUR-CHAPIN COPY OF THE 1863 24-CENT BLACKISH VIOLET. WIDELY REGARDED AS ONE OF THE TWO FINEST EXAMPLES OF THIS SHADE, WHICH IS ARGUABLY THE MOST DIFFICULT OF THE 1861-66 ISSUE SHADES TO FIND IN SOUND, CENTERED AND ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.
The Blackish Violet is a distinctive shade, which due to its intensity can sometimes be confused by the uninitiated with the 24c First Color, Scott 60. However, when one sees the true Blackish Violet, such as the example offered here, the differences become more manifest. Even though both printings have the same intensity, the Blackish Violet is significantly darker. Less distinct examples do not show this difference to such great effect.
Our records of the 24c Blackish Violet contain only two other unused examples of this shade. One stamp, ex Wunderlich and Zoellner, was last offered in our 1998 Zoellner sale and now resides in an important private collection. The third stamp has original gum; it has a straight-edge at right and is centered to top.
Ex Caspary, Lilly, Seymour and Chapin (acquired privately). With 1967 and 2003 P.F. certificates. Footnote in Scott Catalogue states “Only three examples are recorded of No. 78c unused with original gum. No. 78c unused with and without gum are valued in the grade of Fine-Very Fine”