Sale 1057 — The Curtis Collection: 1847-1901 Issues
Sale Date — Thursday, 7 November, 2013
Category — 1861-66 Issue (Scott 56-78)
1c Blue (63). Slightly disturbed original gum, Jumbo margins and straddle-pane margin at right, rich color on bright paper, Extremely Fine, with 2006 P.F. certificate for pair
3c Pink (64). Original gum, vivid color in the true Pink shade, well-centered with perfs clear of design all around, slight perf crease at lower right not mentioned on any of three accompanying certificatesVERY FINE APPEARING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 3-CENT PINK. ONE OF THE RAREST 1861 ISSUE SHADES IN ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.
The nature of the ink used to print the 3c Pink shade is such that over the course of time, with exposure to light and other adverse elements, the color tends to oxidize or lose its vibrancy. This is a desirable example with vibrant color.
Ex Cole. With 1945 A.P.S. certificate. With 1988 and 1991 P.F. certificates
3c Rose (65). Original gum, lightly hinged, wide margins and choice centering, bright color, Extremely Fine, with 1987 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF 90; SMQ $300.00)
3c Rose, Imperforate (65c). Bottom imprint and plate no. 11 block of eight, unused (no gum), ample margins other sides, rich color with slight paper mottling as normally seen on these imperforates, tiny edge tears at top of pos. 1 and 3VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE PLATE BLOCK OF THE IMPERFORATE 3-CENT 1861 ISSUE.
The imperforate 3c 1861's on stamp paper are normally encountered without gum, though some original-gum examples do survive. Pairs are readily available and we have offered a handful of blocks of four. However, plate blocks are extremely rare. A Power Search review failed to find another plate block of this issue in our sales since 1994.
Inadvertently omitted from 2012-14 Scott Specialized Catalogs. 2011 Scott Retail as four pairs of No. 65Pc (imperforate on stamp paper)
3c Lake (66). Original gum, h.r., bright color in the true Lake shade, Fine, with 1991 P.S.E. certificate
5c Buff (67). Original gum which covers nearly the entire back but described as "part o.g." on accompanying certificate, beautiful color, small perf tip repair at lower rightVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT BUFF 1861 ISSUE.
The 5c Brown Yellow and Buff shades are among the rarest of 1861-66 Issue stamps in original gum condition. Perhaps the only shade varieties rarer are the 3c Pigeon Blood Pink and 24c Blackish Violet (Scott 64a and 78c), but Scott 67 is a major catalogue listing and is, therefore, more significant to completion of the series.
With 1998 P.F. certificate
10c Yellow Green (68). Large part disturbed original gum, choice centering with wide margins, small flaws incl. light toned spot and tiny repair, Extremely Fine appearance, with 2005 P.F. certificate
12c Black (69). Original gum, lightly hinged, almost perfectly centered with wide margins, sharp proof-like impressionEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1861 ISSUE.
Ex Scarsdale. With 2002 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $5,500.00). This is the highest grade awarded to an original-gum Scott 69 by P.S.E., and is one of only four to achieve this grade.
24c Brown Lilac (70a). Original gum, lightly hinged, choice centering, bright shade and detailed impressionVERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 24-CENT BROWN LILAC IN A REMARKABLE STATE OF FRESHNESS.
The color of this stamp is a soft brownish shade, which is quite distinctive and much different than the Red Lilac (1862) or later Lilac (1863-66) printings.
With copy of 2001 P.F. certificate for pair. With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, F-VF 75; SMQ $2,200.00). Only two stamps have graded higher
24c Brown Lilac (70a). Original gum, h.r., rich color, margins to in at bottom, about Fine, with 2001 P.F. certificate
24c Violet, Thin Paper (70c). Unused (no gum), bright color, choice centering with perfs clear of design all aroundVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE SOUND UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 24-CENT VIOLET. ONE OF THE RAREST OF THE 24-CENT 1861-63 ISSUE SHADES IN SOUND, UNUSED CONDITION.
The 24c 1861 exists in four basic shades of Violet: Dark Violet (August 1861 trial printing, formerly Scott 60); Violet on Thin Paper (August-September 1861 regular issue, Scott 70c -- the shade offered here); Pale Gray Violet (1861 regular issue, Scott 70d) and Blackish Violet (ca. 1863 printing, Scott 78c). All four are rare, especially in sound condition. We feel this shade is nearly as rare as the Blackish Violet, which has a catalogue value of $30,000.00 without gum.
With 1988 and 1991 P.F. certificates as Dark Violet, Scott 60. The P.F.'s understanding of these shades has evolved over the years and this example, which is a lighter shade of Violet than the Scott 60 Dark Violet shade, would receive a certificate as No. 70c today.
24c Violet, Thin Paper (70c). Original gum, bright color, detailed impression, several holes at both top and bottom reperfedVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 24-CENT VIOLET ON THIN PAPER.
The 24c 1861 exists in four basic shades of Violet: Dark Violet (August 1861 trial printing, formerly Scott 60); Violet on Thin Paper (August-September 1861 regular issue, Scott 70c -- the shade offered here); Pale Gray Violet (1861 regular issue, Scott 70d) and Blackish Violet (ca. 1863 printing, Scott 78c). All four are rare, especially in original-gum condition. We feel this shade is nearly as rare as the Blackish Violet, which has a catalogue value of $100,000.00.
With 1960 P.F. certificate as Dark Violet, Scott 60. The P.F.'s understanding of these shades has evolved over the years and this example, which is a lighter shade of Violet than the Scott 60 Dark Violet shade, would receive a certificate as No. 70c today.
30c Orange (71). Original gum, lightly hinged, brilliant color, long and full perforations, Very Fine, with 2000 P.F. certificate
90c Blue (72). Large part original gum, bright color, choice centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1861 ISSUE. A BEAUTIFUL STAMP.
With 2006 P.S.E. certificate (POG, XF 90; SMQ $7,400.00)
2c Black (73). Original gum, barest trace of hinging, deep shade on crisp bright paper, balanced margins, Extremely Fine, a difficult stamp to find with original gum and such choice centering, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF 90; SMQ $1,000.00), only five original-gum stamps have graded higher (all at 95)
3c Scarlet (74). Unused (no gum), radiant color, small repair at right, Very Fine appearance, scarce in unused condition, with 1986 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as with gum
5c Red Brown (75). Unused (no gum), deep rich color, choice centering with well-proportioned margins, Extremely Fine, ex Concord, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (NG, VF-XF 85; SMQ $2,250.00)
5c Brown (76). Original gum, lightly hinged, brilliant color, well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFULLY CENTERED AND UNUSUALLY FRESH ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1863 5-CENT BROWN.
The 5c 1861-68 Issue was printed from plates with closely-spaced subjects that left little room for the large 12-gauge perforations. The Brown shade, Scott 76, is scarce in original-gum condition, and truly rare in this high grade.
Ex Hoffman. With 2002 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (OG, XF 90; SMQ $3,500.00). Only two have graded higher (at 90J and 95) and only five others share this grade.
15c Black (77). Original gum, single hinge mark, detailed impression, wide margins for this difficult issueVERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT 1866 ISSUE. SCARCE IN SOUND AND ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.
Ex Geisler. With 1983 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, F 70; SMQ $1,900.00)
15c Black (77). Unused (regummed), reperfed at left, Very Fine appearance, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate
24c Grayish Lilac (78a). Original gum, small h.r., radiant color and detailed impressionVERY FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1862 24-CENT IN THE DISTINCTIVE GRAYISH LILAC SHADE.
Ex Laila and Hampshire. With 2000 P.F. certificate
24c Grayish Lilac (78a). Original gum, intense color and impression, Fine, with 2000 P.F. certificate