Sale 1304 — The Brian M. Bleckwenn Collection of United States First Issue Revenues
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 12-13 December, 2023
Category — First Issue Imperforate (3c-10c)
3c Playing Cards, Green, Imperforate (R17a). Large margins all around, deep rich color, unobtrusive manuscript cancel leaves entire design clearly visible
EXTREMELY FINE. A STUNNING EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT IMPERFORATE PLAYING CARDS FIRST ISSUE REVENUE IN SOUND CONDITION AND WITH LARGE MARGINS. EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE.
This issue is exceedingly difficult to find in sound condition. The majority has faults to a lesser or greater degree.
3c Playing Cards, Green, Imperforate (R17a). Vertical pair, large margins all around, deep rich color, neat manuscript cancel, completely sound
EXTREMELY FINE. A PHENOMENAL PAIR OF THE 3-CENT IMPERFORATE PLAYING CARDS FIRST ISSUE revenue. A PAIR IS THE LARGEST RECORDED MULTIPLE.
The Curtis Collection website records seven vertical pairs and no horizontal pairs. This is one of the finest. The cancel is very similar to the pair offered in the Curtis Collection (Sale 1089 lot 214). From the Weill Brothers stock.
3c Playing Cards, Green, Imperforate (R17a). Vertical pair, large margins all around, deep rich color, neat manuscript cancel, top stamp thin spot, both with sealed tears
EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY rare PAIR OF THE 3-CENT IMPERFORATE PLAYING CARDS FIRST ISSUE REVENUE. A PAIR IS THE LARGEST RECORDED MULTIPLE.
The Curtis Collection website records seven vertical pairs and no horizontal pairs.
3c Telegraph, Green, Imperforate (R19a). Four huge margins, perfect strike of "E. & T. Fairbanks & Co, St. Johnsbury, Vt. Jul 1 1863" oval datestamp, Extremely Fine Gem, a gorgeous stamp, E. & T. Fairbanks manufactured cast iron plows and stoves (as well as this magnificent gem)
3c Telegraph, Green, Imperforate (R19a). Horizontal pair, large to enormous margins all around, rich color, light manuscript cancel, fresh and Extremely Fine Gem pair, with 2002 P.F. certificate
3c Telegraph, Green, Imperforate (R19a). Vertical pair, large margins all around, intense shade and impression, neat 1863 manuscript cancels, light diagonal crease affects both stamps, still Extremely Fine, scarce multiple
3c Telegraph, Green, Imperforate (R19a). Block of four, large margins to clear, deep rich color and detailed impression, each with neat manuscript cancel, light creases, small flaw at bottom of bottom right stamp, still Very Fine, a rare block, only six blocks are confirmed and only three are larger
5c Certificate, Red, Imperforate (R24a). Block of ten, huge margins all around with bottom left sheet margin, vibrant color, neat Jan. 5, 1863 manuscript cancel, pos. 7 faint crease in bottom margin barely touches stamp, trivial corner crease at edge of margin at bottom left well away from stamp, Extremely Fine, an impressive multiple, two blocks of twelve are known and then a block of ten is the next largest multiple, Scott value $735 as two blocks of four and a pair
5c Certificate, Red, Imperforate (R24a). Block of ten, margins large to just clear at right, used on Apr. 9, 1863 folded mortgage, each stamp with neat manuscript cancel, Very Fine and attractive, two blocks of twelve are known and then a block of ten is the next largest multiple, particularly desirable on original document, Scott value $735 as two used blocks and a pair
5c Certificate, Red, Imperforate (R24a). Block of eight, margins large to just in at top left, unobtrusive manuscript cancel, small faults including light creases and scissor cut at bottom, pre-printing paper fold in the second stamp, Fine-Very Fine appearance, Scott value $700 as two blocks of four
5c Express, Red, Imperforate (R25a). Block of 56, large margins to full, bright color, neat August 7, 1865 manuscript cancels, few small tears at right, horizontal crease between third and fourth rows, otherwise Very Fine, this is the second largest recorded multiple, ex Joyce, Scott value $4,320 as blocks of four and pairs
5c Inland Exchange, Red, Imperforate (R27a). Top left corner sheet margin block of 20, large margins other sides, each with Feb. 2, 1863 manuscript cancel, faults including separated along crease in top row, otherwise Very Fine, this is the largest recorded multiple, one other is also known, ex Cunliffe, Scott value $555 as blocks and pairs
5c Inland Exchange, Red, Imperforate (R27a). Block of four, huge margins including right sheet margin with "00" of plate number, Jun. 25, 1863 manuscript cancels, few tiny edge tears at left, Extremely Fine, very rare with the partial plate number
5c Inland Exchange, Red, Imperforate (R27a). Block of four, large margins all around, manuscript and "Naylor & Co. * New York" oval handstamps, fresh and Extremely Fine, a magnificent block
6c Inland Exchange, Orange, Imperforate (R30 var). Large to huge margins with portion of adjoining stamp at top, printed cancel, Extremely Fine, the 6c Inland Exchange was long thought to only exist perforated, although the Scott Catalogue now lists the stamp imperforate vertically on document, the large margins on this stamp and lack of readily available part perforated stamps from which to create an imperforate stamp make this very likely to be a genuine imperforate stamp—we are offering it on its own merits, but its merits are considerable
10c Bill of Lading, Blue, Imperforate (R32a). Huge margins all around, pretty color, neat 1863 manuscript cancel, Extremely Fine Gem
10c Bill of Lading, Blue, Imperforate (R32a). Vertical pair, large margins all around, cancelled solely by Aug. 30, 1861 circular datestamp cancel, Extremely Fine Gem pair, especially desirable with the handstamp cancel
10c Bill of Lading, Blue, Imperforate (R32a). Block of ten, large margins to clear, rich color, July 5, 1865 manuscript cancels
VERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE. A REMARKABLY CHOICE QUALITY BLOCK OF TEN—THE LARGEST RECORDED MULTIPLE OF THE 10-CENT BILL OF LADING IMPERFORATE.
According to The Curtis Collection website, a block of ten is the largest recorded multiple (a reconstructed block of twelve is also known). From the Weill Brothers stock. Scott value $2,300 as two blocks of four and a pair.
10c Bill of Lading, Blue, Imperforate (R32a). Block of four, huge margins all around, rich color, manuscript cancels, few light pre-printing paperfolds, Extremely Fine and beautiful block, we have offered only one other block since keeping computerized records
10c Bill of Lading, Blue, Imperforate (R32a). Block of four, large margins all around, bright color, light 1865 manuscript cancel, Extremely Fine, a scarce sound block with wide margins
10c Bill of Lading, Blue, Imperforate (R32a). Block of four, large to huge margins, rich color, neat manuscript cancels, top stamps light horizontal crease, Extremely Fine appearance
10c Bill of Lading, Blue, Imperforate (R32a). Horizontal strip of five, large even margins, rich color, light manuscript cancel, small tear at top of center stamp, Extremely Fine appearance, Scott value $690 as two pairs and a single
10c Bill of Lading, Blue, Imperforate (R32a). Horizontal strip of four, large and even margins, rich color, unobtrusive manuscript cancel, Extremely Fine, Scott value $600 as two pairs
10c Bill of Lading, Blue, Imperforate (R32a). Horizontal strip of four, large margins all around, rich color, faint manuscript cancel, Extremely Fine strip, Scott value $600 as two pairs
10c Certificate, Blue, Imperforate (R33a). Large margins all around, fresh color, unobtrusive manuscript cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, ex "Wildhorse", with 2014 P.F. certificate
10c Certificate, Blue, Imperforate (R33a). Vertical pair, huge margins including part of adjoining stamp at top and left sheet margin, manuscript cancel, bottom stamp large internal sealed tear leaving hole in the paper, Extremely Fine appearance, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate
10c Certificate, Blue, Imperforate (R33a). Vertical pair, huge margins including part of adjoining stamp at top, detailed impression, Sep. 25, 1863 manuscript cancels, top stamp thin spot, Extremely Fine Gem appearance
10c Certificate, Blue, Imperforate (R33a). Vertical block of ten, used with two 50c Mortgage, Blue, Part Perforated (R59b), cancelled by manuscript and affixed to Vermont land conveyance dated July 28, 1863, few light pre-use creases
VERY FINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS THE LARGEST RECORDED MULTIPLE OF THE IMPERFORATE 10-CENT CERTIFICATE FIRST ISSUE. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE ON THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT.
The next largest multiple is a strip of five. Ex Cunliffe and Curtis. Scott value $6,850 as used blocks and pair.
10c Certificate, Blue, Imperforate (R33a). Horizontal strip of five, large margins to clear, intense color, April 7, 1863 manuscript cancel, third and fourth stamps light vertical creases, Very Fine appearance, according to The Curtis Collection website, only one larger multiple is known (on document) and one other strip of five is known (offered in the following lot), Scott value $2,100 as two pairs and a single
10c Certificate, Blue, Imperforate (R33a). Horizontal strip of five, large margins to just in at top of two stamps, rich color, Oct. 6, 1863 manuscript cancel, small scissors-cut between second and third stamps, Fine-Very Fine, according to The Curtis Collection website, only one larger multiple is known (on document) and one other strip of five is known (offered in the previous lot), Scott value $2,100 as two pairs and a single
10c Certificate, Blue, Imperforate (R33a). Block of four, large margins, bright color, light manuscript cancels, light vertical pre-printing paperfolds, faint pressed-out crease, Extremely Fine appearance, a rare block, according to The Curtis Collection website, only one other block is known (of ten, on document), ex Joyce
10c Inland Exchange, Blue, Imperforate (R36a). Large margins all around, detailed impression, neat Sep. 10, 1863 manuscript cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2019 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95), the highest grade and the only to achieve it
10c Inland Exchange, Blue, Imperforate (R36a). Horizontal pair, large to huge margins including part of adjoining stamp at right, rich color, 1863 manuscript cancel, light crease affects both stamps, Extremely Fine appearance, very rare
10c Inland Exchange, Blue, Imperforate (R36a). Horizontal pair, large balanced margins, rich color, neat 1863 manuscript cancel, trivial small tear in bottom margin, Extremely Fine appearance, very rare, ex Curtis
10c Inland Exchange, Blue, Imperforate (R36a). Block of ten, large to huge margins all around, intense shade and impression, faint 1863 manuscript cancels, few light creases
VERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE BLOCK OF TEN OF THE 10-CENT IMPERFORATE INLAND EXCHANGE. THIS IS THE LARGEST RECORDED MULTIPLE.
The Curtis Collection website records this block of ten and two blocks of four. From the Weill Brothers stock. Scott value $11,000 as two blocks of four and a pair.
10c Power of Attorney, Blue, Imperforate (R37a). Huge margins around, deep rich color on bright paper, neat July 3, 1863 manuscript cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Richards, with 2019 P.F. (ungraded) and 2020 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95)
10c Power of Attorney, Blue, Imperforate (R37a). Horizontal pair, large even margins, intense shade and impression, Aug. 26, 1864 manuscript cancels, faint pressed-out diagonal crease, Extremely Fine appearance, only seven horizontal pairs are known, ex Joyce
10c Power of Attorney, Blue, Imperforate (R37a). Vertical pair, large margins all around, intense shade and impression, manuscript cancels, faint vertical crease in right margin, Extremely Fine appearance, only four multiples larger than a pair are known, ex Joyce and Cunliffe, with 2008 P.F. certificate
10c Power of Attorney, Blue, Imperforate (R37a). Horizontal pair, huge margins to clear at left, bright color, 1863 manuscript cancel, Fine-Very Fine, only seven horizontal pairs are recorded
10c Power of Attorney, Blue, Imperforate (R37a). Block of four, large even margins, crisp impression, manuscript cancels
VERY FINE AND CHOICE. ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED BLOCKS OF THE 10-CENT IMPERFORATE POWER OF ATTORNEY.
The Curtis Collection website records a reconstructed block of nine, which contains a block of six, and this block of four. Ex Joyce.