Sale 920 — United States Rarities
Sale Date — Tuesday, 17 October, 2006
Category — 1875 Re-Issue of 1869 Pictorial Issue
2c Brown, Re-Issue (124). Original gum, exceptionally well-centered, beautiful color and impressionEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT 1869 RE-ISSUE.
With 1971 P.F. certificate
3c Blue, Re-Issue (125). Original gum, choice centering, beautiful shade and proof-like impression, bright and freshEXTREMELY FINE. A RARE STAMP IN ANY CONDITION -- THIS 3-CENT 1869 RE-ISSUE RANKS AMONG THE VERY FINEST IN TERMS OF COLOR, CENTERING, FRESHNESS AND GUM.
Original sales figures show that among the 1869 Pictorial Re-Issues, the 3c and 90c stamps accounted for the smallest number of units sold (1,406 and 1,356, respectively). Overall, the 1869's were popular with stamp collectors, far outselling the 1851-60 and 1861-66 Re-Issue sets. However, the 90c stamp's high denomination and the availability of ordinary 3c stamps limited demand. Today, both are rare, and handling over the years has not been kind to most of the surviving examples. This 3c is remarkable not only for its centering (an unusual example of near-perfect centering), but its overall freshness, both on the face and back.
With 1999 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates
6c Blue, Re-Issue (126). Original gum, lightly hinged, pretty color, well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE.
With 2004 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $3,800.00)
10c Yellow, Re-Issue (127). Bright color, tied by "New York D" registry ovals, blue "Registered Mar. 21, 1883 Branch D, New York P.O." boxed datestamp on 3c Green entire from Scott Stamp & Coin to W. H. Schneider at Wellington O., stamp also tied by large purple target, single short perf at bottom left, light vertical file fold well away from stampVERY FINE. ONE OF ONLY FOUR RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE 10-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE ON COVER.
All four covers were mailed by stamp dealers -- in this case by Scott Stamp & Coin Co. The 10c stamp correctly paid the registry fee.
Ex Juhring
12c Green, Re-Issue (128). Natural s.e. at right, used with 7c Vermilion (149) on legal-size 6c Red entire to Wurzburg, Germany, stamps tied by "New York R" registry ovals, purple "Registered May 19, 1881 New York P.O." three-line datestamp, receiving backstamp, Hamburg registry label, trivial edgewear, stamps have small faultsVERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF THREE RECORDED COVERS BEARING THE 12-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE. ONE OF THE GREAT RARITIES OF THE ISSUE AND A NEW DISCOVERY OFFERED TO THE MARKET FOR THE FIRST TIME.
The 1869 Census book lists the two previously-recorded 12c 1869 Re-Issue covers: one to Hungary (offered in our auction of the Millard Mack collection, where it realized $47,500 hammer) and a cover to Germany bearing the 1c, 2c, 12c and 15c (the EDU, ex Sheriff and Coulter, where it realized $160,000 hammer). The cover offered here becomes the third recorded. The 25c postage pays the triple 5c U.P.U. rate plus 10c registry fee.
15c Brown & Blue, Re-Issue (129). Original gum, deep rich colors, wide marginsVERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE.
With 2005 P.F. certificate
30c Blue & Carmine, Re-Issue (131). Part original gum, beautifully centered, fresh rich colorsEXTREMELY FINE AND HANDSOME EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE.
With 1997 P.F. certificate
90c Carmine & Black, Re-Issue (132). Unused (no gum), nearly perfect centering with wide even margins, brilliant frame color and dark vignette shadeEXTREMELY FINE. A BREATHTAKINGLY BEAUTIFUL UNUSED 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE.
With 2006 P.S.E. certificate inexplicably grading this stamp VF-XF 85 (in our opinion, a solid XF 90)
90c Carmine & Black, Re-Issue (132). Original gum, nicely balanced margins and attractively centered, intense colors and sharp impression, tiny natural inclusionVERY FINE. A LOVELY ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE.
Ex Vineyard. With 1979, 1991 and 2004 P.F. certificates, none of which mentions the inclusion
90c Carmine & Black, Re-Issue (132). Bright fresh colors and detailed impressions, bold cancelVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A SCARCE EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1869 RE-ISSUE IN SOUND USED CONDITION.
With 1985 P.F. certificate
1c Buff, 1880 Re-Issue (133). Block of four, original gum, lightly hinged, choice centering, fresh and intact, Extremely Fine, with 2002 P.F. certificate