Sale 1011 — United States Stamps & Postal History, Foreign
Sale Date — Tuesday-Friday, 21-24 June, 2011
Category — 10c-90c 1857-60 Issue, 1c 1875 Reprint (Scott 31-40)
30c Orange (38). Vibrant color as fresh as the day it was printed, crisp white paper, unusually choice centering for this difficult issue, barest trace of blue cancel at bottom left, appears unusedEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A GORGEOUS USED EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1860 ISSUE. AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT STAMP TO FIND IN SUCH SUPERB USED CONDITION.
The 30c 1860 challenges collectors for several reasons. First, the subjects were closely spaced together on the plate, leaving almost no room for perforations and little opportunity to create stamps with perforations clear of the design on all four sides. Second, the 30c and 90c 1860 were only in circulation for a brief period before the series was demonetized in the Fall of 1861. Third, this high-denomination stamp was issued for use on transatlantic mail, and postal clerks were careful to thoroughly cancel the stamps to prevent cleaning and re-use. Therefore, 30c 1860 stamps in sound, well-centered and lightly-cancelled condition defy all circumstances and are extremely rare.
Ex Renne, Yost and Scarsdale. With 1980, 1995, 2002 and 2008 P.F. certificates
