Sale 1024 — The Natalee Grace Collection of Used Stamps of the United States, Part One: 1847-1868 Issues
Sale Date — Thursday, 7 June, 2012
Category — 3c-5c 1861-66 Issue (Scott 64-67)
3c Rose, Double Impression (65f). Clear double impression of the entire stamp, rich color, light strike of target cancel at top left leaves design clearly visible, tiny corner perf crease at top right not mentioned on accompanying certificateEXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS THE FINEST KNOWN EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 3-CENT DOUBLE IMPRESSION. ONLY EIGHT EXAMPLES OF THIS RARE DOUBLE IMPRESSION ARE RECORDED. OF THESE EIGHT, ONE HAS BEEN STOLEN, ONE HAS NEVER BEEN CERTIFIED, ONE IS IN THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY'S MILLER COLLECTION, AND ONE IS SERIOUSLY DEFECTIVE. ONLY TWO ARE SOUND. A GREAT RARITY OF THE ISSUE.
Our census and summary of double impressions is included as an appendix to this catalogue. Most double impressions occur when the first impression is made and found to be inadequate. The paper is then put in the press a second time, where it receives the heavier impression. It is a common misconception that the weaker impression is the second one.
Our census of Scott 65f, illustrated at left and available at our website at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/65f/65f.pdf , records only eight copies (including one in the Benjamin K. Miller Collection at the New York Public Library). None is known unused. Six have been certified as genuine by the Philatelic Foundation, including one repaired with portions of design added. Another was stolen from a Fedex package several years ago and is still missing. This leaves only five certified and one uncertified available to collectors. The example offered here, with superior centering and showing clear doubling of the entire design, is the finest contained in our records -- only one other is sound.
Census No. 65e-CAN-03. Ex Ishikawa and Drucker. With 1993 P.F. certificate
