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 — 5c 1847 Issue Shades (Scott 1 shades)
5c Red Orange, Dot in "S" (1c var). Position 99L1, large to huge margins all around including part of bottom sheet margin, radiant color in the true Red Orange shade which is nicely complemented by blue grid cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE IN THE DISTINCTIVE AND DESIRABLE RED ORANGE SHADE. THIS STAMP HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E., WHICH IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE. THIS IS ALSO THE ONLY DOT IN "S" VARIETY OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE IN THE RED ORANGE COLOR WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO LOCATE. IT IS EVEN MORE DESIRABLE WITH PART OF THE BOTTOM SHEET MARGIN.
According to a series of articles by the late Calvet M. Hahn in the Collector's Club Philatelist, the Red Orange shade was printed some time during the fourth and last printing, which took place in December 1850.
The Dot in "S" variety only occurs in the ninth vertical column of the left pane. An unused example of the of the same position from an early printing in the Brown shade was recently offered in the Mirsky Collection. (lot 2033).
A review using Power Search and older catalogues will demonstrate how scarce this shade is in four-margin sound condition. Apart from the unique pair offered in our Tahoe sale, only two others in sound four-margin condition are in Power Search. This includes one close at top (2007 Rarities). The only other comparable example we have been able to locate was in our 1999 Argentum sale.
With 2007 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (both graded XF-Superb 95; SMQ $25,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded to date and only one other shares this grade.
