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 — 1c 1851-56 Issue (Scott 5-9)
1c Blue, Ty. I (5). Position 7R1E, huge margins including portion of adjoining stamp at bottom (Position 17R), just barely touched at left, rich color in the distinctive bright Plate 1 Early shade, proof-like impression, neat strike of blue "Richmond Va. Nov. 24" circular datestamp leaves every single design characteristic clearly visibleEXTREMELY FINE. QUITE PROBABLY THE FINEST OFF-COVER SINGLE OF SCOTT NUMBER 5 IN EXISTENCE, AND ONE OF ONLY A FEW SOUND EXAMPLES. POSITION 7R1E -- THE SEVENTH STAMP IN THE RIGHT PANE OF PLATE ONE EARLY -- IS THE ONLY ONE OF THE 1,000 POSITIONS USED TO PRINT IMPERFORATE ONE-CENT STAMPS THAT SHOWS THE COMPLETE DESIGN (TYPE I). ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH THE BLUE RICHMOND CIRCULAR DATESTAMP. A MAGNIFICENT EXAMPLE OF THE RAREST AND MOST DESIRABLE CLASSIC IMPERFORATE UNITED STATES STAMP.
The published census compiled by Jerome S. Wagshal contains 90 unduplicated records of Scott 5. There has been one addition to the Wagshal census, and there are probably no more than ten examples existing outside of the census population. Therefore, the 1c 1851 Type I is the rarest of all United States stamps issued regularly prior to the 1868 Grills.
Because of the significance attached to the outer portions of the 1c 1851 design, rare types that have been carefully cut apart, so as not to impinge on any part of the design, are extremely desirable. The narrow spacing between stamps in the sheet and the users' indifference to the outlying ornamentation during separation are factors that contributed to the great rarity of four-margin copies. The example offered here comes from the "Warner strip" of Positions 7-9R1E, which was cut apart with a view towards preserving the margins of this stamp. Examples of Position 7R1E (Scott 5) with large right and bottom margins, where there was very little space between it and the adjoining stamps, are true rarities. In fact, using the census data, it is clear that this stamp is among the two or three finest sound examples known.
Wagshal Census No. 5-CAN-047. Ex Caspary, Twigg-Smith, Hinrichs and Scarsdale (where it realized $375,000 hammer). With 1976, 2001 and 2007 P.F. certificates.
