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 1857-60 Issue (Scott 18-24)
1c Blue, Ty. IIIa (22). Plate 11, perfectly centered with Jumbo margins, unusually wide margins at top and bottom for this issue, deep rich color, detailed impression, light strike of circular datestamp cancel leaves the design characteristics easily discernible, outer line complete at bottom and with wide break in outer line at topEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE PERFORATED ONE-CENT TYPE IIIa FROM PLATE 11 IN THE FINEST CONDITION ATTAINABLE.
Plates 11 and 12 were probably made in June 1860, with less than six months left in Toppan, Carpenter's contract. The earliest known use from either plate is January 1861, a relatively short time before the stamps were demonetized. New transfer rolls were created to lay out plates 11 and 12. Three types are known from these plates: Type I (Scott 18 -- Plate 12 only), Type II (Scott 20) and Type IIIa (Scott 22).
As illustrations of stamps from Plates 11 and 12 in the Neinken book show, the centering and impressions of stamps from these plates was rather poor ("Poor perforating was the rule rather than the exception" -- Neinken book, p. 473). The stamp offered here, with rich color, unusually wide margins and with the design completely free and clear of the perforations at both top and bottom, is truly remarkable.
With 1994 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $3,500.00 as 95, unpriced as 98). This is the highest grade awarded to date and only one other shares this grade.
