Sale 1034 — The Merlin Collection of Superb United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 28-29 November, 2012
Category — 1875 Re-Issue of 1861-66 Issue (Scott 102-111)
2c Black, Re-Issue (103). Intense shade on bright paper, unobtrusive strike of New York duplex cancel, unusually choice centering for this difficult issueEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL SOUND AND CENTERED USED EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT BLACK JACK RE-ISSUE. ONLY 23 USED EXAMPLES ARE RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS.
The 2c Re-Issue was printed from a new plate of 100 subjects, compared to the original plate of 200 in two panes. 10,000 stamps were printed (100 impressions). Only 979 of the 2c were sold; the remaining 9,021 were destroyed on July 16, 1884. The 2c plate can be easily identified by a spot on the cheek.
Our census of Scott 103 used, available at our website at http://siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/103/103.pdf , records 23 examples. It is known with a variety of cancels. Approximately half are sound. The stamp offered here, with a well-struck contemporary cancel, is arguably the finest example known. In fact, we believe the P.S.E. should have graded this stamp XF-Superb 95, but used 1861-66 Re-Issues are frequently penalized by the P.S.E. for having hallmark genuine duplex or oval cancellations.
Census No. 103-CAN-22. With 2005 P.F. and 2011 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $52,500.00). This is the highest grade awarded and only one other shares this grade.
