Sale 1037 — United States and Foreign Stamps and Covers

Sale Date — Monday-Friday, 10-14 December, 2012

Category — 3c-90c 1857-60 Issue (Scott 26-39)

Lot
Symbol
Photo/Description
Cat./Est. Value
Realized
1508
 
Sale 1037, Lot 1508, 3c-90c 1857-60 Issue (Scott 26-39)30c Orange (38). Vibrant color, exceptional centering for this difficult issue, face-free cancel

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A GORGEOUS USED EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1860 ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 JUMBO BY P.S.E. AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT STAMP TO FIND IN SUCH SUPERB USED CONDITION.

The 30c 1860 challenges collectors for several reasons. First, the subjects were closely spaced together on the plate, leaving almost no room for perforations and little opportunity to create stamps with perforations clear of the design on all four sides. Second, the 30c and 90c 1860 were only in circulation for a brief period before the series was demonetized in the Fall of 1861. Third, this high-denomination stamp was issued for use on transatlantic mail, and postal clerks were careful to thoroughly cancel the stamps to prevent cleaning and re-use. Therefore, 30c 1860 stamps in sound, well-centered and lightly-cancelled condition defy all circumstances and are extremely rare.

With 2006 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95J; SMQ $4,600.00 as 95, $10,500.00 as 98). This is the only example to achieve this grade and one has graded higher (at 98).

425
3,250