Sale 1188 — United States Stamp Treasures: The William H. Gross Collection
Sale Date — Wednesday, 3 October, 2018
Category — 10c 1857 Issue Largest Known Multiple, Railroad Propaganda Cover
A stupendous classic plate number multiple, comprising a significant part of the left pane of the 10¢ Type V, including the full imprint and plate number--this is the largest block known of any 10¢ stamp issued from 1847 to 1875DESCRIPTION
10¢ Green, Type V (35), Positions 31-36/41-46/51-56/61-66/71-76/81- 86/91-96L2, block of 42 (six by seven) from the lower left corner of the left pane of Plate 2 with “Toppan, Carpenter & Co. BANK NOTE ENGRAVERS. Phila. New York, Boston & Cincinnati” imprint and “No. 2 P.” plate number at left, original gum, rich color, bright and fresh, there are two minor plate varieties: 84L “Shell Dash” and 93L Curl in “e” of “Cents”
PROVENANCE
* Dr. Carroll Chase (sold privately to Filstrup)
* Alvin W. Filstrup (bought privately from Dr. Chase; sold privately)
* Samuel W. Richey (according to Brookman--see citation below)
* Amos Eno, Harmer, Rooke sale, 7/9/1950, lot 250, to Neinken
* Mortimer L. Neinken, Siegel Auction Galleries, 11/19/1970, Sale 384, sold as part of lot 286 (the Neinken 10¢ Type V collection)
* John C. Chapin (bought privately, circa 1973; collection sold privately to William H. Gross, 2002)
CENSUS, LITERATURE AND EXHIBITION REFERENCES
* Lester G. Brookman, United States Postage Stamps of the 19th Century, Vol. I, p. 243 (block’s owner stated as Samuel W. Richey)
* John C. Chapin, A Census of United States Classic Plate Blocks 1851-1882, p. 12
* Mortimer L. Neinken, The United States Ten Cent Stamps of 1855-1859, p. 153
* Collectors Club of New York 3/3/1926 (Filstrup)
* Accompanied by a letter from Mortimer L. Neinken to John C. Chapin, dated December 18, 1973, congratulating Chapin on his acquisition and describing the block as “one of the U.S. 19th century philatelic gems.”
CONDITION NOTES
* Fine-Very Fine and excellent condition for a block of this issue and size; a few hinge remnants, but at least 15 stamps are Mint N.H.; some perf separations in different parts of the block, but overall there are very few for such a large multiple; one stamp in the plate block of eight has a large inclusion that appears to be natural, a few stamps at right have negligible toned spots, tiny thin and tear, but none of these are of any significance
VIEW PDF OF HISTORY AND COMMENTARY at https://siegelauctions.com/2018/1188/48.pdf
