Sale 1188 — United States Stamp Treasures: The William H. Gross Collection

Sale Date — Wednesday, 3 October, 2018

Category — 1861-66 Issue, including Lincoln-Related, Sanitary Fair and Adams Express

Lot
Symbol
Photo/Description
Cat./Est. Value
Realized
55°
ogbl
Sale 1188, Lot 55, 1861-66 Issue, including Lincoln-Related, Sanitary Fair and Adams ExpressThis is the unique plate number block of the 10¢ 1861 Type I “First Design”--the lower left stamp is the Erased 90¢ Entry variety, which is also unique as an unused example and one of only two or three extant

DESCRIPTION

10¢ Dark Green, Type I (58/62B), Positions 84-85/94-95R4, block of four from the bottom of the right pane of Plate 4 with “ENGRAVED BY THE NATIONAL BANK” part imprint and plate “NO. 4” in selvage at bottom, the lower left stamp--Position 94R4--shows traces of a previous entry from the 90¢ 1861 transfer roll, original gum, deep rich color in the characteristic dark “August” shade

PROVENANCE

* Philip H. Ward, Jr. (bought privately, estate sold to Weills, 1963)

* Benjamin D. Phillips (bought from Weills out of Ward estate, 1964; collection sold privately to the Weills, 1968)

* Siegel Auction Galleries, 1969 Rarities of the World, 3/25/1969, Sale 350, lot 64

* Stephen D. Bechtel, Sr. (probably bought in 1969 Rarities of the World sale; collection sold privately in 1993)

* Siegel Auction Galleries, 1993 Rarities of the World, 11/20/1993, Sale 755, lot 105, to Levitt for Chapin

* John C. Chapin (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. II, p. 42

CONDITION NOTES

* Fine centering; some gum disturbance from hinge removal, short perfs and lightly creased along right side, slight thinning which does not affect Position 94R4, small hole in selvage clear of imprint

VIEW PDF OF HISTORY AND COMMENTARY at https://siegelauctions.com/2018/1188/55.pdf

E. 40,000-50,000
32,500