Sale 1211 — The William H. Gross Collection: United States Postal History
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 29-30 October, 2019
Category — 1851 1¢ Blue—Plate 1 Early
Extraordinary early use of 1851 Issue on cover to France with three 1¢ Type Ib stamps1¢ Blue, Type Ib (5A), three different positions of Type Ib--Positions 4R, 5R and 8R1E--used with 1¢ Blue, Type II (7), Position 1R1E with double transfer, and two 3¢ Orange Brown, Type II (10A), each 1¢ stamp has top sheet margin, large side margins and bottom margin that is clear to just touching, 3¢ stamps clear to touching, tied by multiple strikes of grid cancel, red "New-York Dec. 3" (1851) circular datestamp on blue folded letter to Lyon, France, sender's ship-name directive "Pr. Africa"--carried on that Cunarder from New York to Liverpool, departing December 3, 1851, and arriving at Liverpool December 14--smudged Calais arrival datestamp, manuscript "16" indicates weight in grams, manuscript "24" decimes due marking, London (December 15) and Lyon datestamps on back
Very Fine--an extraordinary 1¢ 1851 issue franking for the double 5¢ shore-to-ship rate, comprising three rare Type Ib stamps, including Position 8R1E, one of the two best examples of the type.
The top row of the right pane of Plate 1 Early furnished several of the most desirable 1¢ 1851 stamps sought by collectors. Position 7R1E, Type I (Scott 5), is the rarest and most desirable. Next in line are the adjoining Positions 6R and 8R, both Type Ib (Scott 5A). Three other positions (3R, 4R and 5R) furnished Type Ib stamps that show slightly less of the design at bottom.
On this transatlantic cover to France, which required a double 5¢ shore-to-ship rate due to weight, the 10¢ postage was paid by two 3¢ and four 1¢ stamps, an unusual franking in any event. Remarkably, the 1¢ stamps were carefully cut from the top row of the right pane of Plate 1 Early, just five months after the 1851 Issue was first placed on sale. From left to right, top to bottom, the positions are 4R, 5R, 8R and 1R1E. The first three stamps are Type Ib, and Position 8R1E is one of the two best examples of the type. The fourth stamp at lower right is Position 1R1E, Type II, which has a clear double transfer.
Ex Philip G. Rust (1987 Rarities of the World sale) and Joseph Hackmey. With 1963 and 1987 P.F. certificates. Total Scott value for three No. 5A stamps off cover is $25,000.00.
