Sale 1242 — The Gordon Eubanks Collection: United States 1851 to 1856 Imperforate Issue
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 12-13 October, 2021
Category — One-Cent: Plate One Early (Scott 5-5A)
1c Blue, Types Ib-II (5A-7). Positions 9-10R1E, horizontal pair from the top right corner of Plate 1 Early, comprising Type Ib at left and the desirable Type II Position 10R1E at right, large margins including part of top sheet margin and traces of adjoining stamps at bottom, bright Plate 1 Early shade and proof-like impression, used with 3c Dull Red, Type II (11A), margins to cut in, tied by multiple strikes of red grid cancels and matching "New-York Feb. 11" circular datestamp on greenish blue folded cotton market report datelined Charleston S.C., Feb. 6, 1852, addressed to Basel, Switzerland, sender's directive "Pr Steamer Niagara, New York 11 Febr.", red British Feb. 24 transit datestamp on back, red Paris Feb. 25 transit datestamp ties 1c pair, "13" decimes due handstamp ties 3c stamp, red crayon "20” Swiss due marking, red Basel Feb. 27 receiving datestamp on back, transit markings with 1852 yeardateEXTREMELY FINE. A MAGNIFICENT TRANSATLANTIC COVER TO SWITZERLAND, CARRIED OUTSIDE THE MAILS FROM CHARLESTON TO NEW YORK, THEN BY BRITISH PACKET. THE 1851 ONE-CENT PAIR COMES FROM THE TOP ROW OF PLATE ONE EARLY, COMPRISING TYPE Ib, POSITION 9R1E, AND THE ONLY TYPE II POSITION ON PLATE ONE EARLY WITH THE COMPLETE DESIGN AT TOP, POSITION 10R1E.
Type Ib was produced only as an imperforate stamp. Six positions on Plate 1 Early furnished stamps qualifying as Type Ib--Positions 3-6R and 8-9R--distinguished by the complete design at top and nearly complete design at bottom. When first entered on the plate, these six positions (as well as 7R1E) had the complete design at top and bottom. However, unlike 7R, small portions of the bottoms were ironed out when the entries were made below them. Position 10R was more extensively ironed out at the bottom, but the entry still retained its characteristic Type I T Relief complete design at top.
In the typed inventory of the Emmerson C. Krug collection made by Stanley B. Ashbrook in 1949, Ashbrook notes, "This is a very gorgeous cover and originally came from an original find in Switzerland."
Ex Robert S. Emerson, Emmerson C. Krug and Raymond Vogel. Ashbrook notes on back with his comment "A Superb Cover." With 2021 P.F. certificate.
