Sale 1244 — The Arthur S. Przybyl Collection of United States, Confederate States and Hawaii
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 9-10 November, 2021
Category — 1857-60 Issue (Scott 18-39)
1c Blue, Ty. III, Position 99R2 (21). Rich color, face-free strike of circular datestamp, light diagonal crease at bottom leftVERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE EXTREMELY RARE PERFORATED ONE-CENT 1857 ISSUE FROM POSITION 99R2.
On Plate 2, 198 of the 200 positions were Type II. Position 100R was Type II in the early stage of the plate, but as wear began to weaken the bottom line, it became Type IIIa with a small break at bottom. Positions 89R and 99R on Plate 2 have been the focus of special attention, because of their unusual nature. Ashbrook states: “A study of the double transfers of 89R2 and 99R2 is most interesting, because here in a vertical pair of positions we have two distinct varieties... The 99R2 stamp is a fresh entry that was short transferred both at top and bottom over an original entry that had been erased... The stamp, 89R2, is a re-entry, but not in the proper sense of this term, because the re-entry on the lower part of this position was an error, as it was not made to correct an existent fault of the original 89R transfer.”
Plate 2 stamps were issued imperforate from December 1855 through June 1857. Beginning in July 1857 stamps from Plates 1 Late, 2 and 4 were issued with perforations, and Plates 2 and 4 continued to produce stamps through late 1857. Plate 2 stamps are rarer perforated than in imperforate form; conversely, Plate 4 stamps are rarer imperforate than in perforated form. However, perforated 99R2 stamps are of extreme rarity.
Our census, which incorporates the records of noted student Jerome S. Wagshal, The Philatelic Foundation, the Levi records and our own work, is available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/21-99R2 . Only two unused examples are known--the better known is in a block of nine in our 2019 William H. Gross Multiples sale. 13 used singles are recorded, as are three on covers and two in strips, for a total of 20 known in any form. Virtually all have faults or are very off-center--only three off-cover singles and one on cover are confirmed as sound and not all have decent centering.
Census no. 21(99R2)-CAN-04. Ex Wagshal and Middendorf. With 1986 P.F. certificate
