Sale 1255 — The David W. Gorham Collection of Outstanding Used U.S. Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Friday, 17-20 May, 2022
Category — 1863-66 Issue, cont. (Scott 75-78c)
Lot
Symbol
Photo/Description
Cat./Est. Value
Realized
548
24c Blackish Violet (78c). Deep rich color in the true Blackish Violet shade, circular datestamp cancelFINE. A RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT BLACKISH VIOLET, A SHADE VARIETY THAT IS MISSING IN MOST ADVANCED CLASSIC UNITED STATES COLLECTIONS.
Our census of Scott 78c, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/78c , records three unused stamps, 50 used off-cover and ten used on nine covers (one cover bears a pair), for a total of 63 stamps. Of the used off-cover examples only 14 are confirmed as sound -- the others either have a fault or were certified long ago and condition is uncertain. In fact, some of those older certificates should also be re-confirmed as to the true 78c shade. This sound example is a great rarity of the issue.
Census no. 78c-CAN-50. With 1998 P.S.E. certificate.
17,000
4,250