Sale 1288 — The Nelson Berman Collection of Outstanding United States Stamps
Sale Date — Thursday, 22 June, 2023
Category — 1861 First Designs and Colors (Scott 55-62)
90c Blue, First Design (62). Large part original gum which covers the entire back of the stamp, deep rich color, unusually choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF THE 90-CENT 1861 ISSUE FIRST DESIGN.
Our census of Scott 62, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/62 , contains 22 examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library and another copy certified as a privately perforated No. 62a, which comes from a set in the Col. Green sale that was signed by John Luff (we believe this stamp to be genuine). Another has been certified as genuine with a trial cancel. Excluding the NYPL copy and the ex-Green stamp just noted, only eight examples of the 90c First Design are available with original gum. Of these eight, only two are confirmed as sound (OG-05 and OG-09 offered here). One other (OG-02), known from a 1957 auction, needs to be examined for condition.
Census no. 62-OG-09. Ex Col. Green, Gleysteen and Lessin. With 1971 and 2002 P.F. certificates.
