1c Blue, Ty. IV (9). Mint Never-Hinged, enormous margins all around incl. parts of all eight surrounding stamps, rich color, perfection

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1851 ONE-CENT TYPE IV HAS BEEN GRADED GEM 100 JUMBO BY P.S.E., WHICH IS THE HIGHEST GRADE ATTAINABLE BY ANY STAMP IN ANY PERIOD. IT IS BY FAR THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO AN UNUSED IMPERFORATE OR PERFORATED CLASSIC ISSUE, AND, IN FACT, THIS IS THE ONLY UNUSED STAMP PRIOR TO SCOTT 212 TO REACH THE ZENITH OF THE GRADING SYSTEM.

Professional Stamp Experts recently introduced a new system for numbering basic United States stamp designs. The U.S. Design (USD) numbering system identifies the denomination and design at its most fundamental level, essentially in accordance with what the U.S. Post Office Department would have called a new issue, starting with the 5c and 10c 1847's. The USD system completely ignores production variations and traditional philatelic classification (printing method, shades, watermark, paper type, perforations gauge, coils, types, etc.) to create a simplified approach to collecting U.S. stamps, which P.S.E. hopes will encourage growth in the number of entry-level collectors. P.S.E. believes that once these new collectors build USD sets, some of them will develop an interest in the more traditional Scott Numbering System, yet others will still feel a sense of achievement in completing a basic USD-based collection.

What does this have to do with the stamp offered here? The April-June 2008 edition of Stamp Market Quarterly specifically cites the 1c 1851, stating, "The Scott Catalog lists no fewer than five whole numbers for this stamp...These small variations notwithstanding, the basic stamp remains the one cent issue of 1851. For many collectors, one nice example of the type would be sufficient." If the USD system has the desired effect of creating a new approach to collecting, then the demand for the most common 1c 1851 -- Type IV, Scott 9, the stamp offered here -- will increase at a far greater rate than the demand for other types, which have characteristics outside the scope of the USD numbering system. Taking this one step further, if collectors want to assemble a set of 1851's according to USD number in the highest possible grade, then the significance of a Mint Never-Hinged Scott 9 in P.S.E. 100 Jumbo grade increases exponentially.

We mention all of this in connection with this stamp, because the stamp market is changing. Whether traditionalists agree or disagree with the USD concept, everyone can agree that the 1c 1851 offered here is remarkable by any standard. It is the most striking example of an unused 1c 1851 we have ever seen. Add to this its Mint Never-Hinged condition and 100 Jumbo P.S.E. grade, and you have what may become future philately's ultimate classic stamp. Purists will always have their rare types, but it will be interesting to see if the "Gem USD" collectors emerge to create another class of philatelic rarity which challenges today's Scott-based rarities.

With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ as Mint N.H.)

Image Magnifier / Download

PSE Population Report

Market data

Power Search for Comparables