Sale 967 — Important and Superb United States Stamps

Sale Date — Tuesday-Friday, 16-19 December, 2008

Category — 1857-60 Issue (Scott 18-39)

Lot
Symbol
Photo/Description
Cat./Est. Value
Realized
4148
 
Sale 967, Lot 4148, 1857-60 Issue (Scott 18-39)30c Orange (38). Vibrant color, exceptional centering for this difficult issue, face-free cancel

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A GORGEOUS USED EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1860 ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95J BY P.S.E., THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE AND THE ONLY EXAMPLE TO ACHIEVE THIS GRADE. AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT STAMP TO FIND IN SUCH SUPERB USED CONDITION.

The 30c 1860 challenges collectors for several reasons. First, the subjects were closely spaced together on the plate, leaving almost no room for perforations and little opportunity to create stamps with perforations clear of the design on all four sides. Second, the 30c and 90c 1860 were only in circulation for a brief period before the series was demonetized in the Fall of 1861. Third, this high-denomination stamp was issued for use on transatlantic mail, and postal clerks were careful to thoroughly cancel the stamps to prevent cleaning and re-use. Therefore, 30c 1860 stamps in sound, well-centered and lightly-cancelled condition defy all circumstances and are extremely rare.

With 2006 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95J; SMQ $5,200.00 as 95, $14,600.00 as 98). The only example to achieve this grade

500
10,500