Sale 968 — The Alan B. Whitman Collection of Outstanding United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 27-28 January, 2009
Category — 1869 Pictorial Issue - Complete Set Without Grills (Scott 112b-122a)
Lot
Symbol
Photo/Description
Cat./Est. Value
Realized
155
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. I, Without Grill (118a). Original gum, deep rich colors and detailed impressions, beautiful centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A STUNNING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 15-CENT TYPE I WITHOUT GRILL. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION THE FINEST WE HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED. A RARITY OF THE HIGHEST ORDER.
Our survey of the Philatelic Foundation records produced 24 examples certified as genuine, of which approximately half have faults. Of the sound copies, we have encountered only one other comparable stamp, which was offered in our 2000 Rarities sale.
With 1979 and 1990 P.F. certificate
15,000
18,000