2c Black (73). Right perfs
in, quartered cork cancel, "Philada. Pa. Post Office Jan. 31" city delivery
circular datestamp on National Union Club cover with enormous full-face
portrait of Ulysses S. Grant in uniform, to local street address, Rea
Sharp imprint, slightly reduced at rightVERY FINE. THE MOST SPECTACULAR COVER BEARING A LIKENESS OF ULYSSES S. GRANT WE HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED -- ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH THE BLACK JACK FRANKING.
Ex Walcott, with a notation that he paid $100 for it (before 1935) (Image)
2c Black (73). Used with
5c Brown (76), centered to right, and British Columbia &
Vancouver Island 1865 5c Rose (5) on 3c Pink entire with Wells,
Fargo & Co. printed frank, from Victoria B.C. to San Francisco, blue
"35" oval grid ties British Columbia stamp, blue "Wells, Fargo & Co.
Victoria Feb. 15" oval datestamp ties United States stamps and cancels
entireEXTREMELY FINE. A VERY RARE COMBINATION IN ABSOLUTELY PRISTINE CONDITION -- WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST MIXED-FRANKING EXPRESS COVERS EXTANT.
Ex Mason, Ackerman and Emerson. One of the gems of the Hall collection. (Image)
2c Black (73). Two, used
with two singles of 10c Yellow Green (68), each cancelled or tied by
San Francisco cogwheel on cover originating in Vancouver Island and sent
to London, England, blue oval "Post Office, Paid, Victoria Vancouver
Island" handstamp, two strikes of "San Francisco Cal. Jan. 30"
double-circle datestamp, endorsed "via San Francisco and Panama Per
Royal Mail", red "New York Am. Pkt. 3 Apr. 24" credit datestamp, London
receiving datestamp (Mar. 8, 1866) and backstamp, some slight wear, a few
letters of address changed in inkVERY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE BLACK JACK USAGE FROM VANCOUVER ISLAND TO ENGLAND VIA THE UNITED STATES MAILS.
Postage was paid in cash to the U.S. border, where the letter was charged the 24c rate via American Packet to England. (Image)
3c Scarlet (74). Four neat
pen strokes, vibrant color, bright and fresh with long full perforations,
tiny thin spotVERY FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT SCARLET TRIAL PRINTING. THIS PEN-MARKED EXAMPLE COMES FROM THE ROTHFUCHS GROUP OF 1893.
As has been documented by Jerome S. Wagshal in a series of Chronicle articles (Nos. 56, 60, 61 and 62), a Washington D.C. stamp dealer, Carl F. Rothfuchs, obtained a supply of the 3c Scarlet in 1893 -- probably from the Post office Department in exchange for his assistance with the Columbian Exposition -- and sold them with pen marks and original gum. The Rothfuchs lot is not from the same supply acquired by John W. Scott in the late 1870's, from which stamps exist uncancelled and cancelled with a New York City Station D oval. (Image)
5c Red Brown (75). Block
of four, unused (no gum), deep rich color, left pair and lower right stamp
with preprinting paperfoldFINE CENTERING AND BRILLIANT COLOR. ONLY TWO UNUSED BLOCKS OF THE 5-CENT RED BROWN ARE KNOWN, BOTH SIMILARLY CENTERED.
There is one other unused block of the 5c Red Brown: the original-gum block of four sold in our October 1998 Zoellner sale for $25,000 hammer. (Image)
5c Brown (76). Original
gum, lightly hinged, perfectly centered, brilliant shade and proof-like
impressionEXTREMELY FINE GEM. MAGNIFICENT QUALITY FOR THE 5-CENT BROWN 1863 ISSUE, WHICH RARELY COMES WELL-CENTERED WITH FULL ORIGINAL GUM.
The 5c Brown stamp in the 1861-66 series is one of those that challenge collectors who demand choice original-gum examples. The vast majority of 5c Brown stamps are off-center or faulty. By virtue of its pristine original-gum condition and perfect centering, the example offered here is truly rare.
With 2000 P.F. certificate (Image)
15c Black (77). Original
gum in Mint Never Hinged state, sharp proof-like impression on
bright and fresh paper, wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE. AN UNBELIEVABLY RARE MINT NEVER HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT 1861-66 ISSUE IN THE FINEST CONDITION ATTAINABLE. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF SOME SHADE VARIETIES, THE 15-CENT LINCOLN IS PERHAPS THE RAREST OF THE 1861-66 SERIES STAMPS IN SUCH CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.
Throughout recent Siegel sales that have contained a remarkable group of original-gum 1861-66 Issues, we have made frequent reference to the rarity of these stamps in choice condition. With the exception of the rare 5c and 24c shades, our experience shows that the 15c Lincoln is the most difficult stamp to obtain in sound, choice original-gum condition. It is most often found without gum or with disturbed gum. Examples with full original gum are frequently off-center. The block of six (straight edge at left), ex Caspary, Lilly and Ishikawa, is well-centered with original gum, but our search of numerous other major auction sales produced few other examples apart from the block. Therefore, this stamp could be the rarest face-different design of the 1861-66 series in choice original-gum condition. As a Mint Never Hinged stamp, it should be considered an even greater rarity.
With 1999 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail for hinged (Image)
24c Dark Lilac (78).
Original gum, extraordinary dark charcoal shade and fine detailed
impression, beautifully centered with wide margins framing the design in
white, tiny natural inclusionEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1861 IN A DISTINCTIVE DARK LILAC SHADE RARELY SEEN IN THIS CONDITION.
The Dark Lilac shade is listed in the Scott catalogue as a separate shade. It has a distinctly more intense color, but still retains the purplish cast that separates it from the Gray and Blackish Violet shades of the post-1863 printings.
Owner's small red backstamp. With 1997 P.F. certificate. (Image)