15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II,
Center Inverted (119b). Rich colors and beautiful impressions, light
strike of rosette cancel leaves vignette clearly visible, centered slightly
to left but perfs are well clear all around, insignificant small filled-in
thin spotVERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONLY 91 EXAMPLES OF THE 15-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL INVERT ERRORS ARE RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS.
Our census of 1869 Inverts contains 91 examples of the 15c Invert, including three unused and 88 used (one in the British Library's Tapling collection and three No. 119c varieties). We estimate that only twelve to fifteen used copies are sound, including copies with tiny corner creases. A large number -- more than half -- have serious faults or repairs. This stamp, with its rich colors and light cancel, ranks among the most atractive.
Census No. 119b-CAN-CW01. (Image)
30c Ultramarine & Carmine,
Center Inverted (121b). Unused (no gum), perfectly centered with wide
even margins, small thin spot, slight corner margin crease at bottom right
described as "strengthened" on accompanying 1978 P.F. certificate, which
also notes "slightly toned" -- the corner margin crease is lightly pressed
and does not show any evidence of strengthening, and the stamp is not toned
to a degree that merits mentionEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF SEVEN RECORDED UNUSED EXAMPLES OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PCTORIAL INVERT. ONE OF THE GREATEST RARITIES OF UNITED STATES PHILATELY.
Of the 1869 Pictorial Inverts in unused condition, there are three 15c, four 24c (one in the British Library) and seven 30c (one with small part original gum, the others without gum). A census of six unused 1869 Inverts was published in the Chronicle No. 135 (August 1987), and the subsequent reemergence of the ex-Worthington 30c with part o.g., the seventh stamp, was reported in the Chronicle No. 151 (August 1991) and in The Philatelic Foundation Quarterly (Winter 1991).
The seven unused examples of the 30c 1869 Invert are recorded as follows: 1) PFC 66364 2/27/1978 "slightly toned with flags inverted, a small thin spot and corner margin creasing partially strengthened", ex Col. Green, Harmer Rooke 5/26/1943 sale (Part 8), lot 262, the stamp offered here, 2) No PFC, sound, ex U.S. Trust, Siegel sale #413 5/31/1972, lot 126, Siegel 1975 Rarities 3/25/1975, lot 103, 3) PFC 33196 4/27/1970 "tiny wrinkling at top left corner", reported ex Hind (no photo in catalogue), Siegel 1970 Rarities 3/24/1970, lot 86 ("tiny negligible wrinkle"), Texas collector, Weill (purchased from Texas collector, 1979), Siegel 1981 Rarities 4/29/1981, lot 173 ("tiny wrinkle"), Ishikawa (purchased from Weill), Christie's sale 9/29/1993, lot 742 ("negligible natural wrinkle at top"), now in a private collection, 4) PFC 3618 4/14/1952 "uncancelled and sound in all respects", ex Ferrary, Col. Green, Harmer Rooke sale 11/13/1944, lot 38, John A. Fox 1954 sale, H. R. Harmer 1960 sale, 5) PFC 29687 2/3/1969 "defective and reperforated at left", ex H. Phillips, Weill (purchased from Phillips), Siegel 1992 Rarities 10/3/1992, lot 571 ("reperfed at left, filled thin along top", noted as ex Ishikawa, 6) PFC 26534 12/4/1967 "faint staining", ex Barrett G. Hindes, H. R. Harmer sale 1/23/1968, lot 240, noted as ex Ward and Sinkler, bought by Weill, sold to Metta Heathcote, Kelleher 1974 sale, now in a private collection, and 7) PFC 232679 11/19/1990 "traces of original gum", ex Worthington, Colson backstamp, Christie's sale 3/12/1991, lot 288, now in a private collection.
The unused 30c 1869 Invert stamps are generally centered Very Fine or Extremely Fine. One is defective and reperforated (No. 5). Two have very trivial condition remarks (Nos. 3 and 6). Three are described as sound (Nos. 2, 4 and 7). Because of its minor flaws, the stamp offered here (No. 1) is probably the best-centered and most attractive unused 30c 1869 Invert a collector can acquire without reaching toward or beyond the Scott value of $210,000.
Census No. 121b-UNC-01. Ex Col. Green. With 1978 P.F. certificate. (Image)