12c Green (117). Original
gum, lightly hinged, near perfect centering with wide margins all around,
deep rich color and intense proof-like impressionEXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1869 STAMP -- ONE OF THE MORE DIFFICULT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUES TO FIND IN THIS CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.
With 1997 P.F. certificate (Image)
12c Green (117). Original
gum, lightly hinged, well-centered, proof-like impressionVERY FINE AND CHOICE. THE 12-CENT 1869 ISSUE IS VERY SCARCE IN THIS ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.
With 2001 P.F. certificate (Image)
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. I
(118). Original gum, lightly hinged, nearly perfect centering with wide
margins, bright colors, strong grill impressionEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THE 15-CENT 1869 TYPE I IS VERY RARE IN THIS CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION. A SPECTACULAR STAMP AND CERTAINLY ONE OF THE FINEST KNOWN.
The 15c Type I comes from the first 1869 printing, in May 1869 the 15c went to press using the second frame plate, which produced Type II. In a condition census, both Type I and II would show similar numbers known in the top tier of original-gum condition -- probably 8 to 10 of each. However, Type I is generally a rarer stamp and carries a much higher Scott Catalogue value. Very few of this quality have been offered in years, and we anticipate vigorous competition.
With 1997 P.F. certificate (Image)
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II
(119). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich colors and proof-like
impressions, virtually perfect centering with evenly-balanced
marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT TYPE II 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE WITH WONDERFUL COLOR, CENTERING AND OVERALL FRESHNESS.
This superb stamp has the brilliance of its re-issue counterpart, Scott 129, which is rarely encountered in stamps from the 1869 Type II printing.
With 1999 P.F. certificate (Image)
24c Green & Violet (120).
Original gum, clearly-defined grill, rich colors on bright paper, choice
centering with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
The 24c 1869 Pictorial, even in original-gum condition, is not a rare stamp. However, centering and soundness are elusive qualities among examples of this issue. This stamp has color, centering and margins that appear more like its re-issue counterpart.
With 1998 P.F. certificate (Image)
24c Green & Violet (120).
Original gum, clearly-defined grill, rich colors on bright paperVERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
With 2001 P.F. certificate (Image)
24c Green & Violet (120).
Well-centered, intense shades and impressions of the frame and vignette,
used with 10c Yellow (116), both stamps tied by cork cancel and
"New-York" circular datestamp on Feb. 20, 1870 folded part-printed letter
from Havana, Cuba, to Lima, Peru, via New York City, red "12" credit
handstamp applied at New York, blue Apr. 5 oval datestamp of J. de Riviera
& Co. (New York forwarding agents), blue Lima receiving backstamp, original
ship-name endorsement "Henry Chauncey" crossed out and re-directed
"Alaska", very slight perf toning on the 10c, which is not unusual
for mail to South AmericaVERY FINE. A UNIQUE COVER SHOWING USE OF THE 24-CENT AND 10-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE FROM CUBA TO PERU VIA THE UNITED STATES. ONE OF THE MOST OUTSTANDING OF ALL 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE COVERS.
This cover originally contained a second sheet datelined at Havana on February 20, 1870, which we know from the receipt docketing on the inside flap. The outer address leaf is a printed notice of change in partnership at the Havana firm of Lago, Ziegler y Cia. It was carried outside the mails by courier from Havana to New York on board the Alaska, one of the commercial vessels regularly plying the waters between Cuba and the United States. The letter was undoubtedly franked at Havana with the 10c and 24c 1869 stamps -- many business firms kept a supply of stamps on hand for prepayment of postage on letters bound for the United States. The U.S.-Peru rate was lowered from 34c to 22c on February 16, 1870, due to the reduction of British postage from 12 pence to 6 pence for letters carried down the west coast of South America by British packet. This change was evidently not known to the sender in Havana on February 20th when the letter was franked. At New York the firm of Jose de Rivera & Co. dated the letter with its blue oval handstamp and put it into the mails.
Ex Richey, Krug, Rust and Rose. Signed Ashbrook with his opinion of genuineness. With 1952 and 1997 P.F. certificates (Image)
24c Green & Violet, Center
Inverted (120b). Lightly cancelled by circle of wedges, red foreign
transit cancel at lower rightVERY FINE AND CHOICE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1869 INVERT.
Our published 1869 Invert census (with unpublished updates) contains 88 copies of the perforated 24c Invert, including four unused stamps and multiples.
Census No. 120b-CAN-CW04. Ex Twigg-Smith. With 1970 and 2001 P.F. certificates. (Image)