30c Ultramarine & Carmine
(121). Original gum, brilliant colors, perfectly centered with wide
margins all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL IN THE FINEST CONDITION ATTAINABLE. A WONDERFUL STAMP IN TERMS OF GUM, COLOR, CENTERING, FRESHNESS OF PAPER AND IMPRESSION.
The rarity of centered original-gum examples of the 30c 1869 with grill is somewhat obscured by the availability of off-center copies of the 30c with and without grill. If the scope were narrowed to Scott 121 only, and only grades of Very Fine or Extremely Fine were considered, we estimate that fewer than 15 examples would be counted. Among the qualifying stamps, this is without challenge one of the finest two or three.
With 2002 P.F. certificate (Image)
30c Ultramarine & Carmine
(121). Original gum, brilliant colors, well-centeredVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL WITH EXCEPTIONALLY BRIGHT COLORS AND FRESHNESS.
With 2001 P.F. certificate (Image)
30c Blue & Carmine (121).
Used with two identically centered 2c Brown (113), and 10c Brown,
H Grill (139), one 2c tied by blue crayon at left, three stamps at
right tied by unusual segmented cork cancels, red "New York Paid All Br.
Transit May 28" (1870) circular datestamp on back of blue folded cover
to Cadiz, Spain, from the Gomez correspondence, sender's blue May
27, 1870 datestamp at lower left, red "24" handstamped credit crossed out
and re-rated "48", which is crossed out by another darker red crayon and
marked "4" (for the rate progression), red London Paid transit, black Cadiz
receiving datestamp, small minor tear along top foldA SPECTACULAR MULTICOLORED 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE FRANKING ON ONE OF THE WELL-KNOWN GOMEZ COVERS TO SPAIN.
This cover was carried by the North German Lloyd's Main, leaving New York City on May 28, 1870, arriving in Southampton on June 7. The 44c franking corresponds to the fourth step in the peculiar rate progression for British Mail to Spain via France (16c, 28c, 32c, 44c etc.), that is, 44c for a letter weighing between -2/3 and 1 oz. with a 36c credit to England. Because of some confusion at the New York foreign-mail office, the letter was first marked with a "24" credit (for 28c rate), then "48" (for 60c rate), and finally with a "4" to simplify matters by stating the basis for the rate.
Ex Sheriff. With 1967 P.F. certificate (Image)
90c Carmine & Black (122).
Original gum, intense color and impressions, clear grill, centered to
bottom left but with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL WITH EXTRAORDINARILY WIDE MARGINS.
With 2002 P.F. certificate (Image)
90c Carmine & Black, Without
Grill (122a). Fresh original gum, which accompanying certificate
inexplicably describes as "slightly disturbed" original gum, intense colors
and proof-like impressionsVERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE WITHOUT GRILL. ONLY 22 EXAMPLES HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED AS GENUINE BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION.
Of the 22 copies certified as genuine by the Philatelic Foundation, only fifteen have either part or full original gum. Only eight of these are completely sound.
With 2001 P.F. certificate (Image)