15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II,
Center Inverted (119b). Beautiful deep rich colors and intense
impressions on bright paper, almost complete and very clear strike of
New York City Large 5-Point Star fancy cancel, centered slightly to
upper left but perfs are well clear all around, insignificant tiny crease
across top right corner perfVERY FINE. ONE OF FINEST USED EXAMPLES OF THE 90 RECORDED 15-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL INVERT ERRORS. A STAMP OF REMARKABLE BEAUTY AND GREAT RARITY.
Our unpublished census of 1869 Inverts contains 90 examples of the 15c Invert, including three unused and 87 used (one in the British Library's Tapling collection and three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, such as the Zoellner copy. A large number--more than half--have serious faults or repairs.
One other 15c Invert exists with the Large 5-Point Star fancy cancel, which is known used on covers from New York City in April and May 1870. Seven copies have a smaller star cancel of unidentified origin, which often appears as a blob of ink.
Ex Cole. With 1988 P.F. certificate (Image)
24c Green & Violet, Center
Inverted (120b). Horizontal pair, among the best centered of all
recorded examples, each stamp cancelled by neat Rosette fancy cancel, rich
colors and sharp, clear impressionsVERY FINE. BY FAR THE FINER OF THE TWO RECORDED PAIRS AND ONE OF THREE KNOWN MULTIPLES OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL INVERT.
Our published 1869 Invert census (with unpublished updates) contains 88 copies of the perforated 24c Invert, including four unused stamps and multiples. This pair, another off-center pair, and the famous block of the 24c Invert, are the only recorded multiples of any of the 1869 Inverts.
The pair offered here is lightly stamped on back "Pemberton, Wilson & Co.", the mark of the well-known 19th century stamp firm in England. The remarkable survival of multiple inverts is attributed to stamp hunters in 1869 and 1870, who removed 24c stamps from letters and parcels received by London and Liverpool merchants. The discovery of the 24c Invert block was made in Liverpool and, in certain accounts, this pair is said to have been separated from the block. The difference between the Rosette cancel on this pair and the segmented cork cancel on the block proves this aspect of the story inaccurate. However, the similar centering and vignette orientation on the two multiples offer a strong possibility that the two pieces emanated from the same sheet and source.
With 1970 P.F. certificate (Image)
30c Ultramarine & Carmine,
Center Inverted (121b). Perfect centering, incredibly rich and bright
colors on fresh white paper, clear strike of New York City circle of V's
cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL INVERT WITH REMARKABLY RICH COLORS. ONLY THREE OF THE 37 RECORDED USED COPIES ARE CENTERED AND SOUND.
Our published census of 30c 1869 Invert (with unpublished updates) contains a total of 44 stamps, including 7 unused and 37 used. Of the ten used "Centered" copies, only three are sound. The circle of V's cancel on this stamp is known on covers from the Davis correspondence, mailed to Peru from New York City in August 1869 (see Chronicle 138, p. 124).
With 1990 P.F. certificate (Image)