12c First Design (Scott 59) Census

Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc.

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12c Intense Black, First Design (Scott No. 59)
One of the finest of the 16 recorded examples
Census No. 59-OG-15

SPECIAL NOTE: There are many United States stamps that look similar to the rarities listed below. Some of the differences between expensive rarities and common stamps can be subtle, including differences in perforation, shade and size. These stamps should have certificates from a recognized expertizing committee, such as The Philatelic Foundation or P.S.E.

The 12c is the rarest of the 1861 First Designs and Colors, with a total of 16 examples recorded, including one in the New York Public Library collection. Our census of this stamp contains five sound copies, including the NYPL's stamp. Of the five sound copies available to collectors, only four have original gum.


Census No. History: PFC:	59-UNC-01 RAS 4/29/1981 “light crease, small perf & margin faults” 58413 “Genuine with vertical crease”	59-CAN-02 Hale Coll. - Sanabria 5/8/1939 Lake Shore Coll., RAS Sale 888, 12/7/2004, lot 70 - $25,000 82201 “Genuine with horiz. crease and pen written ‘New’ marking”	59-OG-03 Moody Coll. - HRH 1/21/1958 Ambassador Coll. - RAS 4/27/1966, Lot 81 "few perf tips blunted" McNall Coll. - Sup. 10/26/1992, Lot 96 "tiny thin" 259588 “Genuine, Previously Hinged, with a tiny thin at T.L.”	59-OG-04 Caspary Coll. - HRH 11/19/1956 SPG 10/18/2002, Lot 78 - $32,500 192327 “Genuine, Previously Hinged, with faint diagonal crease”

Census No. History: PFC:	59-UNC-05 HR 3/23/1954 31935 “Genuine, defective & repaired by closing a tear and adding a piece at B."	59-UNC-06 RAS 4/28/1981 "Bayou" Coll. RAS Sale 843 2/27/02, Lot 840 - $60,000	59-UNC-07 E. Klein 3/8/1940 639 “Genuine” 29677 “Genuine with light vertical crease and regummed”	59-OG-08 RAS 10/6/1964 15603 “Genuine with tiny thin spot”

Census No. History: PFC:	59-OG-09 RAS 3/23/1972 21696 “Genuine”	59-OG-10 Lilly Coll. - RAS 2/2/1967, Lot 128 Seymour Coll. - RAS 4/23/1970, Lot 64 1696 “Genuine”	59-OG-11 RAS 3/25/1969 (Rarities), Lot 65 - $19,000 RAS 3/23/1971 (Rarities), Lot 55 - $20,000 Isabelle Lessmann Coll. - RAS 12/12/1984, Lot 88 - $32,500 Hewitt Coll. - Ivy 5/26/1986, Lot 160 Concord Coll. - RAS 5/19/1994, Lot 82 - $32,500 "two partly nibbed perfs at B." 35930 “Genuine”	59-OG-12 Green Coll. - HR 5/26/1943 Gleysteen Coll. - Mozian 2/23/1972, Lot 102 "o.g." 213829 “Tiny tear at R., small thin” 270161 “Small closed tear T.R., two tiny tears at T.”
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Census No. History: PFC:	59-OG-13 RAS 3/23/1974 “Part o.g.” Lutwak Coll. - DFK 1/20/1988, Lot 710 (sound) Lessin Coll. - SPG 5/31/2002, Lot 103 (as sound) - $33,500 SPG 3/7/2003, Lot 108 (small surface scrape at B.) - $28,000 11320 “Genuine” 52316 “Genuine” ?? - 2002 PFC - sm. surface scrape at B.	59-UNC-14 Isleham Coll. - RAS 5/1986 “some perf faults, tiny tear at top”	59-OG-15 Zoellner Coll. - RAS Sale 804, 10/9/1998, Lot 166 - $65,000 275258 “Genuine, Previously Hinged”	59-OG-16 Miller Coll., NYPL

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