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75 Selected Lots, Page 1 of 8
General/Issue
Date
A beautiful and rare large-margined 10¢ 1847 Issue with original gum10¢ Black (2), typically of Rawdon, Wright, Hatch and Edson the gum is thinly applied, but it covers nearly the entire surface (described on accompanying certificate as "part original gum"), large and beautifully proportioned margins, intense shade, couple tiny fiber inclusions and small spot of extraneous printer's ink at top left
Extremely Fine. The 10c 1847 Issue is very rare in original-gum condition and especially desirable with large margins.
With 2020 P.F. certificate. Scott value $35,000.00.
10c Black (2). Original gum across the entire back of stamp described on accompanying certificate as part original gum, full to large margins, intense shade and impression, trivial toned spots on face and at top rightVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE FOUR-MARGIN ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE.
Ex Hoffman and "Hampshire". With 2007 P.F. and 2010 P.S.E. certificates
10c Black (2). Original gum, tight but even margins, faulty with creases and sealed tearsA PRESENTABLE AND AFFORDABLE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE. A STAMP MISSING FROM MOST ADVANCED UNUSED COLLECTIONS.
With 1991 P.F. certificate. Scott value $35,000.00
10c Black (2). Positions 79-80L1, horizontal pair, original gum, huge margins to just touched at bottom left including right interpane margin and portion of Position 90L1 below, intense shade and impression, few small faults with creases and cuts in both stamps and trivial staining on right stampFINE-VERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM PAIR OF THE
10-CENT 1847 ISSUE. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH THE SHEET MARGIN.
To underscore the rarity of any original-gum multiple of the 10c 1847, there are only three unused blocks recorded (two with original gum), one of which is contained in the Hirzel collection at the Swiss PTT Museum. Only four pairs and a strip of three could be located in our computerized sale records using Power Search.
With 1992 P.S.E. certificate. Scott Retail $90,000.00
A superb pair of the 10¢ 1847 with original gum and large margins--the finest unused 10¢ 1847 multiple in the Caspary and Lilly collectionsDESCRIPTION
10¢ Black (2), Positions 17-18R1 showing misaligned entries on plate, horizontal pair, large to huge margins including frameline of above right adjoining stamp, original gum, lightly hinged, crisp shade and sharp impression
PROVENANCE
Alfred H. Caspary, H. R. Harmer sale, 1/16-18/1956, lot 125, to Cole (for Lilly)
Josiah K. Lilly, Jr., Siegel Auction Galleries, 2/7/1968, Sale 327, lot 3, to Weill (for A. T. Seymour)
A. T. Seymour, Siegel Auction Galleries, 4/23/1970, Sale 373, lot 6
Michael Lea, Sotheby Parke Bernet sale, 1/11/1978, Sale 10, lot 42
John C. Chapin (collection sold privately to Shreves and then to William H. Gross, 2002)
CERTIFICATION
The Philatelic Foundation (1968)
CONDITION NOTES
Extremely Fine; right stamp has faint wrinkle that does not appear dark in watermark fluid and dries with barest flash of white
SCOTT CATALOGUE VALUE (2019)
$80,000.00
HISTORY AND COMMENTARY
The Rarity of Unused 1847 Multiples
In anticipation of the new July 1851 rates and stamps, Postmaster General Nathan K. Hall announced on June 11 that the 5¢ and 10¢ postage stamps of 1847 would no longer be accepted as legal postage after June 30, 1851.
Postmaster Hall's demonetization order established a three-month redemption period--from July 1 to September 30, 1851--and instructed the public to present the stamps "to the Postmaster of whom they were purchased, or to the nearest Postmaster who has been authorized to sell postage stamps." Hall specified that only postmasters who had previously received stamps for sale directly from the Post Office Department were authorized to "pay cash for all genuine postage stamps" (Thomas J. Alexander, "Demonetization of the 1847 Issue," Chronicle 174, May 1997).
The procedure for redeeming unused 1847 stamps was cumbersome for the public and for postmasters. In the months following June 30, 1851, there was a degree of tolerance for use of the old stamps, as evidenced by dozens of covers with 1847 stamps used in the post-demonetization period. However, as time passed, the floating supply of old stamps dwindled, and it undoubtedly became more difficult to slip the 1847 stamps into the mails. Furthermore, paying the 3¢ domestic rate with a 5¢ 1847 stamp wasted 2¢. The USPCS census of covers with 1847 stamps shows a steep decline by the end of 1852.
Considering the purchasing power of five or ten cents in 1851, it is not surprising that the stamps were either used or exchanged, rather than left for future generations of collectors. Consequently, unused multiples of the 1847 Issue are extremely rare. The superb original-gum pair offered here was the largest and finest 10¢ 1847 unused multiple in the Alfred Caspary collection; it was the first of three pairs offered in the Caspary sale.
10c Black (2). Large part original gum, large to huge margins all around, intense shade and impression, P.S.E. capsule notes "light gum crease" which is natural and typical of 1847's with original gumEXTREMELY FINE. A RARE SOUND, LARGE-MARGIN ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE. A STAMP WITH FANTASTIC VISUAL APPEAL.
1969 and 1994 P.F. certificates no longer accompany (latter states previously hinged with large part o.g. and a light vertical crease). P.S.E. encapsulated (OGh, VF-XF 85; SMQ $75,000.00). It is important to note that this stamp still graded very highly despite the light natural gum crease and received an "OGh" designation from P.S.E. Based on centering the base numerical grade on this was probably XF 90. Only one has graded higher (at XF 90) and none share this grade.
10c Black (2). Vertical pair, original gum, large to huge margins at left and top, full at bottom and just clear of framelines at right, intense shade, light vertical crease between stamps does not affect the design of either, accompanying certificate mentions small corner crease on bottom stamp and tiny thin spot on top stamp -- both of these are nearly undetectableFINE APPEARANCE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM PAIR OF THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE.
To underscore the rarity of any original-gum multiple of the 10c 1847, there are only three unused blocks recorded (two with original gum), one of which is contained in the Hirzel collection at the Swiss PTT Museum. Only four pairs and a strip of three could be located in our computerized sale records using Power Search.
With 2016 P.S.E. certificate
10c Black (2). Vertical pair, original gum, large to huge margins at left and top, full at bottom and just clear of framelines at right, intense shade, light vertical crease between stamps does not affect the design of either, accompanying certificate mentions small corner crease on bottom stamp and tiny thin spot on top stamp -- both of these are nearly undetectableFINE APPEARANCE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM PAIR OF THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE.
To underscore the rarity of any original-gum multiple of the 10c 1847, there are only three unused blocks recorded (two with original gum), one of which is contained in the Hirzel collection at the Swiss PTT Museum. Only four pairs and a strip of three could be located in our computerized sale records using Power Search.
With 2016 P.S.E. certificate
10c Black (2). Original gum, full margins to clear at bottom left, beautifully detailed impression, remarkably freshFRESH AND FINE. A RARE SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE.
The Act of March 3, 1847, signed by President Polk, specified that Postmaster General Cave Johnson "be authorized to prepare postage stamps, which when attached to any letter or packet, shall be evidence of the payment of the postage..." The law's effective date was July 1, and the Post Office acted immediately to secure a contract with Rawdon, Wright, Hatch and (the new partner) Edson, so that stamps could be distributed by that date. The Washington vignette is based on the iconic image painted by Gilbert Stuart.
With 1980 P.F. and 1990 P.S.E. certificates
10c Black (2). Original gum, three full to large margins, ample to just clear at top, short transfer variety at top of designFINE. AN ATTRACTIVE AND EXCEEDINGLY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE.
Ex Argentum. With 1943 A.P.S. and 1999 P.F. certificates
75 Selected Lots , Page 1 of 8
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