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16 Selected Lots, Page 1 of 2
General/Issue
Date
This marvelous imprint block of fifteen with original gum is the largest recorded multiple of the 10¢ 1869 Pictorial IssueDESCRIPTION
10¢ Yellow (116), Positions 124-128/134-138/144-148L16, block of fifteen from bottom left with "NATIONAL BANK NOTE CO. NEW YORK" imprint in bottom sheet selvage, original gum, beautiful bright color on fresh white paper, centered to bottom
PROVENANCE
As block of 25: Rep. Ernest R. Ackerman (according to Ward article)
Philip H. Ward, Jr. (estate sold to Weills in 1963)
Benjamin D. Phillips (bought from Weills out of Ward estate, 1965; Phillips collection sold privately to Weills, 1968)
As block of 15: Michael Laurence (sold privately to William H. Gross)
CENSUS, LITERATURE AND EXHIBITION REFERENCES
Philip H. Ward, Jr., "United States Early Unused Blocks 1847-1869," 1960 Congress Book, page 56 (identifying block as ex Ackerman)
Michael Laurence, "10c 1869 Multiples," Chronicle 81, February 1974
Jonathan W. Rose, United States Postage Stamps of 1869, fig. 98, page 77
1869 Times, No. 27 (August 1982) front cover photo
New York International Philatelic Exhibition 1913 (Ackerman)
CONDITION NOTES
Fine; slight gum crease, reinforced perf separations, slight oxidation on stamps around the perimeter
SCOTT CATALOGUE VALUE (2019)
$41,850.00 as two blocks, three pairs and single
HISTORY AND COMMENTARY
The Reigning Block for More than a Century
When this block was exhibited by Ernest R. Ackerman, a New Jersey state senator and U.S. Congress representative, in 1913 at the New York International Philatelic Exhibition, it was ten stamps larger, with two more rows at the top. When the Ackerman collection was dispersed through private and auction sales before and after his death in 1931, the block of 25 was acquired by Philip H. Ward, Jr., who described it in his 1960 Congress Book article on classic unused multiples as the largest known. It passed to the Weills when they bought the Ward estate in 1963, and two years later, the block joined other stellar classic multiples in the Benjamin D. Phillips collection. After the Weills bought the entire Phillips collection for $4.07 million in 1968, the brothers carefully separated the top two rows and subdivided those stamps into blocks of six and four (the block of six is offered in the next lot, and a reconstruction of the block of 25 is shown opposite).
The census of 10¢ 1869 multiples maintained by Michael Laurence since he published it 45 years ago (Chronicle 81, February 1974) still lists this block as the largest recorded multiple. It was followed by a block of nine, but that block has been reduced to a block of six. As other blocks have been reduced, today the second largest unused blocks are two blocks of six.
Michael Laurence owned this block of 15 for many years. He was unable to identify the plate and pane from which it was printed, but we think we have answered that question. By comparing the relative positions of the imprint below Position 146 ("OTE CO. NEW YORK") and the plate guide dot of that position (lower left corner of design, bottom center stamp in this block), we have concluded that this block comes from the left pane of Plate 16.
Laurence's 10¢ 1869 collection is one of the most outstanding single-stamp studies ever formed, and the block of 15 was a large yellow diamond in the king's crown, but prior to Washington 2006, Laurence was persuaded to part with the block so that Mr. Gross could display the largest recorded 10¢ 1869 block in his Grand Prix exhibit.
A choice and fresh original-gum block of the 10¢ 1869 Pictorial Issue--this block adjoins the block of fifteenDESCRIPTION
10¢ Yellow (116), Positions 106-108/116-118L16, block of six, original gum, beautiful bright color on fresh white paper, centered to bottom
PROVENANCE
As block of 25: Rep. Ernest R. Ackerman (according to Ward article)
Philip H. Ward, Jr. (estate sold to Weills in 1963)
Benjamin D. Phillips (bought from Weills out of Ward estate, 1965; Phillips collection sold privately to Weills, 1968)
As block of 6: Siegel Auction Galleries, 1970 Rarities of the World, 3/24/1970, Sale 371, lot 77
Ryohei Ishikawa, Christie's Robson Lowe sale, 9/28-29/1993, lot 648
CENSUS, LITERATURE AND EXHIBITION REFERENCES
Philip H. Ward, Jr., "United States Early Unused Blocks 1847-1869," 1960 Congress Book, page 56 (identifying block as ex Ackerman)
Michael Laurence, "10c 1869 Multiples," Chronicle 81, February 1974
New York International Philatelic Exhibition 1913 (Ackerman)
CERTIFICATION
The Philatelic Foundation (1993)
CONDITION NOTES
Fine; slight vertical crease in two center stamps, reinforced perf separations
SCOTT CATALOGUE VALUE (2019)
$18,000.00 as block and pair
HISTORY AND COMMENTARY
This block of six was joined with the block of 15 offered in lot 99--a digital reconstruction of the original block of 25 is shown below. The full-size block was owned by Ackerman, Ward and Phillips. After the Weills bought the Phillips collection in 1968, the brothers carefully separated the top two rows and subdivided those stamps into blocks of six and four.
The census of 10¢ 1869 multiples maintained by Michael Laurence since publication 45 years ago (Chronicle 81, Feb. 1974) still lists the block of 15 as the largest recorded multiple (lot 99 in this sale). It was followed by a block of nine, but that block has been reduced to a vertical block of six. As other blocks have been reduced, today the second largest unused blocks are two blocks of six, vertical and horizontal.
10c Yellow (116). Block of four with right selvage, vibrant color as fresh as the day it was printed, bright paper, gorgeous centering throughoutEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS WIDELY REGARDED AS THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 10-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE. SIMPLY PHENOMENAL IN EVERY RESPECT -- FRESHNESS OF COLOR, PAPER, CENTERING, GUM AND OVERALL APPEARANCE.
Ex Walske ("Lafayette" Collection). With 1989 and 2003 P.F. certificates
10c Yellow (116). Block of four with right guide arrow selvage, original gum, incredibly vibrant color and impression on bright white paper, natural narrow vertical gum skip along right pairVERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE. A SPECTACULAR AND RARE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF THE 10-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE. THIS RIGHT-ARROW BLOCK, WITH ITS CHOICE CENTERING AND REMARKABLE FRESHNESS, IS ONE OF THE FINEST MULTIPLES EXTANT.
Ex Caspary, where it realized $1,250 in 1956, more than double its then-current Scott Catalogue value of $600 (probably acquired by the European Connoisseur in that sale). With 2015 P.F. certificate
10c Yellow (116). Vertical block of six, original gum, hinge marks (bottom left stamp missing some gum and hinge remnant on top pair), vivid color on fresh paper, trimmed outside perforations at right and bottom, few minor perf separations sensibly reinforcedVERY FINE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF SIX OF THE 10-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE. THIS IS THE LARGEST MULTIPLE WE HAVE OFFERED SINCE KEEPING COMPUTERIZED RECORDS. THERE IS ONLY ONE LARGER BLOCK RECORDED.
This block of six was the better part of a block of nine offered in our 1984 Rarities sale (the three straight-edge stamps at left were subsequently removed). The census of 10c 1869 multiples by Michael Laurence (Chronicle, February 1974) showed the largest recorded block (15 stamps with imprint) and listed the block of nine (now reduced to six) as the second largest multiple. Two other blocks of six were recorded by Laurence, but one of them (ex Burrus) was reduced to a block of four (ex Bechtel and Zoellner). Therefore, this vertical block of six and a horizontal block of six are the two second-largest multiples after the block of 15, which is currently in the William H. Gross collection.
With 1984 P.F. and 1985 A.P.S. certificates mentioning only the perf separations. Scott Retail as block of four and pair
10c Yellow (116). Block of four with right sheet margin showing part of arrow, intense shade and impression, rich color, full original gum, three have tiny h.r., bottom right stamp Mint N.H., few perf separations sensibly reinforced at top, minute thin speck in top left stamp (misidentified as top right on certificate)VERY FINE AND FRESH. A BEAUTIFUL AND REMARKABLY CHOICE BLOCK OF THE 10-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL.
We have offered only three other blocks of four since 1997 (one was reconstructed). Two of the three had perfs into design.
Ex Rose. With 1968 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail without premium for Mint N.H. stamp or arrow position
10c Yellow (116). Reconstructed block of four (two vertical pairs), original gum, wonderful color and impression, Very Good, rare multiple, Scott Retail $9,500.00 as two original gum pairs
10c Yellow (116). Block of four, part original gum, vibrant color, perf separations minor at sides but affecting vertical perfs between stamps at bottomFINE APPEARANCE. A SCARCE BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 10-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
The Rose book records sixteen unused blocks of four or larger, but many of these are off center.
10c Yellow (116). Block of four, full original gum, vivid color, bright and fresh, bottom perfs touchA FRESH AND ATTRACTIVE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF THE 10-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL.
Ex Hind, Rust, Burrus (as a block of six) and Bechtel (in its present form)
10c Yellow (116). Block of four with right sheet margin showing part of arrow, intense shade and impression, rich color, full original gum, three have tiny h.r., bottom right Mint Never Hinged, few perf separations sensibly reinforced at top, minute thin speck in top left stamp (misidentified as top right on certificate)VERY FINE AND FRESH. A BEAUTIFUL AND REMARKABLY CHOICE BLOCK OF THE 10-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL.
The Rose book records sixteen unused blocks of four or larger, but many of these are off center. With 1968 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail without premium for Mint N.H. stamp or arrow position
16 Selected Lots , Page 1 of 2
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