Sale 804 — The Robert Zoellner Collection of United States
Sale Date — Thursday-Saturday, 8-10 October, 1998
Category — 1875 Re-Issue of 1869 Pictorial Issue
1c Buff, Re-Issue (123). Block of four, full original gum, lightly hinged, beautiful intense shade and impression on bright paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A VERY RARE BLOCK, ESPECIALLY IN THIS CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.
Ex Bechtel
2c Brown, Re-Issue (124). Block of four, full original gum, proof-like color and impression on bright paperEXTREMELY FINE AND CHOICE BLOCK. EXTREMELY SCARCE AS AN ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK.
Ex Bechtel
6c Blue, Re-Issue (126). Block of four, full original gum, small brown inclusion in gum barely shows thru, incredibly choice centering, bright color and fresh paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM QUALITY. THE ONLY RECORDED BLOCK OF THE 6-CENT 1869 RE-ISSUE.
Ex Worthington and Bechtel
10c Yellow, Re-Issue (127). Block of four, full original gum, lightly hinged, brilliant color on bright fresh paper, couple nibbed perfs and tiny tear in bottom margin of bottom left stampEXTREMELY FINE. THE BEST-CENTERED OF THE FOUR EXTANT BLOCKS OF THE 10-CENT 1869 RE-ISSUE.
Our records (confirmed with Michael Laurence) contain four 10c Re-issue blocks, including one Fine centered to upper left (perf separations reinforced), two blocks with Very Fine centering (one has small repair), and this block with Extremely Fine centering. Ex Worthington, Caspary, Lilly and Bechtel. With 1968 P.F. certificate
12c Green, Re-Issue (128). Block of four, original gum, well-centered, deep rich color and proof-like impression, minute thin speck in area of hinge removal on bottom right stampEXTREMELY FINE. THE ONLY RECORDED BLOCK OF THE 12-CENT 1869 RE-ISSUE.
Ex Worthington and Bechtel
15c Brown & Blue, Re-Issue (129). Block of four, full original gum, beautifully centered with intense colors and impressions, small faint ink spot between right vertical pairEXTREMELY FINE. OF THE TWO RECORDED 15-CENT 1869 RE-ISSUE BLOCKS, ONLY THIS ONE HAS ORIGINAL GUM.
Ex Worthington and Bechtel
1c Buff, Re-Issue (123). Perfectly centered, deep rich color, neat oval New York cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, very rare in this quality, with 1988 P.F. certificate
2c Brown, Re-Issue (124). Well-centered, neat New York oval grid cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, the extreme rarity and elusiveness of the 2c 1869 Re-issue in choice used condition is disguised by the nominal $400 Scott value--worth several times that figure--with 1986 P.F. certificate
3c Blue, Re-Issue (125). Well-centered with wide margins, clear strike of New York City oval grid, unmistakable Re-issue color and impressionEXTREMELY FINE. THE FINEST OF THE DOZEN OR SO USED COPIES OF THE 3-CENT 1869 RE-ISSUE--THE RAREST USED VALUE OF THE SET.
Ex Juhring and Hopkins (Christies Jun. 12, 1989, where it realized $25,300). With 1978 P.F. certificate. Scott Catalogue notes "Very few authenticated sound used copies of No. 125 are recorded. The used value is for an attractive example with minimal faults" (our emphasis)
6c Blue, Re-Issue (126). Perfectly centered, clear New York City oval grid cancel, fresh color and paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THE 6-CENT 1869 RE-ISSUE IS VERY SCARCE USED AND EXCEEDINGLY RARE IN THIS CHOICE QUALITY.
With 1981 P.F. certificate
10c Yellow, Re-Issue (127). Virtually perfect centering with wide margins and vivid color, bold New York City registry oval, very freshEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB AND RARE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1869 RE-ISSUE.
With 1987 P.F. certificate
12c Green, Re-Issue (128). Absolutely perfect centering, wide even margins, deep rich color, clear strike of New York City oval grid, trivial tiny corner creases at topEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF THE MOST ELUSIVE OF THE 1869 RE-ISSUES IN USED CONDITION.
The Rose book estimates 15-25 extant used copies. With 1970 P.F. certificate
15c Brown & Blue, Re-Issue (129). Extra wide margins, deep rich colors and proof-like impressions, neatly cancelledEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND SCARCE 15-CENT 1869 RE-ISSUE.
With 1985 P.F. certificate
24c Green & Violet, Re-Issue (130). Remarkably well-centered, beautiful intense colors and impressions, lightly cancelledEXTREMELY FINE. THE 24-CENT 1869 RE-ISSUE IS FAR SCARCER IN CHOICE USED CONDITION THAN UNUSED.
With 1991 P.F. certificate
30c Blue & Carmine, Re-Issue (131). Extraordinary wide margins and nearly perfect centering, vibrant colors on bright fresh paper, neat New York City oval registry cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. ONE OF THE FINEST USED 30-CENT 1869 RE-ISSUES EXTANT.
The Scott Catalogue values an unused 30c with gum more than a used copy, but this stamp is decidedly scarcer in used condition
90c Carmine & Black, Re-Issue (132). Horizontal pair, superb margins and centering, neat target cancels, brilliant frame color and intense vignette impression on bright white paperEXTREMELY FINE. BY FAR THE FINER OF TWO RECORDED USED PAIRS, WHICH ARE THE ONLY KNOWN USED MULTIPLES OF THE 90-CENT 1869 RE-ISSUE.
This pair is part of a "set" of bicolor 1869 Re-issue pairs--15c, 24c, 30c and 90c values--each cancelled by targets. The 15c and 24c from this group also have portions of blue crayon strokes applied to registered mail passing through the British post office. The existence of this set was revealed in the Aug. 1985 Chronicle article. It is believed that the four pairs were originally used on one or more pieces of registered mail addressed to the English stamp collector, Sir Nicholas Waterhouse, from whose collection the four pairs emanated.
Ex Waterhouse, Juhring and Sheriff. With 1978 P.F. certificate. Unlisted as a pair in Scott
90c Carmine & Black, Re-Issue (132). Choice centering with wide even margins, rich color and impression, bold New York City oval grid cancelEXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE RAREST OF THE 1869 RE-ISSUES IN USED CONDITION.
With 1978 P.F. certificate
1c Buff, 1880 Re-Issue (133). Well-centered, rich color, clearly struck Wheel of Fortune fancy cancel, a mass-produced type sold to post offices during the 1870's and 1880's--very rare on the 1c 1880 Re-issue--Extremely Fine, ex Sheriff