Sale 956 — The Jay Hoffman Collection of United States Stamps
Sale Date — Thursday-Friday, 8-9 May, 2008
Category — 1851-56 Issue
1c Blue, Ty. I (5). Position 7R1E, clear to large margins all around including small part of sheet margin at top, rich color in the distinctive bright Plate 1 Early shade, proof-like impression, neat strike of "New-York Nov." circular datestamp leaves design clearly visible, shallow filled thin at bottom, also a small slight crease not mentioned on accompanying certificateEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. POSITION 7R1E -- THE SEVENTH STAMP IN THE RIGHT PANE OF PLATE 1 EARLY -- IS THE ONLY ONE OF THE 1,000 POSITIONS USED TO PRINT IMPERFORATE ONE-CENT STAMPS THAT SHOWS THE COMPLETE DESIGN (TYPE I). ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH THE MARGINS CLEAR OF THE DESIGN ALL AROUND.
The published census compiled by Jerome S. Wagshal contains at least 98 unduplicated records of Scott 5. There are probably no more than ten examples existing outside of the Wagshal census population. Therefore, the 1c 1851 Type I is the rarest of all United States stamps issued regularly prior to the 1868 Grills.
Because of the significance attached to the outer portions of the 1c 1851 design, rare types that have been carefully cut apart, so as not to impinge on any part of the design, are extremely desirable. The narrow spacing between stamps in the sheet and the users' indifference to the outlying ornamentation during separation are factors that contributed to the great rarity of four-margin examples. The example offered here, with margins clear of the design all around and with a light cancel not obscuring the characteristics of the type, is one of the best-appearing examples of this rarity.
Wagshal Census No. 5-CAN-043. With 1997 P.F. certificate stating "genuine with a thin spot"
1c Blue, Ty. Ib (5A). Position 5R1E, unused (no gum), large margins to clear incl. sheet margin at top, brilliant color, faint corner crease at top right, light diagonal crease at top, faint vertical scoring line at left entirely in marginEXTREMELY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 1851 ONE-CENT TYPE IB IMPERFORATE ISSUE. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL UNITED STATES CLASSICS TO OBTAIN IN UNUSED CONDITION.
Type Ib was produced only as an imperforate stamp. Six positions on Plate 1 Early furnished stamps qualifying as Type Ib--Positions 3-6R and 8-9R--distinguished by the complete design at top and nearly complete design at bottom. When first entered on the plate, these six positions (as well as 7R1E) had the complete design at top and bottom. However, unlike 7R, small portions of the bottoms were burnished away.
When Mr. Hoffman acquired this stamp privately, he asked us to determine how many unused examples of Scott 5A were known. A thorough search of past auctions and our own extensive records produced a result that surprised us. The unique block of eight from Pate 1E contains Position 7R1E (Scott 5) and five Type Ib stamps (with faults). The famous ex-Waterhouse copy of Position 7R1E is joined with a pair of Type Ib stamps (this unused unit is currently owned by William H. Gross). The multiples, containing a total of seven Type Ib stamps, really do not fit the needs of collectors who want a single unused example of Scott 5A. We located only three unused singles, and we were surprised at the conspicuous absence of any unused Scott 5A stamps in major name sales and the Wagshal exhibit.
With 2008 P.F. certificate. Scott Catalogue value is grossly misleading given the rarity of this stamp -- Scott 6 in original-gum condition catalogues more than twice as much, yet it is not nearly as rare as Scott 5A.
1c Blue, Ty. Ia (6). Position 92R4, unused (traces of original gum), large margin at right, other sides in, deep rich Plate 4 color, completely soundFINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT TYPE IA IMPERFORATE STAMP -- ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT STAMPS TO OBTAIN IN UNUSED CONDITION.
Stamps printed from Plate 4 were issued in April, May and briefly in June 1857 before perforations were introduced. The relatively small number of imperforate Plate 4 stamps issued during this period explains the rarity and desirability of any of the imperforate stamp types produced from this plate (Ia, Ic, II, III and IIIa). The extremely rare Type Ia, showing the full design at bottom, was furnished only by 18 of the 200 subjects on Plate 4 (the remaining two bottom-row positions were sub-type Ic).
As an indication of rarity, the last unused example of Scott 6 we offered was in our 2001 Rarities sale. Prior to that our 1999 auction of the Golin Collection contained an example which was creased and thinned -- a stamp with faults in a collection whose owner focused on condition.
With 1997 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail with original gum is $40,000.00. Scott Retail as no gum
1c Blue, Ty. II (7). Original gum, single hinge mark, large even margins all around, deep rich color and proof-like impressionEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1851 ONE-CENT TYPE II, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
With 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $5,000.00). Only two have graded higher to date and this is the only example to achieve this grade.
1c Blue, Ty. III, Position 99R2 (8). Three large margins, in at top, showing this position's characteristic double transfer at top right and break in bottom line, nice color on bright paper, bold strike of grid cancel, tiny thin speck at top not mentioned on accompanying certificateFINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 1851 ONE-CENT IMPERFORATE TYPE III FROM POSITION 99R2.
Type III is defined by breaks in the outer lines at both top and bottom. Many Type III stamps have breaks that were created or enlarged by plate wear. Since the wear occurred over a period of time, a majority of stamps of this type (both unused and used) have small breaks in at least one line. The most notable exception is Position 99R2. According to the Neinken book, "The 99R2 stamp is a fresh entry, that was short transferred both at top and bottom, over an original entry that had been erased... The reason that 99R2 is the finest example of Type III is because of its very short transfer at top and at bottom, giving us the wide breaks in these lines." (p. 184).
With 1998 A.P.S. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. IIIa (8A). Plate 4, large part original gum, full margins to just in, deep rich color and proof-like impressionVERY FINE. AN EYE-CATCHING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE IMPERFORATE 1851 ONE-CENT TYPE IIIA.
Ex Geisler. With 1990 and 2007 P.F. certificates
3c Orange Brown, Ty. II (10A). Original gum, huge margins all around incl. part of adjoining stamp at top, deep rich color and proof-like impressionEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1851 3-CENT IMPERFORATE ORANGE BROWN ISSUE.
Due to the narrow spacing on the plate, this issue rarely comes with margins as large as the stamp offered here. This should be considered a true condition rarity.
With 1993 and 2000 P.F. certificates.
3c Dull Red, Ty. I (11). Original gum, lightly hinged, huge margins to clear incl. sheet margin at bottom, pastel shade, Very Fine and choice, with 1992 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown (12). Large even margins all around, part original gum, bright color and detailed impressionEXTREMELY FINE. A RARE SOUND AND FULL-MARGINED PART ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1856 ISSUE.
Sound, original-gum examples of the 5c 1856 Issue are extremely rare, and probably fewer than six exist with margins around the entire design.
With 2006 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90 POG; $55,200.00 as OGph). Scott Retail as with gum
10c Green, Ty. II (14). Original gum, lightly hinged, large margins to full at top, rich color on crisp paperVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE IMPERFORATE 1855 10-CENT TYPE II.
With 2005 P.F. certificate
10c Green, Ty. III (15). Original gum, large even margins, rich color on bright paperEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE IMPERFORATE 1855 10-CENT TYPE III.
With 2006 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $7,350.00)
10c Green, Ty. IV (16). Position 55L1, recut at bottom, traces of original gum, large margins to clear, rich color, expertly repaired in left margin, some toning at topFINE APPEARANCE. A RARE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1855 10-CENT TYPE IV WITH ORIGINAL GUM, WHICH IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL CLASSIC UNITED STATES STAMPS.
As an indication of rarity, we have offered only nine unused copies (four without gum, five with gum) in all of our Rarities sales and in the last 14 years of auctions. The last time we sold an example with any original gum was in the 1999 Golin sale (Sale 812).
With 1990 A.P.S. certificate. Scott Retail as no gum $16,000.00. Scott Retail as with gum
12c Black (17). Original gum, lightly hinged, large margins to ample at sides, intense shade and proof-like impressionVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1851 ISSUE. SCARCE IN SUCH WONDERFUL CONDITION.
As multiples demonstrate, the spacing between stamps on the plate was very narrow. Sound original-gum examples with four margins are great rarities, and most have been harvested from larger multiples. A search of our computerized records found very few sound original-gum examples with four margins such as the example offered here -- the last one we sold was in October 2006.
With 1999 P.F. certificate