Sale 962 — United States Stamps

Sale Date — Wednesday-Friday, 24-26 September, 2008

Category — 1861-66 Issue (Scott 62B-78)

Lot
Symbol
Photo/Description
Cat./Est. Value
Realized
2318
nh
Sale 962, Lot 2318, 1861-66 Issue (Scott 62B-78)1c Blue (63). Mint N.H., intense shade on brilliant paper, Very Fine and choice, with 1999 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as hinged

375
950
2319
ng
Sale 962, Lot 2319, 1861-66 Issue (Scott 62B-78)1c Blue (63). Unused (no gum), radiant color on bright paper, gorgeous centering, Extremely Fine

140
140
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2320
 
Sale 962, Lot 2320, 1861-66 Issue (Scott 62B-78)3c Pink (64). Brilliant color, well-struck "Paid" cancel, barely noticeable creases at bottom, appears Very Fine, with 1987 P.F. certificate

1,025
675
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2321
nh
Sale 962, Lot 2321, 1861-66 Issue (Scott 62B-78)3c Rose (65). Mint N.H., exceptionally well-centered, dark shade, Extremely Fine, especially desirable in Mint N.H. condition, with 2004 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as hinged

150
450
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2322
nhbl
Sale 962, Lot 2322, 1861-66 Issue (Scott 62B-78)3c Rose (65). Mint N.H. block of four, beautifully centered and with gorgeous color, exceptionally fresh, Extremely Fine, Scott Retail as hinged block of four

700
1,400
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2323
 
Sale 962, Lot 2323, 1861-66 Issue (Scott 62B-78)3c Rose (65). Bright color and nicely centered, unusual cork cancel, the back of the stamp has the intact latticework from a Leeds Patent Envelope, Very Fine

E. 200-300
110
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2324
og
Sale 962, Lot 2324, 1861-66 Issue (Scott 62B-78)3c Lake (66). Original gum, lightly hinged, rich color and detailed impression, almost Fine, with 1981 P.F. certificate

2,000
600
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2325
 
Sale 962, Lot 2325, 1861-66 Issue (Scott 62B-78)5c Buff (67). Pretty shade nicely complemented by red grid cancel, few small flaws incl. corner crease at bottom left, tiny tear at top and short perf at bottom right, otherwise Fine

1,140
300
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2326
 
Sale 962, Lot 2326, 1861-66 Issue (Scott 62B-78)5c Brown Yellow (67a). Essentially perfectly centered with margins clear of design all around, lovely bright color with a light oval grid cancel

EXTREMELY FINE. A PARTICULARLY CHOICE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1861-66 5-CENT BROWN YELLOW SHADE.

With 1990 P.F. (as No. 67) and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ 90; $2,800.00)

1,300
2,400
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2327
 
Sale 962, Lot 2327, 1861-66 Issue (Scott 62B-78)10c Yellow Green (68). Uncommonly wide Jumbo margins and practically perfect centering, lovely color and bold circular datestamp, Extremely Fine Gem, certainly one of the widest-margined centered used examples of this stamp we have ever encountered, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (VF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $740.00 as 95, $1,900.00 as 98)

60
2,300
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2328
 
Sale 962, Lot 2328, 1861-66 Issue (Scott 62B-78)24c Red Lilac (70). Phenomenal dark rich shade and early impression, clear strike of blue "Chicago Ills." double-circle datestamp, essentially perfect centering with wide balanced margins all around

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1861 ISSUE IN THE DISTINCTIVE DEEP RED LILAC SHADE AND COMPLEMENTED BY A BLUE CHICAGO DATESTAMP CANCEL. THIS STAMP IS THE QUINTESSENTIAL COMBINATION OF CENTERING, COLOR AND CANCELLATION.

We are occasionally presented with a classic stamp which creates an opportunity to talk about Ashbrook's six essentials of quality: Color, Impression, Margins, Color of Cancel, Placement of Cancel and Paper. This is certainly one of those occasions.

The myriad 24c 1861-63 shades are divided into Scott number classifications. Scott 70, the Red Lilac, encompasses a spectrum of shades. Within the Red Lilac family is a distinctive deep purplish shade, which was probably an early printing (late 1861 or early 1862). The stamp offered here is a wonderful example of this deep purplish Red Lilac. It does not have its own Scott number, but it is certainly much scarcer and more desirable than the average Red Lilac, Scott 70.

In addition to its color attributes, this stamp is beautifully cancelled in blue by the double-circle datestamp used in Chicago. The perforations create a balanced frame around the printed design, and the paper is naturally fresh and bright (in other words, it is untainted by bleaching agents). It would be difficult to imagine a finer example of the 24c Red Lilac, and, in fact, a Power Search on our website will prove the rarity of this little bird.

With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $4,000.00)

305
7,000
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2329
 
Sale 962, Lot 2329, 1861-66 Issue (Scott 62B-78)24c Red Lilac (70). Attractively centered and wonderful color, neat rimless grid cancel and bit of red transit at bottom left, Very Fine and choice, with 2002 and 2008 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85; SMQ $700.00)

300
550
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2330
 
Sale 962, Lot 2330, 1861-66 Issue (Scott 62B-78)24c Brown Lilac (70a). Choice margins and unusually well-centered, lovely color, neat interrupted bars grid cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $800.00)

225
600
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2331
 
Sale 962, Lot 2331, 1861-66 Issue (Scott 62B-78)24c Brown Lilac (70a). Lovely margins and centering, fresh color, 10-bar grid cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 1996 and 2008 P.F. certificates

225
325
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2332
 
Sale 962, Lot 2332, 1861-66 Issue (Scott 62B-78)24c Steel Blue (70b). Attractive margins and well-centered, choice Steel Blue color, light red grid cancel, Very Fine, with 1989 and 2005 P.F. certificates

915
750
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2333
 
Sale 962, Lot 2333, 1861-66 Issue (Scott 62B-78)24c Steel Blue (70b). Very attractively centered and true Steel Blue color, bold circular datestamp and part of red transit, single added perf at right, Extremely Fine appearance, with 2008 P.F. certificate

915
350
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2334
og
Sale 962, Lot 2334, 1861-66 Issue (Scott 62B-78)30c Orange (71). Original gum, bright color and beautiful Jumbo margins, almost perfectly centered

EXTREMELY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT ORANGE 1861 ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF 90 JUMBO BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE AND THE ONLY EXAMPLE TO ACHIEVE THIS GRADE. AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT STAMP TO FIND IN THE HIGHER GRADES.

The narrowly-spaced 30c 1861 plate left very little room for the 12-gauge perforations between stamps. Consequently, examples with wide margins at sides are extremely rare -- this fact is acknowledged in the Scott Catalogue footnote to No. 71.

With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90 Jumbo; SMQ $6,900.00 for 90, $15,600.00 for 95). This is the highest grade awarded to date for an original-gum stamp and the only example to achieve this grade.

2,500
11,500
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2335
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Sale 962, Lot 2335, 1861-66 Issue (Scott 62B-78)90c Blue (72). Unused (no gum), bright shade, fresh and Fine

1,500
600
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2336
og
Sale 962, Lot 2336, 1861-66 Issue (Scott 62B-78)2c Black (73). Original gum, lightly hinged, bright shade in crisp paper, Fine, with 1998 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates

400
300
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2337
ng
Sale 962, Lot 2337, 1861-66 Issue (Scott 62B-78)3c Scarlet (74). Unused (no gum), light soiling, reperfed at right (not noted on certificate), otherwise Very Fine, signed Sidney D. Harris and with 1976 P.F. certificate

7,000
1,700
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2338
og
Sale 962, Lot 2338, 1861-66 Issue (Scott 62B-78)5c Red Brown (75). Original gum, deep rich color, detailed impression, Fine, scarce in sound original-gum condition, with 1986 P.F. certificate

6,000
1,300
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2339
og
Sale 962, Lot 2339, 1861-66 Issue (Scott 62B-78)24c Lilac (78). Original gum, light hinging, exceptional centering and truly outstanding color

EXTREMELY FINE. THE 24-CENT 1861-63 ISSUE IS VERY RARE IN SOUND AND WELL-CENTERED ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION. A FAR GREATER CHALLENGE TO ACQUIRE IN THIS GRADE THAN MANY COLLECTORS REALIZE.

With 1987 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85; SMQ $4,500.00)

2,750
4,250
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2340
og
Sale 962, Lot 2340, 1861-66 Issue (Scott 62B-78)24c Grayish Lilac (78a). Original gum, h.r., excellent color and impression, centered to top, faint toned spots at bottom of vignette, otherwise Very Good, with 2008 P.F. certificate

2,750
275
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