Sale 989 — 2010 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Saturday, 19 June, 2010
Category — 1861-66 Issue, incl. Encased Postage
12c Intense Black, First Design (59). Unused (no gum), intense shade and impression, light vertical crease, some short and pulled perfs, faint toningVERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONLY SIXTEEN EXAMPLES OF THE 12-CENT 1861 ISSUE FIRST DESIGN ARE RECORDED. ONE OF THE GREAT RARITIES OF THE 1861 ISSUE -- THIS IS THE RAREST OF THE FIRST DESIGNS AND FIRST COLORS.
The 12c is the rarest of the 1861 First Designs and Colors, with a total of 16 examples recorded, including one in the Miller collection at The New York Public Library. Our census of the 12c 1861 First Design (http://www.siegelauctions.com/enc/census/59.pdf ) contains only four sound copies (three have original gum).
Census No. 59-UNC-01. PFC 58413 no longer accompanies. Last offered to the market in our 1981 Rarities sale.
1c Ultramarine (63a). Mint N.H., radiant color in the distinctive Ultramarine shade, well-proportioned margins with long and full perforationsA BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT 1861 ISSUE IN THE SCARCE ULTRAMARINE SHADE.
With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85; this shade is unlisted as unused in SMQ), quoting catalogue value for the normal shade would be very misleading -- we have offered only two other unused and one used example since keeping computerized records. Scott Retail as hinged
3c Pink (64). Original gum, very lightly hinged, perfectly centered, beautiful bright shade with strong Pink hueEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THE 3-CENT 1861 PINK IS EXTREMELY RARE IN SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION. THIS STAMP IS WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE.
Examples of the 1861 3c Pink with original gum are almost invariably creased and/or toned. This stamp is a rare exception, and its centering and color place it among the finest of the original-gum copies extant.
Ex Geisler. With 2003 P.F. certificate. Also accompanied by copy of 1956 note from Stanley Ashbrook who notes "I believe that we seldom find an unused copy in as fine a tint as this stamp"
3c Pigeon Blood Pink (64a). Radiant color in the true Pigeon Blood Pink shade, with selvage at bottom with trace of imprint, color is nicely complemented by blue grid cancel and also part of Louisville Ky. double-circle datestamp, wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING USED EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 1861 3-CENT PIGEON BLOOD PINK SHADE. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH WIDE MARGINS, THE SELVAGE SHOWING PART OF THE IMPRINT, AND ALSO A COLORED CANCELLATION.
The 3c Pigeon Blood Pink is the rarest of the 3c shades. Accompanied by immaculate orange cover with Oct. 2 Louisville double-circle datestamp addressed to Ledyard Conn. With 1988 and 2000 P.F. certificates, the former as on cover.
3c Pigeon Blood Pink (64a). Radiant color in the true Pigeon Blood Pink shade, tied by well-struck "Brownfield Me. Nov. 13, 1861" circular datestamp with day in manuscript on cover to North Chesterville Me., tiny cover tear at top well away from stampVERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 3-CENT PIGEON BLOOD PINK, WITH PHENOMENAL COLOR AS FRESH AS THE DAY IT WAS PRINTED.
A review of Pigeon Blood Pink covers shows that a majority were used in September thru November of 1861 (earliest documented use is August 21, 1861).
With 1992 P.F. certificate.
3c Rose (65). Brilliant color, used with Brazil, 1866, 200r Black (59), both tied by "N. York Steamship Feb. 26" circular datestamp on buff cover to Montgomery Ala., Brazil stamp also tied by diamond of dots, "Rio De Janeiro 29 Jan." circular datestamp, bold strike of "Due 7" handstamp, slightly reduced at right and missing part of flaps (not mentioned on accompanying certificate)VERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE BRAZIL-U.S. COMBINATION FRANKING ON A COVER TO ALABAMA VIA NEW YORK. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED BRAZIL-U.S. COMBINATION COVER CARRIED ON THE U.S. BRAZIL LINE.
The sender affixed the Brazil stamp to pay for the local Brazilian postage, but only affixed 3c in postage for the steamship rate, which was 10c. Perhaps the sender affixed the 3c stamp to pay for domestic U.S. postage, but this was insufficient to pay the steamship postage. This was carried from Rio de Janeiro via St. Thomas to New York on the first sailing of the Mississippi.
With 1995 P.F. certificate
U.S. Patriotic Cover from Belgium. Red and blue Waving Flag Patriotic bearing Belgium, 1858-61, 20c Blue and 40c Vermilion (11, 12), latter vertical strip of three, margins to in, tied by "4" in grid, matching "Anvers 8-11 61" circular datestamp to New York, neat "Br. Packet" and "Etats-Unis par Ostende 8-11 61" backstamps, red "N. York Br. Pkt. Paid Nov. 22" circular datestamp, boxed "PD" handstamp, docketed at right, stamps defective, some cover wear, still Fine, a rare usage of a U.S. Patriotic cover from an American ship captain in Belgium
Allentown Pa. Nov. 3, 1864. Clear strike of double-circle datestamp on orange cover with "C. G. Hirner, Zoological & Anatomical Chemist, Allentown Pa." illustrated design to Wurttemburg, Germany, Nov. 5 New York 3c debit marking, also "Due" in oval with manuscript "15cts", blue "America Uber Bremen" two-line handstamp, blue crayon rate, transit and receiving backstamps, trivial edgewear, Very Fine, a phenomenal design, C.G. Hirner marketed the Lehigh Cattle Powder, famous in its day as a blood purifier, as well as Farmer's Union Cattle Powder which was marketed as a compound to increase quantity and quality of milk and butter, as well as several other cure-alls for cattle, he was awarded gold medals at World's Fairs in Paris, Vienna, Philadelphia and Hamburg, apparently for all of his success he was unable to muster 15c to pay the postage for this cover sent to the town where he was born
5c Buff (67). Radiant color, gorgeous centering with wide and balanced margins all around, long and full perforations, neat strikes of grid cancel and circular datestampEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 5-CENT BUFF IN THE FINEST CONDITION ATTAINABLE.
Due to narrow spacing on the 5c plate, it is very difficult to find centered copies with the perforations clear of the design on all sides. The stamp offered here, with its choice centering, may be considered a condition rarity.
With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $7,350.00). This is the highest grade awarded to date and only three others share this grade.
5c Olive Yellow (67b). Radiant color in the true Olive Yellow shade, nicely complemented by red target cancel, well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 5-CENT IN THE RARE OLIVE YELLOW SHADE. THIS IS THE SCARCEST SHADE OF THE 5-CENT 1861 ISSUE, AND IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO FIND IN SUCH PRISTINE CONDITION.
We have offered approximately a dozen unduplicated examples since keeping computerized records. With 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $10,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded to date (five others share this grade)
3c Rose, 12c Black (65, 69). Tied by Anchor in Diamond of Dots French Maritime cancel, red “Etats-Unis Paq. Fr. Lafayette 26 Avril 65” octagonal datestamp and framed “PD” handstamp on mourning cover to St. Jean Pied de Port via Le Havre (May 9), Paris transit and receiving backstamps, sender’s endorsement “Steamer Lafayette”, slightly soiled, Very Fine, extremely rare example of the “Lafayette” datestamp, carried on the sixth crossing of the Lafayette
24c Brown Lilac (70a). Used with two 1c Blue (63) and 3c Rose (65), three stamps tied by large Boston “Paid” grids and one tied by “Paid” in oval, without Boston datestamp, red “N. York Am. Pkt. 7 Paid May 9” credit datestamp on red and blue Liberty Patriotic cover with Magee imprint to Florence, Italy, endorsed “German Mail” at bottom, red boxed “Aachen Franco” handstamp, red crayon rates, 1863 Lucerne, Genova and receiving backstampsVERY FINE. A REMARKABLE THREE-COLOR FRANKING ON A PATRIOTIC COVER TO ITALY FROM THE FAMOUS ANGELL CORRESPONDENCE. PREPAID FOR THE 28-CENT RATE TO ITALY VIA BREMEN-HAMBURG MAILS AND ONE-CENT CARRIER FEE TO THE MAILS IN BOSTON.
The franking pays the 28c rate via Bremen-Hamburg Mails, plus 1c for the carrier fee still in effect prior to July 1, 1863. The cover was carried on the North German Lloyd Line’s New York which arrived in Bremen on May 24.
With 2008 P.F. certificate
24c Red Lilac (70). Horizontal pair, tied by two neat strikes of waffle grids, red "New-Haven Ct. Jan. 20" double-circle datestamp on 1865 albino embossed Patriotic cover to Scotland, neat strikes of Johnstone and Paisley backstamps, slightly reduced at right, few minor repaired edge tears and expertly restored along edges, Very Fine appearance, a scarce and desirable double-rate Patriotic usage to Scotland
30c Orange (71). Used with 5c Brown, 10c Yellow Green (68, 76), tied by grids, red "N. York Br. Pkt. Paid Jun. 3" circular datestamp on yellow cover to Shanghai, China, endorsed "Via Southampton" and with magenta manuscript "40" credit, red "1d" Colonial rate handstamp, red 1863 London transit, Hong Kong and receiving backstamps, stamps with few tiny flaws from placement at edge of cover, barely reduced at left, Very Fine, a colorful franking
24c Lilac (78). Original gum, lightly hinged, rich color and detailed impression, wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A STUNNING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT LILAC 1863 ISSUE. SCARCE IN SUCH CHOICE CONDITION.
Although the 24c 1861-66 Issue exists in large quantities of used stamps and a fair quantity of off-center original-gum examples, all of the shades are rare in higher grades with original gum. This superb example is remarkable not only for its centering and gum, but there are no traces of toning that often plague original-gum examples.
With 2006 P.F. certificate
Dougan, Hatter, New York, 5c Red Brown (EP68). Stamp shows full "Five Cents" value label and has rich color, mica has small cracks, case is intact and in excellent conditionFINE. AN ATTRACTIVE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 5-CENT DOUGAN THE HATTER ENCASEMENT, OF WHICH FEWER THAN FIVE ARE REPORTED KNOWN.
The Ford sale catalogue (Stack's 6/23/2004, lot 459) reports "fewer than five known" of this elusive Dougan the Hatter 5c encased postage stamp. With 2009 P.F. certificate
White, The Hatter, New York, 1c Blue (EP178). Intact mica with only very slight lamination along edge, stamp with some trivial wrinkling as are all known examplesVERY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT "WHITE, THE HATTER" ENCASED POSTAGE ISSUE. VERY FEW ARE KNOWN. ONE OF THE GREAT RARITIES OF ENCASED POSTAGE COLLECTING.
George H. White sold hats and furs from a store on the ground floor below P.T. Barnum's museum. This is the first we have offered since keeping computerized records.
With 2010 P.F. certificate as completely sound.