Sale 1037 — United States and Foreign Stamps and Covers
Sale Date — Monday-Friday, 10-14 December, 2012
Category — 1c 1851-56 Issue (Scott 5-9)
1c Blue, Ty. I (5). Position 7R1E, full margin at top to just barely in at bottom plumes and side ornaments, beautiful bright Plate 1 Early color, neat strike of Mobile Ala. circular datestampFRESH AND VERY FINE. A RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF POSITION 7R1E -- THE SEVENTH STAMP IN THE RIGHT PANE OF PLATE 1 EARLY -- THE ONLY ONE OF THE 1,000 POSITIONS USED TO PRINT IMPERFORATE ONE-CENT STAMPS THAT SHOWS THE COMPLETE DESIGN (TYPE I).
The published census compiled by Jerome S. Wagshal (available at our website at http://siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/5/5.pdf ) 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. This stamp has not been offered to the market since the consignor purchased it in a Siegel auction in 1969.
Wagshal Census No. 5-CAN-036. Ex Dr. Simon. Purple Buhler backstamp. With 1964 P.F. certificate.
1c Blue, Ty. Ib (5A). Positions 4-6R1E, horizontal strip of three contiguous Type Ib positions, large top sheet margin, other sides full to just in, wonderful bright Plate 1 Early color, neat strikes of "New Haven Ct. -- Nov." circular datestamp, vertical crease and scissors-cuts mostly between right stamps, left stamp thin spots and faint vertical creaseFINE-VERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN IMPORTANT 1851 ONE-CENT ISSUE MULTIPLE FROM THE TOP ROW OF PLATE ONE EARLY, COMPRISING THREE RARE TYPE Ib POSITIONS, INCLUDING 6R1E, ONE OF THE TWO BEST EXAMPLES OF TYPE Ib. THIS STRIP CONTAINS THE LARGEST NUMBER OF TYPE Ib POSITIONS KNOWN IN A SINGLE USED MULTIPLE.
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 ironed out when the entries were made below them. Positions 6R and 8R had less of the bottom erased than the other Type Ib positions, and for this reason they are more desirable examples of the type. Although Positions 3-6R1E could form a strip of four, no such multiple has been recorded in used condition. Only the original-gum block from Positions 4-9/14-15R1E (Wagshal Census 5-UNC-002) contains a larger number of Type Ib positions than this strip.
Scott Retail as pair and single.
1c Blue, Ty. II-Ib-Ib (7-5A-5A). Positions 2-4R1E, horizontal strip of three, left stamp Type II, right pair Type Ib, large margins to in at top, brilliant color, bold strikes of grid cancel, right stamp small thin spot, center stamp small natural inclusion and tiny toned spot at bottom right, faint pressed-out crease between left stamps is barely visible even in fluidFINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE STRIP OF THREE FROM THE TOP ROW OF PLATE ONE EARLY, CONTAINING TWO TYPE Ib STAMPS AND A TYPE II STAMP. THIS IS THE FIRST STRIP OF THREE FROM THESE POSITIONS WE HAVE OFFERED SINCE KEEPING COMPUTERIZED RECORDS.
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 ironed out when the entries were made below them.
Only three positions from the top row of the right pane furnish Type II stamps, which are noticeably more complete at top. There are only two possible places that will yield combination pairs -- Positions 2-3R1E and 9-10R1E.
Scott Retail as combination pair and single of Scott 5A.
1c Blue, Ty. Ib (5A). Position 9R1E, full margins to barely touched, beautiful Plate 1 Early color, light strike of blue circular datestampFRESH AND FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 1851 ONE-CENT IMPERFORATE TYPE Ib.
Type Ib comes from only six positions on Plate 1E: Positions 3-6, 8 and 9R1E.
1c Blue, Ty. Ib (5A). Position 8R1E, large margins to barely in at bottom, pretty shade nicely complemented by blue grid cancel, tiny thin speck at bottom, tiny toned spotFINE APPEARANCE. A SCARCE EXAMPLE OF THE 1851 ONE-CENT TYPE Ib FROM PLATE ONE EARLY, FROM ONE OF THE TWO POSITIONS THAT FURNISHED THE BEST TYPE Ib EXAMPLES.
Type Ib was produced only as an imperforate stamp from Plate 1 Early. Six positions on Plate 1E 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 ironed out when the entries were made below them. Positions 6R and 8R had less of the bottom erased than the other Type Ib positions, and for this reason they are more desirable examples of the type.
1c Blue, Ty. Ia (6). Position 96L4, large margins to barely touched at upper right, deep rich color on bright paper, neat strike of large Boston "Paid" gridVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE IMPERFORATE 1851 ONE-CENT TYPE Ia, WHICH CLEARLY SHOWS THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TYPE.
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).
1c Blue, Ty. Ia (6). Position 92L4, large margins on sides to just in at top, enormous bottom margin clearly shows the key design characteristics, rich color, two neat penstroke cancels leave design clearly visibleA FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 1851 ONE-CENT TYPE Ia IMPERFORATE.
Despite this type originating in the bottom row, and therefore with no stamps below it, examples showing wide margins at bottom are very much the exception.
With 2010 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail with non-pen cancel $13,000.00. Considering the fact that a light pen cancel leaves the design characteristics unmasked, the reduced Scott value for a pen-cancelled No. 6 seems unjustified.
1c Blue, Ty. Ic (6b). Position 91R4, three large margins showing plumes at bottom, ample top margin, two pen strokes and rim of circular datestamp, crease at right, otherwise Very Fine example of this rare type, this stamp from the bottom row is an F Relief position, but the right plume is not quite complete, which distinguishes it from Type Ia positions in the same row
1c Blue, Ty. II, IV, Triple Transfer, One Inverted (7, 9). Singles from the early and late states of Plate 1, both with large to huge margins and substantial parts of their bottom left sheet corner margins, former light circular datestamp, latter bold rimless grid cancel, small thin spot and minor toning spots on back respectively, Extremely Fine appearance
1c Blue, Ty. II (7). Vertical strip of three, Position 70/80/90L1E, three huge margins incl. bottom right corner interpane margin, ample at top, fresh color, bold manuscript cancel, top stamp weak curved line at top, almost qualifies as Ty. IIIa, Very Fine; bottom pair Extremely Fine Gems
1c Blue, Ty. II (7). Vertical strip of three, Positions 10/20/30R1E, Position 10 the only Ty. II position on plate one early to show complete design at top, margins virtually all around, dark color and clear impression from a later printing, each with neat grid cancel, Position 20 small surface flaw at bottom right, otherwise Fine-Very Fine, Position 10 is a seldom-seen and important item for the 1c 1851-57 specialist
1c Blue, Ty. II, Plate 2 Crack (7 var). Reconstruction of the Plate 2 crack with Positions 1-3/12-13/23/33L2, Positions 1L is the dropped-relief variety, Position 2 with large to huge margins incl. part of top left sheet corner margin (Position 2 and 3 creases, Position 1 tiny thin spot), phenomenal Extremely Fine appearance; others Fine, it it believed that the crack existed on all sheets printed and extended into Position 33 later, as a result is difficult to find from the imperforate printing
1c Blue, Ty. II, Plate 3 (7). Horizontal strip of three, margins essentially all around, shows traces of two adjoining stamps at top, unmistakable deep shade characteristic of this printing, neat circular datestamps, faults (creases), almost unnoticeable on left stamp, Very Fine-Extremely Fine appearance and rare, with 2011 P.S.E. certificate, listed in Scott but unpriced as a strip of three, Scott Retail as used single and pair
1c Blue, Ty. II-II/II-II/III-II (7-7/7-7/8-7). Positions 79-80/89-90/99-100R2, block of six containing Position 99R2, original gum, h.r. at top, huge margins to just in at top, including bottom right corner sheet margins, Position 89R2 with pronounced double transfer, vertical crease affects right stamps, top left stamp sealed tear at top, the most important stamp (bottom left, Position 99R2) is completely soundVERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF SIX FROM THE BOTTOM RIGHT CORNER OF THE RIGHT PANE OF PLATE 2. THIS PHENOMENAL MULTIPLE CONTAINS THE ONLY TWO STAMPS ON THE PLATE THAT ARE NOT TYPE II. IT ALSO CONTAINS TWO OF THE MOST PRONOUNCED DOUBLE TRANSFERS ON ANY CLASSIC UNITED STATES PRINTING PLATE, ONE OF WHICH IS THE FAMOUS POSITION 99R2. A MULTIPLE OF THE HIGHEST ORDER OF RARITY.
Plate 2 was made in late 1855, and consists of 198 stamps that are Type II, one position that is Type III (99R2) and one that is Type IIIA (100R2).
Guide dots were used to correctly lay out the spacing for the plate. According to the Neinken book, Positions 79 and 89 were transferred perfectly using their guide dots. However, the guide dot to the south-east of Position 88R2, which was used to align the single B Relief for Position 99R2, was placed far out of line. The misplaced dot was accidentally used and the bed of the press was moved too far, resulting in the bottom part of the A Relief being transferred into the bottom part of Position 89 (and in the margin below this position) by mistake. "The original entry of Position 99R was out of place and so it was erased or burnished out, but seemingly no attempt was made to erase the parts of the A Relief transferred into the bottom of Position 89R."
When the fresh entry was made in Position 99R a full transfer of the design was not possible without running into the error in Position 89R. The position was therefore short transferred at top, and apparently also at bottom, creating the finest example of Type III found on any plate (see pp. 183-184 of Neinken book).
With copy of 1981 P.F. certificate. From our 1981 Rarities sale and offered to the market for the first time in 31 years. Scott Retail as block of four of No. 7 and pair of these positions. This item now has a 2012 P.F. certificate, which can be viewed at: http://www.siegelauctions.com/2012/1037/1406_cert.pdf . Position 100R2 is an early state Type II, and not Type IIIa.
1c Blue, Ty. III, Position 99R2 (8). Huge margins to full, including sheet margin at bottom, deep rich color, light strike of grid cancel leaves the type characteristics clearly visible, small filled-in thin spot, faint vertical crease, slight toning at topVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A SCARCE FOUR-MARGIN EXAMPLE OF THE 1851 IMPERFORATE ONE-CENT TYPE III FROM POSITION 99R2. THIS POSITION PRODUCED THE BEST EXAMPLE OF TYPE III, WITH THE WIDEST BREAKS AT TOP AND BOTTOM.
Plate 2 was made in late 1855, and consists of 198 stamps that are Type II, one position that is Type III (99R2) and one that is Type IIIA (100R2).
Guide dots were used to correctly lay out the spacing for the plate. According to the Neinken book, Positions 79 and 89 were transferred perfectly using their guide dots. However, the guide dot to the south-east of Position 88R2, which was used to align the single B Relief for Position 99R2, was placed far out of line. The misplaced dot was accidentally used and the bed of the press was moved too far, resulting in the bottom part of the A Relief being transferred into the bottom part of Position 89 (and in the margin below this position) by mistake. "The original entry of Position 99R was out of place and so it was erased or burnished out, but seemingly no attempt was made to erase the parts of the A Relief transferred into the bottom of Position 89R."
When the fresh entry was made in Position 99R a full transfer of the design was not possible without running into the error in Position 89R. The position was therefore short transferred at top, and apparently also at bottom, creating the finest example of Type III found on any plate (see pp. 183-184 of Neinken book).
Signed Ashbrook.
1c Blue, Ty. III (8). Huge margins to full incl. part of adjoining stamp at right, rich color on bright paper, unobtrusive strike of circular datestamp, clear breaks at both top and bottomEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE 1851 ONE-CENT TYPE III IMPERFORATE, WITH WIDE MARGINS, WONDERFUL COLOR AND IN SOUND CONDITION.
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, the majority of stamps of this type (both unused and used) has small breaks in at least one line. This stamp is notable both for its overall condition and also for the clear breaks which are evident at both top and bottom.
1c Blue, Ty. III (8). Plate 4, three large to huge margins, ample at top, clear breaks in outer framelines at top and bottom, lovely color and sharp impression, partial circular datestamp across top leftVERY FINE. AN EXCEPTIONAL USED EXAMPLE OF THE IMPERFORATE ONE-CENT 1851 ISSUE FROM PLATE FOUR.
With 1999 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. III (8). Plate 4, full to large margins, clearly showing the design characteristics with a wide break at top and clear break at bottom, bright color, neat pen cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 1981 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. IIIa (8A). Plate 4, disturbed original gum, margins all around except just in to frameline at bottom, deep rich color, Very Fine, attractive example of this type and difficult to find in unused condition with original gum, with 1992 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. II-IIIa (7, 8A). Positions 95-96R1E, horizontal pair, B-A Reliefs, right stamp Ty. IIIa, large to huge margins virtually all around including bottom sheet margin, beautiful Plate 1 Early color, New York circular datestamp, minute scuff speck in right margin, clear of design and of little consequence, otherwise Extremely Fine, handsome and scarce combination pair
1c Blue, Ty. IIIa (8A). Position 77R4, large to huge margins, beautiful color and clear impression, wide break in top frameline, neat circular datestamp, Extremely Fine
1c Blue, Ty. IIIa (8A). Plate 1E, margins all around, large at left, beautiful pastel color with clear sharp impression and neatly cancelled by seven-bar grid, Very Fine and choice, with 2012 P.S.E. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. IIIa (8A). Position 38R1E, huge margins to barely in at bottom, lovely color and neat grid cancel, Fine, with 1998 P.F. certificate for strip of three
1c Blue, Ty. IV (9). Position 41R1L showing cracked plate, huge margins incl. parts of adjoining stamps at top and bottom and left interpane margin, gorgeous deep color and early impression (surface cracks are visible but not as strong as on later impressions), bold blue Mich. circular datestamp, light thin spot in margin clear of design, Extremely Fine Gem, ex West
1c Blue, Ty. IV (9). Position 10L1L, margins all around incl. top right interpane margin with centerline and guide dot, rich color, unusual cork cancel, Very Fine, scarce and desirable position single
1c Blue, Ty. IV (9). Position 1L1L, recut twice at bottom, large to enormous margins incl. part of adjoining stamp at bottom and 18mm left sheet margin, fresh color with light indistinct cancel, Very Fine and choice, desirable position piece
1c Blue, Ty. IV (9). Vertical strip of three, Positions 1/11/21R1L, all different recut types, ample to huge margins incl. top left interpane margin, neat circular datestamp cancels, Very Fine