Sale 1092 — Outstanding United States Stamps
Sale Date — Thursday-Friday, 19-20 February, 2015
Category — 1861-66, 1867-68 Grilled and 1875 Re-Issues (Scott 56-111)
3c Brown Rose, First Design (56). Mint N.H., vivid color on bright white paper, exceptionally well-centered with wide balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT 1861 FIRST DESIGN.
A Power Search review failed to find an equal to this beautiful stamp. With 1988 and 1999 P.F. certificates
3c Brown Rose, First Design (56). Mint N.H., deep rich color on bright paper, Very Fine, with 2014 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as hinged
1c Blue (63). Mint N.H., bright color, almost perfectly centered, Extremely Fine, Scott Retail as hinged
1c Blue (63). Mint N.H. bottom imprint and plate no. 9 block of 12, each stamp dot in "U" variety, deep rich color, well-centered, fresh and intactVERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN INCALCULABLY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK OF THE ONE-CENT 1861 ISSUE. ONLY EIGHT FULL IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER MULTIPLES ARE RECORDED AND THIS IS LIKELY THE ONLY ONE IN MINT NEVER-HINGED CONDITION.
The Chapin census, updated by Don Evans in his book The United States 1c Franklin, 1861-67, records only eight full plate number and imprint multiples, from Plates 9, 10 and 27. Two are recorded from Plate 9, both as larger multiples than the block of 12 offered here and the hinged block of 12 we have sold twice in recent years (most recently in 2007). This block comes from the ex-Lilly sheet of 98 (which was missing two stamps when we sold the Lilly sheets in Sale 321). It is likely that the other Plate 9 block of 12 was also reduced from one of the Chapin-listed larger multiples. We have handled three other Scott 63 plate blocks in recent years, and all were hinged. The block offered here is most likely the only Mint N.H. plate block of the 1c 1861 Issue in existence.
Ex Lilly. With 2014 P.S.E. certificate. Unlisted in Scott as a Mint N.H. plate block.
1c Blue (63). Block of six with bottom part imprint selvage, original gum, bottom center and bottom left stamps Mint N.H., radiant colorVERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL BLOCK OF SIX WITH PART IMPRINT OF THE ONE-CENT 1861 ISSUE.
This multiple lacks the four left stamps to be a complete plate block, of which eight are recorded. Scott Retail as block of four and pair with no premium for the two Mint N.H. stamps.
3c Pink (64). Wide margins, vivid color in the Pink shade, light grid cancel leaves design fully visible, Extremely Fine, with 1974 P.F. certificate
3c Rose (65). Mint N.H., outstanding centering and margins, Extremely Fine, with 1984 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as hinged
3c Lake (66). Block of four, original gum, intense shade and impressionFINE-VERY FINE. A RARE BLOCK OF THE 1861 3-CENT LAKE TRIAL PRINTING.
With 2014 P.F. certificate
5c Buff (67). Radiant color, bold strike of San Francisco cogwheel cancel and part of red circular datestamp at upper right, Very Fine, with 1993 P.S.E. certificate
24c Red Lilac (70). Crisp impression, neat strikes of Star in Circle New York Foreign Mail cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 2014 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85)
90c Blue (72). Original gum, beautiful rich color, wide margins, fresh and Very Fine, an attractive stamp in sound original-gum condition, with 2013 P.S.E. certificate
90c Blue (72). Outstanding centering with especially wide top and bottom margins, bright color, small cork cancel, reperfed at right (not noted as such on certificate), Extremely Fine appearance, with 1995 P.F. certificate
2c Black (73). Block of six, top stamps Mint N.H., others lightly hinged, detailed impression on bright paper, well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL BLOCK OF SIX OF THE 2-CENT BLACK JACK ISSUE, CONTAINING THREE MINT NEVER-HINGED STAMPS.
With 2014 P.S.E. certificate. Scott Retail as hinged block of four and pair
3c Scarlet, Imperforate (74a). Horizontal pair, large to huge margins, left stamp manuscript "J.M. Jan. 31, 1868" in three lines, presumed to be in the hand of James Macdonough, right stamp neat parallel vertical pen strokesEXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS THE UNIQUE PAIR OF THE IMPERFORATE 3-CENT SCARLET PRINTING WITH JAMES MACDONOUGH'S MANUSCRIPT INITIALS AND DATE. ONLY FOUR INITIALED EXAMPLES ARE RECORDED IN TOTAL.
The story of the 3c Scarlet has been well-documented by Jerome S. Wagshal in a series of articles appearing in the Chronicle (Nos. 56, 60, 61 and 62). Wagshal quotes statements made in 1893 and 1910 by a Washington D.C. stamp dealer, Carl F. Rothfuchs, to the effect that Rothfuchs obtained a supply of the 3c Scarlet in 1893--probably from the Post Office Department in exchange for his assistance with the Columbian Exposition--and sold them with pen marks and original gum. The Rothfuchs lot is not from the same supply acquired by John W. Scott in the late 1870's, from which stamps exist uncancelled and cancelled with a New York City Station D oval.
We record four examples of the 3c Scarlet with the initials and date: one perforated and three imperforate, including the example in the pair offered here. The "J.M. Jan. 31, 1868" was probably applied by James Macdonough, one of the National Bank Note Company founders. Although Wagshal offers some convincing evidence dating the Scarlet to 1861, these 1868-dated examples suggest an alternate theory that the Scarlet was produced about the time of the 1868 regular-production grills. The existence of numerous essays and color varieties made in 1867 and 1868, as well as actual changes in the color and paper of stamps produced in 1868, show that National was experimenting with various means to prevent stamp re-use and to improve production efficiency and quality. The Scarlet may related to this effort.
5c Red Brown (75). Well-centered with wide margins, rich color, bold target cancel, Extremely Fine, wonderful quality, with 1998 P.F. certificate
5c Brown (76). Essentially perfect centering, dark shade, light cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1984 P.F. certificate
24c Lilac (78). Bright color, crisp impression, unusually choice centering with wide and balanced margins, unobtrusive strike of target cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1863 24-CENT IN THE LILAC SHADE. A BEAUTIFUL STAMP.
Ex Hinrichs and Natalee Grace. With 1995 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $3,500.00). Only four have graded higher
24c Blackish Violet (78c). Deep rich color in this distinctive shade, neat circular grid cancel, three nibbed perfs at top somewhat harshly described as "perf faults" on accompanying certificateFINE APPEARANCE. A SCARCE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1863 24-CENT BLACKISH VIOLET, WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT SHADES OF THE 1861-66 SERIES TO OBTAIN IN ANY CONDITION.
Our census of Scott 78c, available at our website at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/78c/78c.pdf , records a total of 45 used examples of this issue, of which only 37 have been certified as genuine by the Philatelic Foundation. We also record nine on covers, plus three unused, for a total of 57 potential examples. Several need to be reexamined to confirm the shade.
Census No. 78c-CAN-45. With 2014 P.S.E. certificate
3c Rose, E. Grill (88). Barely hinged, wide margins, beautiful bright shade, Very Fine, with 1984 P.F. certificate
12c Black, E. Grill (90). Original gum, strong grill, small brownish spot of unintentional "pooling" of hand-applied gum, otherwise Fine, difficult to find with original gum
12c Black, E. Grill (90). Intense shade and impression, clearly-defined grill, cork cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 1992 and 2014 P.F. certificates
15c Black, E. Grill (91). Original gum, lightly hinged, crisp shade and excellent clarity of impressionVERY FINE. A SCARCE SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 15-CENT E GRILL.
As an indication of rarity of 15c E Grill stamps with original gum, the Scott Catalogue values original-gum condition at almost three times the value of unused without gum.
With 2013 P.F. certificate (F-VF 75)
1c Blue, F. Grill, Thin Paper (92 var). Vibrant color, clearly-defined grill, neat strike of circular datestamp, Extremely Fine example of this paper variety, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $700.00)
3c Red, F. Grill (94). Bright color on fresh paper, unusually wide margins, well-struck target cancel, clear grill, Extremely Fine and remarkably beautiful, with 1992 P.S.E. certificate
12c Black, F. Grill (97). Original gum, crisp shade and impression, fresh and Very Fine, with 2012 P.S.E. certificate
2c Black, Re-Issue (103). Unused (no gum), strong shade and clear impression, Fine, only 979 sold
5c Brown, Re-Issue (105). Attractively centered, deep rich color on brilliant white paper, bold duplex cancelVERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1861 RE-ISSUE. ONLY 38 USED EXAMPLES ARE RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS.
The 5c Re-Issue was printed from a new plate of 100 subjects, compared to the original plate of 200 in two panes. The Re-Issue plate can be identified by a notch at bottom. 10,000 stamps were printed (100 impressions). Only 672 of the 5c were sold; the remaining 9,328 were destroyed on July 16, 1884.
Our census of Scott 105 used, available at our website at http://siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/105/105.pdf , records only 38 examples.
Census No. 105-CAN-04. With 1958 P.F. certificate
12c Black, Re-Issue (107). Original gum, sharp proof-like impression, Fine, only 389 sold, with 2013 P.F. certificate
15c Black, Re-Issue (108). Original gum, intense shade and detailed impression, nearly perfect centering, brilliant fresh paper and gumEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT 1861 RE-ISSUE.
The 15c Re-Issue was printed from the original plate of 200 subjects. 10,000 stamps were printed (50 impressions). Only 397 of the 15c were sold; the remaining 9,603 were destroyed on July 16, 1884.
With 2013 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF 90; SMQ $10,000.00). The P.S.E. has graded six OG examples of Scott 108 as 90 (and none higher). However, this superbly centered and remarkably fresh stamp stands out among this group.
90c Blue, Re-Issue (111). Original gum, h.r. deep rich color on bright paper, trivial toned spot at bottom right margin, otherwise Fine, only 317 issued