Sale 1159 — 2017 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Tuesday, 27 June, 2017
Category — 1869 Pictorial Issue (Scott 112-122)
1c-24c 1869 Pictorial Issue, Specimens (112S-113S, 116S-117S, 119S, 120S). Each the issued stamp with small manuscript "X", unused (no gum), a couple items with perf flaws as to be expectedFINE-VERY FINE. A RARE GROUP OF SIX DENOMINATIONS OF THE 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE WITH SMALL MANUSCRIPT "X" MARKINGS USED TO DENOTE THAT THESE ARE SPECIMENS.
We have seen this marking used on other examples of the issue in combination with a "Specimen" overprint (see our 2012 Rarities sale, lot 138).
10c Yellow (116). Used with horizontal pair of 3c Ultramarine (114), tied by 5-Point Negative Star in Circle fancy cancel, "Hartford Ct. Mar. 25" (1870) circular datestamp on cover with printed address to Copenhagen, Denmark, red New York exchange office backstamp, German transit and large red "2-1/2" credit handstamp, cover with sealed tears at top not affecting stamps, Very Fine appearance, a colorful cover from the Warner correspondence, the rates to Denmark by N.G.U. mails were 13c prepaid and 16c unpaid, the Hartford mail clerk apparently experienced significant confusion on this point as a number of the covers from this correspondence are overpaid
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. I (118). Original gum, fresh colors, well-centered with balanced marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT TYPE I 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
This is a very difficult stamp to obtain in sound condition with original gum and nice centering. The P.S.E. Population Report statistics bear this out, with only two stamps graded higher than the example offered here.
With 1994 P.F. and 2017 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, VF 80; SMQ $9,500.00)
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. I (118). Original gum, lightly hinged, unusually choice centering with wide margins, sharp impressions with perfectly aligned vignette and frame, bright colors and overall freshness rarely encountered in this issueVERY FINE AND CHOICE. THE 15-CENT 1869 TYPE I IS VERY RARE IN THIS ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.
The 15c Type I comes from the first 1869 printing; in May 1869 the 15c went to press using the second frame plate, which produced Type II. In a condition census, both Type I and II would show similar numbers known in the top tier of original-gum condition -- probably 8 to 10 of each. However, Type I is generally a rarer stamp and carries a much higher Scott Catalogue value.
Ex "Laila". With 2000 P.F. certificate
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II (119). Tied by "New Orleans La. Apr. 5" (1869) Earliest Documented Use circular datestamp on cover to France, red "New York Paid 6 Apr. 9" credit datestamp, French transit and receiving datestamps on front and back, two of which clearly show the 1869 year date, mounting stains expertly removed from cornersVERY FINE. THE EARLIEST DOCUMENTED USE OF THE 15-CENT TYPE II 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
This was carried from New York on April 10 aboard the Inman Line's City of London, arriving Liverpool April 21.
Ex Walske
15c-90c 1869 Pictorial Inverts, Plate Proofs on Card (120aP4, 121aP4, 122aP4, 129aP4). Complete set of corner sheet-margin pairs, each with large to huge margins, from the bottom left corners of the plates and three showing edges of plate sinkage, brilliant colors, a couple small margin thin spots on 30c and 90c not affecting any of the designs, 15c with split at left edge, also far from the designs, which in all probability are the result of the removal of the sheets from the mounting frames after the Atlanta Cotton Exposition (it would seem that the sheets were mounted by spot gluing at the four corners)EXTREMELY FINE. A RARE AND BEAUTIFUL SET OF CORNER-MARGIN PAIRS OF THE 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE INVERT PLATE PROOFS ON CARD.
The card proof sheets of 100 of the four inverted high values of the 1869 Pictorial issue were prepared for and displayed at the Atlanta International Cotton Exposition in 1881. They were printed in response to the publicity surrounding the actual inverted stamps that began to appear in the 1870’s. The sheets were somehow acquired by James A. Petrie of Phillipsburg, New Jersey, at the close of the exposition. Petrie claimed that he rescued the inverts along with the trial color card proof sheets (the Atlanta trial color proofs) just before they were to be burned. For some years he tried to sell his find and in 1895 he began to advertise them in the philatelic press, finding no takers. In 1903 he sold them to James Ludovic Lindsay, the 26th Earl of Crawford, one of the great collectors of stamps, essays, proofs and philatelic literature at the turn of the 20th Century. In November 1915 the Earl of Crawford’s collection was purchased by John A. Klemann of the Nassau Stamp Company in New York. It was Klemann who eventually cut up the sheets into top and bottom plate blocks of eight (only one set remains fully intact), two sets of blocks of four (or possibly three), a few pairs and singles. Klemann retained blocks of 30 for future division but there is no record as to when those blocks were cut up.
This set of pairs was originally part of blocks of four. This is a rare opportunity to acquire a beautiful set of pairs from the key corner positions.
Scott Retail as singles
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II, Center Inverted (119b). Particularly rich frame and vignette colors, Small Star fancy cancel leaves inverted design clearly visible, light horizontal creasesFINE APPEARANCE. A FRESH AND ATTRACTIVE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL INVERT. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH THE STAR FANCY CANCEL.
Our census of Scott 119b, available at our website at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/119b/119b.pdf , records three unused and 100 used copies (there are an additional three used examples of Scott 119c). Two of the used copies are in institutions -- the Tapling Collection at the British Library and the Miller Collection at The New York Public Library.
Census No. 119b-CAN-42. With 1973 and 2010 P.F. certificates
24c Green & Violet (120). Original gum, lightly hinged, rich colors on bright paperVERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
The 24c 1869 Pictorial, even in original-gum condition, is not a rare stamp. However, centering and soundness are elusive qualities among examples of this issue.
24c Green & Violet (120). Wide margins and outstanding centering, bright colors, bold paint red cork cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE WITH A BEAUTIFUL RED CANCEL.
With 2014 P.S.A.G. certificate (95 used). Scott catalog assigns a $500.00 premium for a red cancel
30c Black, Burgoyne Die Essay on 6c Entire (121-E1 var, Undersander E43A-u). Impression at top left of 6c Purple Nesbitt entire (U64), return instructions printed at left, tiny scuff to left of essayVERY FINE. A UNIQUE ESSAY COMBINING THE UNADOPTED DESIGN FOR THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE WITH THE ISSUED 6-CENT 1864 NESBITT ENTIRE.
The unadopted Surrender of Burgoyne design is found in various colors on white or colored envelopes. Examples are scarce and are almost always found without a postal indicia. The use of this design on an issued postal stationery entire is extremely rare. We have offered only one other (ex Kuphal and "Lake Shore") and that example was printed in Orange on a 2c entire. The Undersander catalog also lists two other combinations. The only other 1869 Issue essays we have encountered on issued entires feature the 5c Washington or 10c Lincoln designs. Each of these is likely unique
30c Ultramarine and Carmine (121). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich colors, choice centering and wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL, WITH A WONDERFUL COMBINATION OF COLOR, FRESHNESS AND CENTERING.
The rarity of centered original-gum examples of the 30c 1869 with grill is somewhat obscured by the availability of off-center copies of the 30c with and without grill. If the scope were narrowed to Scott 121 only, and only grades of Very Fine or Extremely Fine were considered, we estimate that fewer than 15 examples would be counted.
With 2004 P.F. certificate
90c Carmine & Black (122). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich colors and detailed impressions, choice centering with well-proportioned marginsEXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE IN EXISTENCE. A MAGNIFICENT STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT.
The 90c 1869 Pictorial is widely admired for its beautiful engraving and dignified portrait of Abraham Lincoln. However, collectors have been frustrated in their efforts to acquire choice examples of this issue. Used 90c stamps are typically heavily cancelled, because the high denomination was cause for postal clerks to thoroughly obliterate any chance for re-use. Naturally, the significant monetary value of 90c in 1869 limited the number of unused stamps that would be saved for future collectors. Therefore, the collector ideals of "well-centered with original gum" and "lightly cancelled" are seldom obtainable in the available supply of 90c 1869's. The stamp offered here, with lightly-hinged original gum, rich color and choice centering, probably ranks among the top 1% of surviving 90c 1869's in unused state.
Ex Whitman. With 1996 P.F. certificate
90c Carmine & Black (122). Original gum, well-centered with wide margins, fresh color and detailed impressionsVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
With 2013 P.S.E. certificate
90c Carmine & Black (122). Unused (no gum), deep rich colors and proof-like impressions on bright paper, wide margins and well-centeredVERY FINE AND CHOICE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
With 1985 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85; SMQ $5,100.00)