Sale 1174 — The J. R. Helton, Jr. Collection of Used United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday, 7 March, 2018
Category — 1851-56 Issue (Scott 5-17)
1c Blue, Ty. Ib (5A). Position 3R1E, full margins to just barely touched at lower right, showing double transfer especially clear within letters, wonderfully bright early shade, sharp impression, bold New York circular datestampVERY FINE. A SOUND AND ATTRACTIVE EXAMPLE OF THE 1851 ONE-CENT TYPE Ib FROM PLATE ONE EARLY.
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 burnished away.
With 2006 and 2017 P.F. certificate (VF 80).
1c Blue, Ty. Ia (6). Position 97L4 with Curl on Shoulder plate variety, mostly large margins to clear at lower right, deep rich Plate 4 color nicely complemented by blue circular datestampVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1851 ONE-CENT TYPE Ia IMPERFORATE, SHOWING THE CURL ON SHOULDER PLATE VARIETY.
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).
The Curl on Shoulder variety resulted from a tiny thread adhering to the relief on the transfer roll.
With 1989, 2000 and 2017 P.F. certificates
1c Blue, Ty. III (8). Plate 4, huge margins all around including significant portion of stamp at left, showing wide breaks in lines at top and bottom (the defining characteristic of Type III), intense shade and impression, perfect strike of "Jersey City N.J. Apr. 18" (inverted date slug) circular datestampEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SPECTACULAR USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1851 IMPERFORATE ONE-CENT TYPE III GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. A MAGNIFICENT STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT.
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 not only for the clear breaks, which are evident at both top and bottom, but for its overall condition and perfectly struck datestamp cancel, making it one of the most eye-appealing examples of Type III known.
With 1975 P.F. and 2012 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $8,750.00). Only four have graded higher.
1c Blue, Ty. IV (9). Huge to large margins all around, rich color, light face-free cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2012 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $1,450.00)
1c Blue, Ty. IV (9). Position 65R1L, large to huge margins including parts of adjoining stamps at right and bottom, deep rich color, town circular datestamps, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2012 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $925.00)
3c Dull Red, Ty. II (11A). Huge margins all around, radiant color beautifully complemented by neat blue Aug. 13 circular datestamp, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1998 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $525.00)
5c Red Brown (12). Full to large margins all around, deep rich color on bright paper, lightly struck circular datestamp, Extremely Fine, with 2013 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $1,375.00)
10c Green, Ty. I (13). Large to full margins, portion of sheet margin at bottom where the key type characteristics appear, bright shade, bold strike of circular datestamp, Extremely Fine, with 1984, 2001 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85; SMQ $1,225.00)
10c Green, Ty. II (14). Large balanced margins all around, intense shade and impression, well-struck "New Orleans May 9" circular datestamp, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2011 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $650.00)
10c Green, Ty. III (15). Huge margins, strong color on bright paper, neatly struck "Oct. 12, 1857" circular datestamp with integral "Paid", Extremely Fine Gem, with 1984 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $650.00)
10c Green, Ty. IV (16). Position 65L1, recut at top, large margins, deep rich color with beautifully contrasting red New York circular datestamp, Extremely Fine, the scarce Type IV is rarely encountered cancelled by a red datestamp, with 1989 and 2013 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85)