Sale 1224 — 2020 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 30 June-1 July, 2020
Category — 1869 Pictorial Issue
1c-90c 1869 Pictorial, Plate Proofs on India (112P3-122P3). Blocks of four, including both 15c types, large margins, rich colors, 10c slightly oxidized, few small flaws as usually seen on this fragile paperVERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A DESIRABLE SET OF BLOCKS OF THE 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE PLATE PROOFS ON INDIA PAPER.
This is a scarce set of blocks on India paper
2c Brown (113). Block of four with bottom imprint selvage, original gum, lightly hinged, bright shade, few minor perf separationsFINE-VERY FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE BLOCK OF FOUR WITH FULL IMPRINT OF THE 2-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
Ex Dr. Heimburger. Scott value $3,750.00 with no premium for the imprint position.
2c Brown (113). Left selvage imprint and arrow block of 25, original gum, natural gum skips at left edge, fresh and bright color, light horizontal crease affects second row from top, couple light toned spots mostly along right perfs, bottom left stamp pulled perf at bottom leftVERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN IMPRESSIVE LARGE MULTIPLE OF THE 2-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE, WITH IMPRINT AND FULL ARROW AT LEFT.
With 2001 P.F. certificate. Scott value $19,900.00 as four blocks of four, four pairs and a single
2c Brown, 3c Ultramarine (113, 114). 2c straight edge, used with 3c pair and 30c Orange, F. Grill (100), tied by quartered cork cancels and "San Francisco Cal. May 10" (1869) duplex datestamp on buff cover to Stockholm, Sweden, red "8" credit handstamp and matching New York transit backstamp, red "Verviers-Franco-Coeln" transit datestamp, receiving backstamps, blue crayon "f3" (sgr) Prussian Mail rate marking, cover repaired at bottom, otherwise Fine, extremely rare mixed-issue franking for double 19c Prussian Closed Mail rate to Sweden, on May 10, 1869, the day this was postmarked at San Francisco, the tracks of the Union Pacific joined those of the Central Pacific Railroad at Promontory, Utah, this cover was probably transported east on the newly completed transcontinental railroad, ex Mack
3c Ultramarine (114). Mint N.H., brilliant color on bright paper, beautifully centered with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION.
Ex "Hanover". With 2007 P.F. and 2016 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $3,250.00). Only three grade higher (two at 98, one at 98J). Scott value as hinged
3c Ultramarine, Split Grill (114 var). Block of twelve, nine stamps with clear split grills, others almost qualify, eight stamps Mint N.H. incl. seven split grills, deep rich color on bright paper, choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE. A RARE AND DESIRABLE MULTIPLE OF THE 3-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE WITH MOST STAMPS SHOWING THE SPLIT GRILL VARIETY.
Scott value as normal
10c Yellow (116). Block of four, rich color, centered strike of unusual geometric cork cancel, few perf separations sensibly reinforced, couple nibbed perfs on bottom left stampVERY FINE AND RARE BLOCK. ONE OF FIVE RECORDED USED BLOCKS OF THE 10-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL.
Used 10c blocks are considerably rarer than unused blocks. The Rose book records 16 unused blocks of four or larger, but only five used blocks of four and a strip of six.
Ex Hindes, Ishikawa, Rose and Twigg-Smith. Scott value $8,000.00.
10c Yellow (116). Horizontal pair, vivid color, trivial short perf at right, tied by segmented cork cancels on bright white cover with part-printed address to Berlin, Germany, stamps deliberately affixed over the word "Liverpool" in route directive and sender has written "Hamburg" instead, prepaid for double 10c Direct rate, red "New York Paid All Direct Dec. 7" (1869) circular datestamp, red "HAMBURG/ 19/12 69 /FRANCO" framed datestamp, receiving backstamp (Dec. 20), "Solomon Beuthner New York" brown oval return address label on back -- Beuthner was a German Jewish merchant who established a business in Taos, New Mexico, in the 1850s -- Very Fine, a beautiful cover from the Friedmann correspondence
12c Green (117). Mathematically perfect centering with Jumbo margins, deep rich color and detailed impression, corner cancel leaves the beautiful James Smillie engraving of the S.S. Adriatic unobscuredEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS SUPERB 12-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL IS THE SOLE STAMP OF THE ENTIRE SERIES TO ACHIEVE THE ULTIMATE GRADE OF GEM 100 JUMBO FROM P.S.E. A PHENOMENAL STAMP.
The iconic S.S. Adriatic engraving by James Smillie, which is depicted on the 12c 1869 Pictorial Issue, served as a symbol of improved postal communications -- a theme continued from the 1869 2c (post rider) and 3c (train) denominations. The vignette was also used on a few broken bank notes of the period, stock certificates, Peru Postage Due stamps and famously on the Citizen's Bank of Louisiana $10.00 "Dix" note.
With 2019 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98). This is the sole 1869 Pictorial stamp of any denomination to achieve this highest of grades in any condition category (used or unused). There are not even any Gem 100s in the P.S.E. Population Report for any stamps from Scott 112-122.
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. I (118). Extra wide margins and choice centering, bright colors and proof-like impressions, unobtrusive cork cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A HUGE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT TYPE I 1869 PICTORIAL.
Small backstamp. With 2017 P.S.A.G. certificate (95J used). With 2017 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $4,750.00). We agree with P.S.A.G. on this one and we are vexed why P.S.E. did not apply the Jumbo appellation. Even so, only four grade higher in the P.S.E. Population Report
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II (119). Block of four with color registration markers right selvage, original gum, three stamps lightly hinged, rich colors, perfs touching at bottomFINE AND RARE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF THE 1869 15-CENT TYPE II. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH THE COLOR REGISTRATION MARKERS.
Scott value $16,500.00
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II (119). Horizontal block of six, full original gum, intense colors and impressions, small closed tear in bottom left stampFINE AND WONDERFULLY FRESH BLOCK OF SIX WITH ORIGINAL GUM.
Ex Caspary, Bechtel, Zoellner and Curtis. With 1998 P.F. certificate. Scott value $22,500.00 for block and pair
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II (119). Block of 20 with right sheet margin and color registration markers, Positions 46-50/56-60/66-70/76-80, marvelous rich colors and impression, slightly disturbed original gum, h.r., centered to bottom right, perf separations sensibly reinforced, creases affect center two rowsONE OF THE LARGEST 15-CENT TYPE II 1869 PICTORIAL BLOCKS IN EXISTENCE. THIS BLOCK ORIGINALLY COMES FROM THE UNUSED BLOCK OF FIFTY, WHICH WAS LAST SEEN INTACT IN THE 1920s AND WAS BROKEN INTO SMALLER UNITS SOME TIME AGO.
The 1869 Pictorial Issue was a transformative set of stamps created during a period of historic transition. With their novel shapes and imagery, they reflected the choice of President Johnson's postmaster general, Alexander Randall, but they were inherited by Grant's new postmaster general, John A. J. Creswell. In the midst of Reconstruction's political controversies, the 1869s were spurned by the public and quickly replaced with the 1870 Issue, bearing traditional portraits of statesmen, war heroes and Founding Fathers.
The four 1869 high values were printed in two colors. The 15c vignette is an engraving by Smillie, based on Balch's engraving from an 1839 oil painting entitled Landing of Columbus by John Vanderlyn.
We record four intact unused blocks of 20, as follows:
1) With left selvage, ex Wingate (Sale 1180, lot 174)
2) Bottom right corner selvage with blue imprint and plate no. 23, ex previous Rarities sales (including 1977), Walske and Dr. Heimburger (Sale 1054, lot 441)
3) Bottom right corner selvage with blue imprint and plate no. 23, originally a block of 33, reduced to the block of 20 sometime after our 1966 Stern sale (Sale 309, lot 144), ex Gross (Sale 1200, lot 102)
4) Right selvage with plate marker, centered to bottom right, from the block of 50 shown in Rose book (fig. 159, p. 122), ex Walske, 1999 Rarities sale (Sale 811, lot 120), the block offered here
The block of 20, ex Worthington and Caspary, has been broken. Apart from the two plate blocks above, there is only one other plate number block (of six, ex Wunderlich).
Scott value as four blocks of four and two pairs is $78,000.00
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II, Center Inverted (119b). Deep rich colors, unusually choice centering for this difficult invert, target cancel leaves vignette visibleVERY FINE. AN EXCEPTIONALLY CHOICE AND RARE SOUND USED EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL INVERT. THE COLORS ARE RICH AND DEEP, AND THE TARGET CANCEL LEAVES THE VIGNETTE CLEARLY VISIBLE. ONLY 14 USED COPIES ARE CONFIRMED AS SOUND, AND THIS ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE.
Our census of Scott 119b, available at our website at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/119b , records three unused and 101 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. Only 14 are confirmed as sound (an additional nine have not been seen in many years and their condition is unknown). Of the 14 sound copies, almost all have perfs touching the design on at least one side. The 15c is at least as difficult to find in sound condition as the more expensive 24c and 30c inverts.
Ex De Verymont, Seymour, Ishikawa and Dauer. census no. 119b-CAN-29. With 2012 P.S.E. certificate (F 70; SMQ $80,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded.
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II, Center Inverted (119b). Particularly well-centered, segmented cork cancel, reperfed at top and repair at top right with small portion of corner replacedVERY FINE CENTERING AND A COLLECTABLE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL INVERT.
Our census of Scott 119b, available at our website at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/119b , records three unused and 101 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-68. With 1993 P.F. certificate. Scott value $22,500.00
24c Green & Violet (120). Deep rich colors and proof-like impressions, gorgeous centering with unusually wide and balanced margins, cork cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
Surviving used examples of high value 1869s often show the tendency of postal clerks to zealously cancel stamps that were typically used on mail to foreign countries or on heavy registered letters. Not so for the example offered here.
Ex Kirke. With 1996 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $4,250.00). Only seven grade higher (four at 95J, two at 98 and one at 98J).
24c Green & Violet (120). Block of four, beautiful rich colors and proof-like impressions on bright white paper, four neat strikes of circle of V's cancel, minor wrinkles causing almost imperceptible creasing, top right stamp has small margin tearVERY FINE AND BEAUTIFUL BLOCK. ONLY SIX USED BLOCKS OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ARE RECORDED AND WE BELIEVE THIS IS THE MOST ATTRACTIVE IN TERMS OF CANCELLATION, COLOR AND CENTERING. NO COMPLETELY SOUND BLOCKS ARE KNOWN.
The six recorded used blocks of the 24c 1869, excluding the unique Invert block, are listed here (identified by last known pedigree): 1) ex Rose, VF centering, fancy circle of V's cancel neatly struck on each stamp, minor wrinkling causing light creasing, top right stamp small margin tear, the block offered here; 2) ex Bechtel and Dr. Heimburger (Siegel Sale 1054, lot 444), EF centering, circular cork cancels over each vignette, strengthened perf seps, trivial edge crease; 3) ex Ishikawa, Eubanks and Curtis (Siegel Sale 1084, lot 3339), VF centering, circle of wedges cancel, left stamps few small tears; 4) ex Anderson, Fine centering to top right, circle of wedges cancel; 5) ex Klein, Fine centering to left, quartered cork cancels, light corner crease at bottom right and several rejoined perfs; and 6) ex Lopez and Price and from our 1965, 1992 and 2001 Rarities sales, perfs cutting in at right, cork cancels (Sale 1209, lot 1146).
All of the blocks have minor creases or small tears. The Rose, Ishikawa and Bechtel blocks are the best centered and freshest of the group; the attractive geometric cancels on this ex-Rose block are, in our opinion, slightly more desirable than the cork cancels on the ex-Bechtel block.
Ex Hessel and Rose. Scott value $20,000.00
24c Green & Violet, Center Inverted (120b). Attractive centering and margins, smudgy cork cancel but inverted vignette is still visible, couple tiny corner creasesFINE APPEARING USED EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE INVERT.
Our census of 24c 1869 Inverts, available at our website at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/120b , contains four unused, 83 used singles, one used pair, one on cover and the unique block of four, for a total of 94 copies of the perforated 24c Invert.
Census no. 120b-CAN-77.
30c Ultramarine & Carmine (121). Rich colors nicely complemented by red cork cancel, choice centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE, WITH A RED CANCEL.
With 2011 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95). By way of comparison, only three grade higher in the P.S.E. Population Report (all 95J)
30c Ultramarine & Carmine, Without Grill (121a). Block of four, original gum, deep rich colorsFINE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE WITHOUT GRILL.
This comes from the Double Paper, Without Grill multiple. Ex "Lake Shore". With 2000 P.F. certificate. Scott value $45,000.00
90c Carmine & Black (122). Rich colors and detailed impressions, beautiful centering with unusually wide and balanced margins, neat cork cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A PHENOMENAL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
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.
With 2018 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95)
90c Carmine & Black (122). Block of four, bright Carmine color, bold segmented cork cancels, centered to right with perfs slightly in, a couple tiny thin spots and also light corner creases on three stamps, some staining on back of one stamp does not show thruONE OF ONLY FIVE RECORDED USED BLOCKS OF FOUR IN PRIVATE HANDS. A GREAT RARITY.
Seven used blocks are recorded. The largest recorded used multiple is a block of six, which, along with a used block of four, are part of the Hirzel collection in the Swiss Postal Museum. None were offered in the Kuphal, Mack, Coulter, Eubanks, Heimburger or other important sales of the 1869 Pictorial Issue.
Ex Hessel, Ishikawa and Walske. Scott value $55,000.00
90c Carmine & Black, Without Grill (122a). Original gum, intense colors and proof-like impressions, very freshVERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE WITHOUT GRILL. ONLY 23 EXAMPLES HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED AS GENUINE BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION.
Fewer than 25 examples have been certified by The Philatelic Foundation as genuine. Only sixteen have either part or full original gum and only nine of these original-gum stamps are completely sound.
Ex Hoffman. With 2002 P.F., 2008 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates