Sale 1219 — The Edward Morton Collection of Outstanding Quality U.S. Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 8-9 April, 2020
Category — 5c 1857-60 Issue (Scott 27-30A)
5c Brick Red (27). Brilliant Brick Red color, beautiful centering with wide and balanced margins and with outer projections completely untouched by the perfs, well-struck "New Orleans La. May 19, 1859" circular datestampEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 5-CENT BRICK RED. EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES IN EXISTENCE -- THIS REMARKABLE STAMP IS GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E., WHICH IS THE HIGHEST AWARDED.
Ex "Tahoe" and Merlin. With 2019 P.F. and 2011 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $14,500.00). This is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by only five others
5c Brick Red (27). Remarkably well-centered with perfs clear of design all around, cancelled by blue town circular datestamp, bright shadeEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1857 BRICK RED CANCELLED IN BLUE.
The 5c Brick Red is infrequently found with colored town datestamps, and rarely with the superb centering of this example.
Ex Dr. Puliafito and Hall. With 1997, 2000 and 2015 P.F. certificates
5c Red Brown (28). Near perfect centering with balanced margins, beautiful warm shade wonderfully complemented by red New York exchange office and ultramarine French entry datestampsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E., THIS STAMP COMBINES THE THREE C's -- CENTERING, COLOR AND CANCEL -- IN A WAY THAT FEW OTHER 5-CENT 1857 ISSUES IN ANY SHADE COULD MATCH.
Due to the narrow spacing between stamps on the 5c plate, the perforations often touch or go into the outer portion of the design on one or more sides. The example offered here, with choice centering, deep rich color and both red and ultramarine cancels, is a true condition rarity.
With 2004 and 2011 P.F. certificates. With 2006 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $9,850.00 for normal cancel). The P.S.E. Population Report records seven stamps at the highest grades for Scott No. 28. There are five graded 95 and two graded 98. We have offered two of the other 95s and one of the 98s and all have black cancels. While not the highest graded stamp of the issue, one would be hard pressed to improve upon this Gem when considering the cancels
5c Bright Red Brown (28b). Choice centering, outstanding deep rich color in the 1858 shade -- despite Bright Red Brown color classification on accompanying certificate, this is obviously an Indian Red -- lightly struck circular datestamp cancelEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL 5-CENT TYPE I PERFORATED STAMP FROM THE 1858 PRINTING IN AN INTENSE RED BROWN SHADE WITH INCREDIBLE DEPTH OF IMPRESSION AND CHOICE CENTERING.
This stamp comes from the 1858 5c printing, which produced the deeper shades of Red Brown, Bright Red Brown and Indian Red (and probably the Brick Red as a mistake in ink mixture). We have no doubt this is Indian Red (Scott 28A), but the P.S.E. certified it as the Bright Red Brown shade (Scott 28b).
With 2015 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $5,750.00). Only one stamp equals this grade and one grades higher (at 95, offered in our 2012 sale of the Kirke collection)
5c Indian Red (28A). Beautiful warm color in the Indian Red shade (1858 printing), choice centering with wide margins and with outer projections well clear of the design on all sides, neat strike of circular datestampEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 5-CENT INDIAN RED. A DIFFICULT STAMP TO FIND IN SUCH CHOICE CONDITION.
With 1997 (as a strip of three) and 2007 P.F. certificates (XF 90)
5c Brown (29). Rich color on fresh paper, balanced margins with perforations clear of outer projections on all sides, neat strike of town circular datestampEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1859 5-CENT TYPE I BROWN, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. -- ONLY TWO GRADE HIGHER.
Ex Twigg-Smith and Kirke. With 1989 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $4,500.00). Only two grade higher (at 98)
5c Orange Brown, Ty. II (30). Deep rich color beautifully complemented by blue "Baltimore Md. Jul. 16, 1861" circular datestamp, unusually choice centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 5-CENT ORANGE BROWN WITH A VIVID BLUE CANCEL, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. -- THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
5c stamps in the Orange Brown shade (Scott 30) were printed from Plate 2 in 1861 (EDU is May 8). They were the last stamps of the 1857 Issue distributed before the U.S. Post Office Department demonetized all circulating stamps in August 1861, in order to prevent their use in the seceded states. Given the short period of time they could be used, the 5c Orange Brown (like the 90c) is very scarce in used condition. It is much more plentiful in unused condition due to leftover supplies found in Southern post offices after the Civil War.
Ex Bowman. With 2000 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $10,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by only three others
5c Brown, Ty. II (30A). Choice margins and centering, rich color and detailed impression, bold strikes of vivid red grid cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a striking stamp cancelled in red, with 1996 P.S.E. and 2006 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95)
5c Brown, Ty. II (30A). Beautifully centered, neat red grid cancel, rich color and very fresh, Extremely Fine, an unusually choice example of this challenging issue, ex "European Connoisseur", with 2015 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $825.00)
5c Brown, Ty. II (30A). Choice centering with wide side margins, deep rich color beautifully complemented by two bold strikes of red grid cancel, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1998 and 2015 P.F. certificates (XF 90)