Sale 1235 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 19-20 May, 2021
Category — 1851-56 Issue (Scott 6-17)
1c Blue, Ty. la (6). Position 99L4, spectacular large to huge margins including significant portion of Position 100L at right and trace of Position 89L at top, deep rich color, light circular datestamp cancelEXTREMELY FINE. A SPECTACULAR EXAMPLE OF THE IMPERFORATE 1851 ONE-CENT TYPE Ia WITH A LIGHT CANCEL AND MARGINS THAT ALLOW THE FULL TYPE CHARACTERISITICS TO BE SEEN.
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).
Ex Stephen Brown and Kirke. With 2010 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90 Jumbo; SMQ $30,000.00). Since 2008 the P.S.E. has changed its standards for Jumbo, so we expect this to be recertified as XF 90 and is offered as such (SMQ $24,000.00) -- P.S.E. Population Report for 90 is 6 plus 2 90J (including this stamp) and 6 higher, all used (highest grade for unused is 85)
1c Blue, Ty. Ia (6). Position 100L4, large margins to barely into plumes at bottom but design characteristics are fully evident, deep rich Plate 4 shade and proof-like impression, lightly cancelled by town datestampVERY FINE SOUND USED EXAMPLE OF THE IMPERFORATE 1851 ONE-CENT TYPE Ia.
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).
With 2004 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. II (7). Plate 2, original gum, lightly hinged, rich color, full margins to barely touched at lower right, Very Fine, with 1978 A.P.S. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. IV (9). Recut once at top and bottom, original gum, single hinge mark at top, three large margins to touched at bottom, Very Fine, with 1981 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown (12). Part original gum which thinly covers most of the back, large margins all around, rich color and detailed impressionEXTREMELY FINE. A RARE SOUND AND FULL-MARGINED PART ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1856 ISSUE.
The 5c stamp was issued in 1856, five years after the 1c, 3c and 12c values and one year after the 10c were issued. It was typically used to pay the 5c shore-to-ship rate for mail sent overseas and also in multiples for the 10c transcontinental or 15c U.S.-French treaty rates.
With the exception of some rare types of the 1c and 10c, such as Scott Nos. 5 and 16, the 5c stamp is the most difficult denomination to obtain with four margins in sound original-gum condition. The spacing between stamps was very narrow, leaving little margin for error when separating the stamps, which explains why so few examples are known with four margins.
Ex Hoffman. With 2006 P.S.E. certificate (POG, XF 90; SMQ $62,500.00 as OGph). Scott value as original gum
10c Green, Ty. I (13). Original gum, large top margin and bottom sheet margin, side margins clear, dark shade and intense impression, light pencil notation on gumVERY FINE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM SHEET MARGIN EXAMPLE OF THE 1855 10-CENT TYPE I, WHICH WAS FURNISHED ONLY BY THE BOTTOM ROW OF THE PLATE. VERY FEW SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM TYPE I STAMPS EXIST, PARTICULARLY WITH THE SHEET MARGIN.
Type I stamps come from the bottom 20 positions of the plate. They are the only stamps to show the design complete at bottom. For some reason the sheet margin at bottom was often trimmed away, leaving a dearth of quality copies. The Type IV stamps (Scott 16) come from only eight positions, but we would rank the two types equally in terms of the rarity of sound original-gum copies.
With 2007 P.F. certificate
10c Green, Ty. II (14). Original gum, large even margins all around, deep rich color and sharp early impression on bright paperEXTREMELY FINE. A VERY CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1855 10-CENT TYPE II IMPERFORATE.
Given the wide spacing between subjects on the plate used to print the 10c 1855 Issue, one would expect to find an ample supply of examples of Scott 14 and 15 in sound original-gum condition with four margins. However, such stamps are extremely rare.
With 2007 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85).
12c Black (17). Original gum, lightly hinged, ample to large margins including part of adjoining stamp at right, slight dry print in upper right portionVERY FINE LIGHTLY HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1851 ISSUE.
With copy of 1994 P.F. certificate for a block of six