Sale 1242 — The Gordon Eubanks Collection: United States 1851 to 1856 Imperforate Issue
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 12-13 October, 2021
Category — Three-Cent: Orange Brown, Types I, II (Scott 10-10A)
3c Orange Brown, Type II (10A). Positions 77-80/87-90/97-100R5E, block of twelve, original gum, two or three stamps Mint N.H. including the middle pair, right sheet margin, other margins large to clear at top, wonderful depth of color, light diagonal creases in the right block of six, previously lightly folded vertically thru Positions 79/99, top left stamp minor corner creaseVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A BEAUTIFUL AND EXTREMELY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM SHEET-MARGIN BLOCK OF TWELVE OF THE 1851 3-CENT TYPE II ORANGE BROWN, SCOTT 10A. AN IMPORTANT CLASSIC UNITED STATES IMPERFORATE MULTIPLE.
This is the largest multiple of Scott 10 or 10A we have offered since a block of 12 from Plate 0 in our 1998 sale of the Zoellner collection. That block was subsequently broken up. A block of 14 also existed from Plate 0 and was offered in our 1993 Rarities sale.
Scott value $54,500.00 as two hinged blocks and two pairs
3c Orange Brown, Type II (10A). Position 70R1E with large right sheet margin showing the absence of imprint, other margins large at bottom with portion of adjoining stamp to just in at top left, rich color, light grid cancel, Very Fine and quite rare, the early state of Plate 1 was printed without the Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co. imprint or plate number; after a short time the imprint was added to the plate, starting at the fourth horizontal row from the top and ending at the 7th row--this stamp, Position 70R1E, in its later state would show a portion of the imprint in the sheet margin--this is the only example we have offered at auction in at least 25 years
3c Orange Brown, Type I (10). Position 40R1E, large margins except barely touching at bottom, wide sheet margin at right proving the absence of an imprint on this state of the plate, creasing in margin and scattered toned spots, Fine appearance, the early state of Plate 1 was printed without the Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co. imprint or plate number; after a short time the imprint was added to the plate, starting at the fourth horizontal row from the top and ending at the 7th row, ex Dr. Amonette, Wagshal and Dr. Robertson
3c Orange Brown, Type I, II (10-10A). Two covers, Positions 41L1E and 60R1E, each with sheet margin demonstrating the absence of an imprint on this plate in the earliest state, first used July 26, 1851 from Boston with small red "Paid" grid cancel, other used July 18 from Wrightsville Pa., last with heavy file crease, rare pair of covers made even more desirable by the red Boston "Paid" on the first, a note by Dr. Chase on the first cover states only five such stamps known, this being the only one known on cover; the note on the latter cover states one of two known, both ex Dr. Amonette and Wagshal
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3c Orange Brown, Type II (10A). Position 51L0, huge margins to clear including left sheet margin and part imprint, part of adjoining stamp at bottom, rich color, neat grid cancel, Very Fine and choice, a beautiful part imprint 3c Orange Brown, with 2016 P.F. certificate
3c Orange Brown, Type II (10A). Position 50R2E, right sheet margin and part imprint, large margins other sides to just in at bottom, fresh color, grid cancel, scissors-cut in upper left margin does not touch the design, still Fine and desirable with the part imprint
3c Orange Brown, Type I (10). Position 31R1i, large to huge margins all around including left sheet margin, radiant color as fresh as the day it was printed, gorgeous strike of blue Philadelphia circular datestamp, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp in every respect
3c Orange Brown, Type II (10A). Choice quality group of four stamps with sheet margins, first Position 10L0, large to huge margins including top right corner interpane margins with centerline, bold blue square grid cancel, thinned in sheet margin only at top, Extremely Fine, second Position 6R0, large margins to full including top sheet margin, bright shade, red grid cancel, Extremely Fine, ex Dr. Amonette and "Golden Oak", with 1997 P.F. certificate, third Position 91R2E, huge margins to full including bottom left corner sheet margins with centerline, brilliant color, rust-red grid cancel, Extremely Fine, last unplated, margins clear to large with sheet margin and centerline at right, large Boston "Paid" grid, deep rich color, Very Fine, with 2007 P.F. certificate, an outstanding group
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3c 1851 Issue, High-Quality Off-Cover Stamps (10-10A, 11-11A). Choice group of nine singles, two pairs and a strip of four, three are Nos. 10 or 10A including vivid red town cancel, fancy blue star within circle, pair with New York Ship circular datestamp, others are Nos. 11 or 11A including fancy red star cancel, pair with "STEAM/SHIP" handstamp, strip of four with New York June 1857 year-dated circular datestamp, also several sheet-margin stamps including part imprint single, corner-margin straddle-pane position, huge sheet-margin single in Pinkish color, interpane-margin stamp with red and blue silk threads (faults), few others, a tiny fault or two might be present other than what was previously mentioned but these were all chosen by Mr. Eubanks for use in his exhibit so the quality is very high, six P.F. certificates accompany
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3c Copper Brown, Type II (10A). Horizontal pair, exceptional depth of color in this distinct shade, full to ample margins all around, neat strike of Sacramento Cal. circular datestamp, Very Fine and choice, a lovely pair, ex Hicks, with 2012 P.F. certificate, Scott value $1,800.00 as Plate 2E Copper Brown
3c Orange Brown, Type II (10A). Positions 12-13/22-23L1i, block of four, large margins to just in at bottom, incredibly rich color approaching the Copper Brown shade, bold red grid cancels, bottom left stamp with diagonal crease, top left stamp with short light creaseOVERALL FINE-VERY FINE. A GORGEOUS USED BLOCK OF THE 3-CENT 1851 ORANGE BROWN WITH EXCEPTIONALLY DEEP COLOR AND CANCELLED IN RED.
Ex Rose. With 1999 P.F. certificate mentioning only the diagonal crease. Listed but unpriced in Scott as a block of four
3c Orange Brown, Type II (10A). Positions 51-53/61-63L1i, horizontal block of six, large margins to just in at bottom right, deep rich color, blue grid cancels, few small faults including thin spots in Positions 52 and 61, vertical crease thru middle rowFINE-VERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE LARGE USED BLOCK OF THE 3-CENT 1851 ORANGE BROWN.
Any block of the 3c Orange Brown is rare, but multiples larger than four are extremely rare. U.S. Stamp Facts lists a block of eight as the largest recorded used multiple. The largest we have offered in at least 30 years is a block of six. Blocks unpriced in Scott.
3c Orange Brown, Type II, Part India Paper (10A var). Position 56L1E, margins ample to clear, rich color, neat strike of small "Paid" grid and trace of red Boston integral-rate circular datestamp at left, tiny tear at bottom right, accompanied by small piece from which it originated, Very Fine appearance, a scarce variety seen only from Plate 1E, ex Wagshal, with a note from Dr. Amonette and with 2011 P.F. certificate
3c Orange Brown, Type II, Part India Paper (10A var). Position 84R1E, large margins to touched at top right, beautiful vibrant color noted as Yellowish Orange Brown in pencil note on back, tied by small "Paid" grid cancel, red "Boston 3cts 29 Aug." (1851) integral-rate circular datestamp on blue folded cover to Providence R.I., docketing confirms 1851 yeardate, stamp lifted to confirm the paper and hinged back, Very Fine and scarce variety, ex Grunin and Piller, with 1991 P.F. certificate, Scott value $1,100.00 off cover
3c Orange Brown, Type II (10A). Large margins to barely in at top right, tied by blue grid cancel, matching "Geneva N.Y. Jul. 1" circular datestamp on 1851 First Day of Issue folded letter to Rochester N.Y. and forwarded to Litchfield Conn., red "FORWARDED" straightline handstamp with "Rochester N.Y. Jul. 2" circular datestamp, manuscript "5" unpaid rate at top right for forwarding postageVERY FINE. A REMARKABLE FIRST DAY COVER WITH BOTH OF THE JULY 1, 1851, RATES--PREPAID 3-CENTS BY STAMP AND FORWARDED WITH 5-CENTS POSTAGE DUE. THIS IS ALSO THE ONLY RECORDED 3-CENT 1851 FIRST DAY OF ISSUE COVER FROM GENEVA, NEW YORK.
The cover offered here is extremely desirable because it has a clear July 1, 1851, date in the letter and it shows the first day of the 3c paid and 5c collect rates.
Ex Burleigh. Illustrated in 1851 Sesquicentennial book on p. 126. With 1989 P.F. certificate. Scott value $12,500.00
3c Orange Brown, Type II (10A). Position 96L1E, margins to slightly in, beautiful fresh color, tiny corner creases at top right and bottom left, perfectly struck blue grid cancel (stamp tied by impression thru lettersheet), matching bold "Lowell. Ms. 3cts. Paid Jul. 1" (1851) First Day of Issue circular datestamp with integral rate on folded past due notice datelined "Lowell, 1st July, 1851", manuscript "Duplicate" at upper left, apparently one of a group stamped by James C. Ayer and mailed on the same day, the back of the lettersheet shows offset blue impressions of the circular datestamp and grid in the same relative positions, indicating that Ayer had affixed the new 3c stamps in the same place on each folded statementVERY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING 3-CENT 1851 ISSUE FIRST DAY COVER--PARTICULARLY DESIRABLE WITH BLUE MARKINGS AND THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE USE OF THE NEW 3-CENT INTEGRAL-RATE DATESTAMP.
All three 1851 Issue stamps were supplied to certain post offices on or before July 1, 1851, the first day of the new rates. The census of 1851 First Day Covers published by Wilson Hulme in 2001 (The 1851 Issue of United States Stamps: A Sesquicentennial Retrospective, USPCS) tallied 45 covers from 23 cities in 11 states (one in the count was postmarked by the Louisville & Cincinnati Mail Line route agent). Two of the 45 covers have 1c stamps. The other 43 have 3c stamps, and currently there are no 12c July 1 covers known.
The cover offered here is especially desirable, because it has blue markings and the 3c integral-rate datestamp--a First Day for both the stamp and the datestamp.
Ex Dr. Chase (signed by him) and Piller. With 2007 P.F. certificate. Scott value $12,500.00
3c Orange Brown, Type II (10A). Rich color, margins to just in, small faults, tied by beautifully clear strike of "J. Chiles" Postmaster's Name in Ribbon Entwined around Shield fancy cancel, "Eutaw Ala. Apr. 22" (1852) circular datestamp on blue cover to Princeton N.J., original letter enclosure datelined at Eutaw on Apr. 21, 1852EXTREMELY FINE STRIKE OF THE "J. CHILES" POSTMASTER'S NAME IN SHIELD FANCY CANCEL OF EUTAW, ALABAMA. ONE OF THE RAREST AND MOST ELABORATE FANCY CANCELLATIONS USED DURING THE 1851 ISSUE ERA.
Pictorial cancellation designs are rare during the 1851 Issue period, because the art form did not evolve until the 1860s. Designs such as the "Used & Done For" (Fair Haven Conn.), Running Stag (Shelburne Falls Mass.), Oddfellows' Links (Canton Miss.), "BJP" Eagle and Stars (Camden Me.) and this "J.Chiles" shield are recognized as some of the most elaborate cancels found on the imperforate issues.
Ex Hugh J. Baker and William A. Fox ("Renard"). With 2006 P.F. certificate
3c Orange Brown, Type II (10A). Bright shade, tiny scissors-cut in top left margin, ample margins to clear, tied by beautifully bold strike of blue "TROY & NEW YORK/STEAM BOAT" framed handstamp, matching "2cts" in circle also well-struck on Sep. 1851 blue folded letter to Lansingsburgh N.Y.EXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST STRIKES OF THE BLUE TROY & NEW YORK STEAM BOAT MARKING ON A COVER WITH STAMPS.
The "Troy & New York Steam Boat" framed marking was used on letters received at Troy from non-contract steamboats carrying mail on the Hudson River. The 2c marking indicates the amount charged by the Troy postmaster, but as recently explained by Daniel J. Ryterband (Chronicle 263), there was no official justification for assessing this fee. In late 1851 or early 1852, the practice of collecting the additional 2c was discontinued.
With 2005 P.F. certificate
3c Orange Brown, Type II (10A). Beautiful glowing color, small adherence in left margin, margins to just in at right, tied by bold blue "2cts" in circle handstamp with matching "TROY & NEW YORK/STEAM BOAT" framed handstamp and "Troy N-Y Aug. 25" circular datestamp on cover to Buffalo N.Y., "2cts" marking is obliterated with a blue grid of the same size and "Due 7cts" struck to leftEXTREMELY FINE. A REMARKABLE "TROY & NEW YORK STEAM BOAT" COVER WITH THE 3-CENT 1851 ORANGE BROWN AND DUE 7-CENTS MARKINGS.
The "Troy & New York Steam Boat" framed marking was used on letters received at Troy from non-contract steamboats carrying mail on the Hudson River. The 2c marking indicates the amount charged by the Troy postmaster, but as recently explained by Daniel J. Ryterband (Chronicle 263), there was no official justification for assessing this fee and in late 1851 or early 1852 the practice of collecting the additional 2c was discontinued. This cover may have been uprated for weight and charged 5c for the unpaid second rate (plus the 2c fee).
Ex Grunin
3c Orange Brown, Type I (10). Vivid color, tied by blue circle of wedges cancel with matching "Louisville & Cincinnati Mail Line. Sept. 10" (1851) route agent's balloon-style circular datestamp on folded shipping invoice to Nashville Ten., manuscript "mail" at left, fresh and Very Fine, a scarce marking on a 3c 1851 Orange Brown cover
3c Orange Brown, Type II (10A). Large margins to just in, rich color, cancelled by blue "Way 6" in circle handstamp on Oct. 27, 1851 docketed folded bill of lading, inside with illustration of canal boat being pulled by horses, originated on the canal boat Eagle on the James River Canal, addressed to Lynchburg Va. where the way marking was struck, internal splits along folds, still Very Fine use, accompanied by typed analysis by Stanley B. Ashbrook on the James River Canal, illustrated and discussed in Ashbrook's Special Service (No. 9, p. 52, photo 34)
3c Orange Brown, Type II (10A). Full margins to touched, rich color, tied by red "Paid" grid with matching "Boston 25 Jul. 3" (1851) integral-rate circular datestamp on cover to Ahern N.H., backflap with green embossed cameo corner card for hardware dealer, original letter enclosure datelined July 24, 1851, Very Fine and scarce, the Boston "Paid" grid was struck in red or magenta only briefly in July 1851
3c Orange Brown, Type II (10A). Deep rich color, margins to just in, tied by blue grid cancel and bold "24" cents due handstamp, second strike at left and matching "Philadelphia Pa. Aug. 28" (1851) circular datestamp on folded letter to London, England, light strike of "21" cents handstamp for credit to the United States for carriage by American packet, manuscript "1/-" shilling due, carried on the Collins Line Baltic from New York on Aug. 30, arriving Liverpool Sep. 10, London Sep. 11 backstamp, Very Fine, this was underpaid and the stamp was disregarded, uses of the 3c Orange Brown to England are scarce
3c Orange Brown, Type II (10A). Positions 1-2/12R5E, L-shaped strip of three, ample to full margins and just in at bottom left, tied by grid cancels with "Newport R.I. Jul. 22" (1851) circular datestamp on blue folded letter to New York City, Very Fine and unusual franking, apparently for triple 3c rate, Dr. Chase notes on back
3c Orange Brown, Type II (10A). Two horizontal strips of three, one a left sheet-margin strip, deep rich color, both tied by red circular grid cancels, matching "U.S. Express Mail N.Y. N York 19 Dec." route agent’s circular datestamp on bluish folded cover to Boston, manuscript "Paid” notation and docketed on back "New York 19th Dec. 1851 Clary & Co", file folds thru both stripsA SPECTACULAR SIX-TIMES RATE NEW YORK U.S. EXPRESS MAIL COVER TO BOSTON, FRANKED WITH TWO STRIPS OF THE 1851 3-CENT ORANGE BROWN.
While pairs of the 3c Orange Brown on cover are sometimes encountered, strips of three or larger are rare, particularly paying a domestic rate. The census of 3c 1851-57 stamps paying multiple domestic rates compiled by William K. McDaniel and published in the 1851 Sesquicentennial book contains only two examples bearing multiples of No. 10 or 10A. Both of those covers are franked with three pairs paying a multiple of the over-3,000 miles rate. This cover and lot 159 do not appear in the census
Ex Wagshal and Middendorf. With 2010 P.F. certificate
3c Orange Brown, Type II (10A). Horizontal strip of four, full margins to just in at a couple of places, left stamp small scrape in top margin, tied by large 9-bar oval grid cancels with "San Francisco Cal. 18 Apr." (1852) circular datestamp on docketed dark buff cover to Circleville O., original letter enclosure datelined at San Francisco "April 1852"VERY FINE. A RARE USE OF A STRIP OF FOUR OF THE 1851 3-CENT ORANGE BROWN ON A COVER FROM CALIFORNIA, PAYING DOUBLE THE 6-CENT RATE.
The McDaniel census published in the 1851 Sesquicentennial book contains only two covers bearing multiples of No. 10 or 10A. This cover and lot 158 do not appear in the census. According to the exhibit notes, this was carried from San Francisco on the Isthmus, arriving in Panama on May 11, 1852. After carriage across the Isthmus it was carried to New York on the Crescent, arriving May 24. The large "double-wide” oval grid was designed to cancel pairs of 3c stamps used to pay the 6c rate with one strike