Sale 1260 — 2022 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Tuesday, 28 June, 2022
Category — 1869 Pictorial Issue and Re-Issue
3c Ultramarine (114). Tied to small piece by clearly struck "KKK", Skull & Crossbones fancy cancel of Union Mills Pa., part of circular datestamp at leftEXTREMELY FINE STRIKE OF THE UNION MILLS "KKK", SKULL AND CROSSBONES FANCY CANCEL, SHOWING THE ENTIRE DESIGN.
Union Mills, Pennsylvania, was the source of several remarkable fancy cancel designs in the 1869-71 period, including the "KKK" Skull & Crossbones, Kleagle Mask (two versions) and the Horse in Hat designs. All indicate Ku Klux Klan activity in this Western Pennsylvania town during the immediate post-war Reconstruction period. John H. Beardsley was the postmaster for a brief period of time -- February 9, 1870, to March 16, 1871 -- which coincides with the creation and use of the Ku Klux Klan cancellations.
This is one of a small number of pieces salvaged from a correspondence. We know of three full covers with this cancel, one of which is in the Hirzel collection at the Swiss PTT Museum.
Ex Dr. LeBow. With 1992 P.F. certificate
24c Green & Violet (120). Rich colors and detailed impressions, unusually wide and balanced margins, unobtrusive cancel leaves entire design clearly visibleEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING USED EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE, GRADED SUPERB 98 JUMBO BY P.S.A.G. -- ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE.
The vignette of this design is based on a famous painting by John Trumbull that hangs in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol. This design has been widely used, including on the back of the 1976 $2.00 bill. The engraver of the stamp, James Smillie, was able to include all 42 people shown in the painting, no small feat when one considers the space is less than an inch wide and less than a half-inch tall. Surviving used examples also show the tendency of postal clerks to zealously cancel high-denomination stamps that were typically used on mail to foreign countries or on heavy registered letters. Not so the example offered here.
With 1987 P.F. and 2022 P.S.A.G. certificates (Superb 98J)
12c Green, Re-Issue (128). Magnificent centering and extra wide margins all around, deep rich color on bright paper, bold strike of "2" oval grid cancelEXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE FINEST KNOWN USED EXAMPLES OF THE 12-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE. AN EXCEEDINGLY DIFFICULT STAMP TO FIND IN SOUND CONDITION WITH CHOICE MARGINS AND CENTERING.
The 12c is the second rarest value of the 1869 Re-issue set in used condition, behind only the 3c. The Rose book estimates 15-25 extant used copies and SMQ estimates 20 extant. We believe there are a few more than that but copies with wide and balanced margins and no faults are extremely rare.
Ex Dr. Hinrichs. With 1998 P.F. certificate.