Sale 1260 — 2022 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Tuesday, 28 June, 2022
Category — 1851-60 Issues
1c Blue, Ty. II (7). Positions 69/99L2, vertical strip of four, original gum, paper h.r. top stamp and bottom stamp with some gum loss, rich color, large margins at sides and part of sheet margin at bottom, top stamp cut in at top, Position 79 with a light wrinkle, the three stamps below the top stamp are all Extremely Fine or appear so, the bottom stamp, despite some gum loss, is a Gem, overall an attractive strip, Scott value as two pairs
1c Blue, Ty. II (7). Positions 67/77-78/87-88/97-98L2, block of six with additional stamp separated and re-attached at top, original gum, slightly disturbed with some adherence except for the middle row with Position 88 lightly hinged, rich color, huge bottom sheet margin, margins other sides to mostly full or clear, diagonal wrinkle thru Positions 77/87, scissors-cut in bottom margin at left becomes more of a crease into Position 87VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A SCARCE ORIGINAL-GUM LARGE BLOCK OF THE ONE-CENT 1851 ISSUE.
Scott value as a block of four, a pair and a single
1c Blue, Ty. IV (9). Recut once at bottom, original gum, lightly hinged, huge even margins including portion of adjoining stamp at bottom, deep rich color on fresh paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT 1851 TYPE IV IMPERFORATE, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E..
With 2022 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, Superb 98; SMQ $6,350.00). Only five grade higher and two share this lofty grade.
3c Orange Brown, Ty. II/II/I/I (10A/10A/10/10). Positions 60/70/80/90R1i, vertical se-tenant Type I and II strip of four, top stamp recut at left (No. 10A), second stamp recut at right (No. 10A), bottom two stamps without any recutting (No. 10), original gum and possibly Mint N.H. (it is difficult to make an exact determination), mostly clear to large margins all around except just barely touching outer frame line in two small spots, wonderful rich color and proof-like impression, horizontal crease between each stamp mostly confined to margins between stamps and slight separation at right between top pairFINE-VERY FINE. A SPECTACULAR ORIGINAL-GUM MULTIPLE OF THE 3-CENT 1851 ORANGE BROWN, WITH THE TOP STAMPS TYPE II (SCOTT 10A) AND THE BOTTOM STAMPS TYPE I (SCOTT 10) FORMING A SE-TENANT PAIR. THIS MAY WELL BE THE ONLY UNUSED MULTIPLE CONTAINING BOTH TYPES. ONE OF THE GREAT RARITIES OF THE ISSUE. SCOTT 10 IS EXCEEDINGLY RARE IN ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION -- THIS IS ONLY THE SECOND WE HAVE OFFERED SINCE 2009.
Dr. Carroll Chase, in his seminal book on the 3c stamps, (pp. 80-81), notes that Type I stamps are defined as having outer framelines on all sides. It is known in two different sub-types -- with no inner framelines (now Scott 10 or 11), and with inner framelines at either left or right sides or both (Scott 10A or 11A). The 3c Orange Brown stamps are only known from Plates 0, 1 Early, 1 Intermediate, 2 Early and 5 Early. However, Plate 0, 2 Early and 5 only contain stamps with the inner framelines, making se-tenant multiples impossible. Scott 10, with no inner lines, only comes from certain positions on Plate 1 Early and Plate 1 Intermediate.
Dr. Chase notes that on Plate 1 Early and Intermediate, 91 positions show two inner framelines, 12 positions show inner frameline at left and 33 show inner frameline at right (Scott 10A). 64 positions show no inner lines (Scott 10). Plate 1 Early was only used until early July 1851, when it was softened and reentered and recut in an attempt to deepen impressions on the plate (Plate 1 Intermediate). The plate was then used for approximately three more months before it was extensively recut and used to print shades classified as Scott 11 and 11A.
The 2008 Scott Catalogue started listing the two types of inner lines as separate major catalogue numbers, partly in order to distinguish between the rarity of the types, the same way they treat the types of the 1c and 10c stamps of the same series.
With 2006 P.S.E. certificate not noting the types. Scott prices an unused pair of Types I and II at $12,000.00, but we have never seen another. Scott value as se-tenant pair and two singles is $19,250.00.
3c Dull Red, Type II (11A). Four margins, bright color, tied by "Greencastle (West) Va. Feb. 1" circular datestamp with clear strikes of "PAID" and "5" in circle handstamp for registration on small buff cover to Princeton N.J., manuscript "No. 36" registration number at left, fresh and Extremely Fine cover, the Act of March 1855 finally established a registration system, the fee was 5c, paid in cash, without any standardized markings to indicate the service, ex Eubanks
3c Dull Red, Type II (11A). Margins to just in, tied by blue "Wells, Fargo & Co. Express San Francisco." octagonal handstamp with second strike at bottom on 3c Red on Buff Nesbitt entire (U10) to Hamburg, Germany, manuscript "pr. Sierra Nevada" at top and carried privately in 1855 on that vessel to Panama, after crossing the Isthmus sailed on the Star of the West to New York, Wells Fargo & Co. delivered the cover to the New York post office where blurry strike of New York 23c debit datestamp struck for American Packet service, carried on the Collins Line Atlantic, departing New York April 4 and arriving Liverpool April 18, manuscript rates including "13" silbergroschen credit and "18" due, backstamped with additional Wells Fargo & Co. shield handstamp as well as Aachen and Hamburg datestamps, Nesbitt seal on flap, long tear at right expertly repaired, Very Fine appearance, a colorful and rare 1851 Issue cover from San Francisco to Germany, carried by Wells Fargo & Co. to New York and by American Packet and Prussian Closed Mail to Germany
5c Red Brown (12). Full to huge margins all around, deep rich color, essentially face-free strike of town circular datestampEXTREMELY FINE GEM USED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1856 ISSUE.
With 2022 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95)
5c Red Brown (12). Horizontal pair, margins to touched or slightly in, used with horizontal pair of 5c Red Brown, Perforated (28), both tied by red "New York Paid Jan. 12" (1858) circular datestamps on cover front only to Havana, Cuba, red Daniel Curtis & Co. New York merchant's oval handstamp at bottom left--carried by the New York & Charleston Steam Ship Co. Nashville, departing New York Jan. 16, 1858, and arriving Charleston Jan. 18, from Charleston it was carried by the steamer Isabel, operated by M. C. Mordecai, departing Jan. 19 and arriving Havana Jan. 22--bold blue "NA" handstamp and matching "3" (reales) due handstamp, manuscript "12", the lettersheet front has been affixed to a different folded letter to appear complete, small ink erosion in address and right 5c perforated stamp with small corner crease, Fine appearance, the only recorded cover with a combination of 5c 1856 Imperforate and 5c 1857 Perforated issues, as well as the only recorded 5c 1856 cover to Cuba, a logical explanation for this mixed-issue franking is that the sender posted the letter with imperforate stamps and uprated postage with perforated stamps, probably at the post office, ex Mayer and illustrated in the Frajola-Mayer book (p. 145), with 2006 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. III (21). Plate 4, choice centering, intense color and impression on bright paper, long and full perforations all around, light strike of circular datestamp cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 ONE-CENT TYPE III, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
Due to the narrow vertical spacing on this plate, stamps are most typically found with the perforations impinging on a portion of the design. The example offered here is centered so that the type characteristics are clearly visible -- with clear breaks at top and bottom.
With 2018 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $9,750.00). This is the highest grade awarded to a Scott 21.
3c Pale Claret, Ty. I (25). Position 35R7 plating note on back, tied by bold "Philadelphia Pa. Feb. 28" (1857) circular datestamp on small cover to Pughtown Pa.VERY FINE. THIS IS THE EARLIEST DOCUMENTED USE OF A GOVERNMENT PERFORATED STAMP IN THE UNITED STATES. ONLY THREE ARE RECORDED WITH THE FEBRUARY 28, 1857, DATE -- TWO FROM NEW YORK AND THIS ONE COVER FROM PHILADELPHIA.
The first experimentally perforated stamps were delivered to the U.S. government on February 24, 1857. Seven cities were chosen for distribution. According to the North American and United States Gazette of February 27, "...Ninety thousand were ordered for the cities of Philadelphia and New York, and thirty thousand for New Orleans and other cities of the South and West." The earliest documented use of a perforated stamp is February 28, 1857, based on two covers from New York and the Philadelphia cover offered here. The experimental period continued until June 10, 1857, when the original six-year contract with Toppan, Carpenter expired. It was renewed on April 8, 1857, effective June 10, from which point all stamps were perforated as mandated by the new contract terms.
Ex Hulme. With 1995 A.P.S. certificate stating "used on first day cover, February 28, 1857, Philadelphia, Pa." Also with 1936 letter from Stanley B. Ashbrook to L. J. Shaughnessy, regarding this cover.