Sale 1289 — 2023 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Tuesday, 27 June, 2023
Category — 1847 Issue
5c Black, Trial Color Plate Proof on India (1TC3). Vertical block of six, Positions 9-10/19-20/29-30L1, large margins including top right corner sheet margins, detailed impression, column of three left stamps each has Dot in "S" variety, some light toning in marginsEXTREMELY FINE. THIS BLOCK OF SIX FROM THE TOP RIGHT CORNER OF THE LEFT PANE IS UNIQUE. ONLY ONE OTHER BLOCK WITHOUT "SPECIMEN" OVERPRINT IS KNOWN.
According to specialists, only one sheet was printed in Black. The entire right pane received "Specimen" overprints. The left pane was broken prior to application of the overprint. A block of 50 from the fourth thru eighth horizontal rows received the "Specimen" overprint -- this exists as a block of 30 today (see our 2001 Rarities sale). Some singles and an irregular block of twelve are also known with the "Specimen" overprint. The top three rows and bottom two rows of the pane escaped the "Specimen" overprint. Only one copy from the bottom two rows has been identified, as have a strip of four, a block of eight (defective) a single and the block offered here from the top three rows, for a total of 20 copies known without "Specimen" overprint.
Ex Earl of Crawford, Hackett, Garrett and Mirsky. With 1998 P.F. certificate. Scott value $3,750.00 as six singles (unlisted as a block).
5c Black, Trial Color Plate Proof on India (1TC3). Horizontal strip of four, Positions 4-7L1, large margins including top sheet margin, detailed impression, Position 6 small ink mark at upper rightVERY FINE. A RARE STRIP OF FOUR OF THE 5-CENT BLACK TRIAL COLOR PROOF ON INDIA.
According to specialists, only one sheet was printed in Black. The entire right pane received "Specimen" overprints. The left pane was broken prior to application of the overprint. A block of 50 from the fourth thru eighth horizontal rows received the "Specimen" overprint -- this exists as a block of 30 today (see our 2001 Rarities sale). Some singles and an irregular block of twelve are also known with the "Specimen" overprint. The top three rows and bottom two rows of the pane escaped the "Specimen" overprint. Only one copy from the bottom two rows has been identified, as have this strip of four, a block of eight (defective) a single and the block offered in the previous lot from the top three rows, for a total of 20 copies known without "Specimen" overprint.
Ex Earl of Crawford and Garrett. Scott value $2,500.00 as four singles.
5c Red Brown (1). Position 91R, original gum, beautiful rich dark color and detailed early impression on strongly blued paper, bottom sheet margin and left interpane margin, full at right and ample at topVERY FINE. A RARE CORNER-MARGIN ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE.
Examples of the 5c 1847 Issue with corner sheet margins are scarce, but with original gum they are very rare, and this stamp from the earliest printing and state of the plate is truly remarkable.
5c Blackish Brown (1a var). Extremely deep and dark color from an early impression, which is closer in appearance to the 10c Black 1847 Issue than the usual Red Brown of the 5c, large margins all around, nicely complemented by red grid cancelEXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE IN THE DISTINCTIVE BLACKISH BROWN SHADE. A BEAUTIFUL STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT.
Ex Gorham. With 2002 P.F. certificate.
5c Red Brown (1). Block of four, large margins to clear, deep shade and strong intermediate impression, each with neat manuscript "X" cancel, bottom left stamp slight erosion from the cancel, top left stamp small ink mark at top right not mentioned on certificateVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE AND DESIRABLE USED BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE.
With 2001 P.F. certificate as a block of six.
5c Red Brown (1). Large margins to in at top, tied by red grid cancel and matching "New-York Jun. 16" (1850) circular datestamp on folded letter to Vergennes, Vermont, with bold blue "From Butts' Hotel Murray St. N.Y." in chamfered frame handstampEXTREMELY FINE STRIKE OF THIS RARE HOTEL FORWARDING HANDSTAMP. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH THE FORWARDING MARKING STRUCK ON THE FRONT OF THE COVER.
The USPCS census lists only two others with this hotel forwarding marking, both struck on the back or on the flap (see Sale 906, lot 1480). Ex Pope, Boker and Gross. With 2019 P.F. certificate.
5c Red Brown (1). Mostly full to large margins, clear at top left, dark shade, tied by greenish-blue 6-bar grid cancel, matching “Mic. Central R.R. Mic. Jun. 6” Michigan Central Railroad route agent’s (ca. 1850) circular datestamp on folded cover to Detroit, beautiful clear strikes of datestamp and hand-carved grid cancel, vertical file folds clear of stamp and not noted on certificateA SCARCE AND HIGH-QUALITY 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE COVER WITH PERFECT STRIKES OF THE MICHIGAN CENTRAL RAILROAD CIRCULAR DATESTAMP AND HAND-CARVED GRID CANCELLATION. A TRULY SPECTACULAR RAILROAD COVER.
The Michigan Central Railroad was incorporated under that name in 1846. It was the successor to the Detroit and St. Joseph Railroad, started in 1836, which became the state-owned Central Railroad of Michigan; both suffered from poor construction and financial difficulties. The line between Detroit and the shores of Lake Michigan was completed in 1849, and extended to Chicago by 1852. The Michigan Central Railroad route agent marking is found on fourteen 1847 Issue covers in the USPCS census, all with 5c stamps, except for the famous “Heidelberg” cover to Germany with a 10c 1847 and strip of five 5c. It is struck in greenish blue, as seen on this cover, as well as black and red. The datestamp is sometimes used to cancel the stamp. In this case it was used with the hand-carved 6-bar grid.
Ex Emerson, Brigham, Matthies (description states “ex Burrus,” but we cannot confirm this), Goldberg and Gross. With 2018 P.F. certificate.
5c Red Brown (1). Bright shade which has been described as Orange Brown in the past, intermediate impression, large margins to clear, cancelled by blue "5" numeral handstamp, matching "STEAM 5" in double oval over-struck with a similar "STEAM 10" handstamp, "Mobile Ala. Dec. 11" circular datestamp on folded letter datelined "Columbus Miss. Dec. 11, 1849" to Buchannon Carroll & Co. in New Orleans, manuscript "Sunny South" at bottom, some minor splitting along foldsVERY FINE. A VERY SCARCE USE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE FROM COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI, TO NEW ORLEANS VIA TOMBIGBEE RIVER AND MOBILE, ALABAMA.
This was carried from Columbus to New Orleans via Tombigbee River and Mobile. It was originally rated as a single rate (5c) then changed to double rate (10c) due to weight.
Ex Gibson, Boker and Gross. With 1988 P.F. certificate as Orange Brown (1b). With 2013 P.F. certificate as Red Brown (1)
5c Red Brown (1). Ample margins to just barely into frameline at bottom, dark shade and intermediate impression, tied by brilliant "paint red" grid cancel, matching "Mobile Ala. Mar. 25" (1850) circular datestamp on folded letter datelined at New Orleans to Paris, France, sender's blue oval "Th. Bailey-Blanchard & Co. New Orleans" handstamp on back, red Liverpool transit backstamp (Apr. 16), red "COLONIES/&c ART. 13" framed Anglo-French accountancy handstamp, Calais transit and "15" decimes due handstamp, lightly cleanedVERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND COLORFUL USE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE FROM NEW ORLEANS TO FRANCE VIA MOBILE, ALABAMA.
This is an extremely rare packet boat "way" letter from New Orleans to Mobile, then to Boston for transatlantic service to England. It was carried on the Cunarder Niagara, departing Boston April 3, 1850, and arriving Liverpool April 16. There is no indication of a way fee charged or collected. This is the mate to the 10c 1847 cover offered in lot 537.
Ex Dr. Kapiloff.
10c Black (2). Original gum which is only lightly hinged, large even margins all around, intense shade and impression, accompanying P.S.E. certificate notes natural vertical gum bends, which are frequently found on 1847 stamps with original gum and are not mentioned on any of the three accompanying P.F. certificatesEXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE. ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT STAMPS TO OBTAIN WITH FOUR MARGINS.
The Act of March 3, 1847, signed by President Polk, specified that Postmaster General Cave Johnson "be authorized to prepare postage stamps, which when attached to any letter or packet, shall be evidence of the payment of the postage..." The law's effective date was July 1, and the Post Office acted immediately to secure a contract with Rawdon, Wright, Hatch and (the new partner) Edson, so that stamps could be distributed by that date. The Washington vignette is based on the iconic image painted by Gilbert Stuart.
With 1981 and 1990 P.F. certificates as a pair. With 1990 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates as this single.
10c Black (2). Positions 92-95L1, horizontal strip of four, original gum, Position 93 Mint N.H.. others lightly hinged gum which is unevenly applied, resulting in some brownish spots on gum of Positions 93 and 95 (called gum toning on new certificate), full even margins to ample at left, intense shade and detailed impression, light diagonal crease at bottom of Position 92 just touches Position 93, light diagonal crease at top of Position 95 just touches Position 94VERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. AN INCREDIBLY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM STRIP OF FOUR OF THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE -- ONE MINT NEVER-HINGED STAMP CONTAINED WITHIN THE STRIP.
The 1847 Issue is much scarcer in unused condition than other issues, because the stamps were demonetized in 1851. They could be exchanged for the new issue, but once the exchange period ended, the stamps would have no postage value. Considering the purchasing power of ten cents in 1851, it is not surprising that the stamps were either used or exchanged, rather than left for future generations of collectors. Unused multiples larger than a pair are extremely rare. Only three unused blocks are recorded, including the "Bible Block" of six from our 2018 sale of the Gross collection (Sale 1188, lot 14). This original-gum strip of four is an exceptional rarity.
From our 1974 and 1987 Rarities sales. With 2023 P.F. certificate. Scott value $162,500.00 as a strip of three and single (without any premium for the Mint N.H. stamp).
10c Black (2). Full to huge margins, manuscript "X" cancel, clear red "Key-West Florida Dec. 22" oval datestamp on cover to East Haddam Conn., portion of envelope's back missing, stamp with small corner crease and slightly affected by vertical file fold, Very Fine appearance, very rare use of the 10c 1847 Issue from Key West, only five 10c covers are recorded, ex Stollnitz and Curtis, 1987 P.F. certificate no longer accompanies
10c Black (2). Huge margins to ample at right, tied by bold blue grid with matching "Mobile Ala. Dec. 9" (1849) circular datestamp on folded letter datelined at New Orleans to Paris, France, sender's blue oval "Th. Bailey-Blanchard & Co. New Orleans" handstamp on back, red Liverpool transit backstamp (Dec. 31), red "COLONIES/&c ART. 13" framed Anglo-French accountancy handstamp, Calais transit datestamp and manuscript "30" decimes due markingVERY FINE. A RARE AND CHOICE USE OF THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE FROM NEW ORLEANS TO FRANCE VIA MOBILE, ALABAMA.
This is an extremely rare packet boat "way" letter from New Orleans to Mobile, then to Boston for transatlantic service to England. It was carried on the Cunarder Europa, departing Boston Dec. 19, 1849, and arriving Liverpool Dec. 31. There is no indication of a way fee charged or collected. This is the mate to the 5c 1847 cover offered in lot 533.
Ex Dr. Kapiloff.