Sale 1279 — The Magnolia Collection: Classic Uruguay Stamps and Covers
Sale Date — Tuesday, 28 March, 2023
Category — 1858 First Issue - 120 Centesimos
URUGUAY, 1858, 120c Blue (4). Transfer Types 4-5-6/10-11-12, horizontal block of six, unused (no gum) with blue oval official Montevideo post office handstamp and some lightened manuscript on back, clear to ample margins all around, bright shade and fresh color, a few scattered black specks, thinned along topVERY FINE APPEARANCE. THE ONLY KNOWN BLOCK OF THE 120-CENTÉSIMOS 1858 FIRST ISSUE OF URUGUAY. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT MULTIPLES OF CLASSIC SOUTH AMERICAN PHILATELY.
This unused block of six is the only recorded multiple of the 120c 1858 Issue, besides the three vertical tête-bêche pairs. It is one of the most important multiples known to philately.
The 120c block of six was owned by Ferrary, but it was not included in the massive Uruguay collection lot sold in the first auction. It was offered in a smaller collection of 1,275 items in the third sale (lot 457) and must have been acquired by Alfred F. Lichtenstein, who included it in his exhibit of Uruguay at the International Philatelic Exhibition held in Montevideo in April 1931 (reported by E. J. Lee in The Postage Stamps of Uruguay, page xii), and in the display at the May 1940 Centenary exhibition at The Collectors Club of New York. After Lichtenstein's death in 1947, his daughter, Louise Boyd Dale, sold the block and other Uruguay rarities to Robert Hoffmann, who featured it in his Uruguay exhibit, which captured the Grand Award at the 1956 FIPEX exhibition in New York City.
Ex Philipp von Ferrary (Philip Ferrari de La Renotière), Alfred F. Lichtenstein and by inheritance to Louise Boyd Dale, Robert Hoffmann, and Gordon N. John
URUGUAY, 1858, 120c Blue (4). Complete reconstruction of 30 Transfer Types, all unused, thirteen with original gum, others no gum, all with four mostly large margins clearly showing identifying characteristics of Transfer Type, fresh colors ranging from Blue to Greenish Blue (premiums not counted), as to be expected, some have small thin spotsMOSTLY VERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE. AN INCREDIBLY CHALLENGING RECONSTRUCTION OF THE 1858 120-CENTÉSIMOS FIRST ISSUE. EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST RECONSTRUCTIONS OF THE LESS THAN 3-4 THOUGHT TO EXIST.
What sets this reconstruction apart from others is the quality selected for each example and impeccable provenance. This reconstruction was started by E.J. Lee well over 80 years ago and has been built upon by some of the most well-respected Uruguayan philatelists since then.
Ex Lee, Hoffmann, Bustamante (some positions replaced with better examples), "Concordia", and "Tito". Most signed by respected authorities such as E.J. Lee and Diaz. With 2008 Rocha certificate for the entire reconstruction. Scott $17,250.00 as basic stamps
URUGUAY, 1858, 120c Blue (4). Complete reconstruction of 30 Transfer Types, mostly unused (no gum), four with original gum and seven postally used, most have four margins, few are cut close to barely touching frame, bright shades ranging from Blue to Greenish Blue (premiums not counted), as to be expected with any reconstruction, there are small flaws such as thins and creasesFINE-VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE COMPLETE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE 1858
120-CENTÉSIMOS FIRST ISSUE OF URUGUAY. ONE OF ONLY A FEW RECONSTRUCTIONS THOUGHT TO EXIST.
Few signed by experts. Scott $18,300.00 as basic unused and used examples
URUGUAY, 1858, 120c Deep Blue (4a). Transfer Type 22, original gum, h.r., full even margins, beautiful deep shade, Extremely Fine, very rare in sound original-gum condition, ex Gordon N. John, backstamped "EJL" (Lee), Scott value $575.00
URUGUAY, 1858, 120c Blue (4). Transfer Type 20A with missing "E" in "Montevideo" variety, original gum, large even margins, Milky Blue pastel shade, minute thin speck and slight gum crease, Extremely Fine appearance, ex "Concordia", "Tito" (2012 Spink/Investphila description reports "no more than five recorded") and Gordon N. John, Scott value for normal stamp $575.00
URUGUAY, 1858, 120c Blue (4). Transfer Type 2, large balanced margins, lovely rich color, tied by "Admon de Correos, Montevideo, 31 JULIO 1859" oval datestamp on bluish folded cover to GoyaEXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 1858 120-CENTÉSIMOS FIRST ISSUE ON COVER. EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST OF THE 13 COVERS RECORDED.
Our census of Scott 4 covers, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/uruguay/scott/4, contains 13 covers.
Census no. 4-COV-02. Ex Provera. With 1998 P.F. certificate
URUGUAY, 1858, 120c Blue (4). Transfer Type 13, full even margins on each side, deep rich shade with sharp impression, tied by "Admon de Correos, Montevideo, 19 SEPTE, 1858" oval datestamp on folded cover to Buenos Aires, Argentina, sender's directive "pr. Mississippi"VERY FINE AND CHOICE. THIS IS THE EARLIEST RECORDED COVER WITH THE 120-CENTÉSIMOS FIRST ISSUE. A RARITY ON COVER WITH ONLY 13 RECORDED.
Our census of Scott 4 covers, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/uruguay/scott/4, contains 13 covers.
Census no. 4-COV-01. Ex Lee, Elicabe and Dr. Hubbard. With 2014 Moorhouse certificate.
URUGUAY, 1858, 120c Blue (4). Transfer Type 3, huge margins to ample at left, lovely fresh color, strong impression, tied by "Admon de Correos, Montevideo, 19 OCTe, 1859" oval datestamp on folded cover to Buenos Aires, Argentina, sender's directive "per Changador"VERY FINE AND CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE 120-CENTÉSIMOS FIRST ISSUE ON COVER TO ARGENTINA. A RARE COVER WITH ONLY 13 RECORDED.
Our census of Scott 4 covers, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/uruguay/scott/4, contains thirteen covers.
Census no. 4-COV-06. Ex Caspary and Moorhouse Estate.
URUGUAY, 1858, 120c Blue (4). Transfer Type 26, two huge margins, clear at left, and just touching at top right, tied by "Admon de Correos, Montevideo, 9 NOVE 1859" oval datestamp on bluish folded cover to Concordia, Argentina, cover with slight toning mainly along edgesFINE. ONLY 13 COVERS WITH THE 120-CENTÉSIMOS FIRST ISSUE ARE RECORDED. THIS IS ONE OF ONLY THREE SENT BEYOND BUENOS AIRES.
The other two examples known used beyond Buenos Aires come from the same correspondence, dated September 29, 1859 (ex Hoffmann) and October 14, 1859 (ex Pack, Lee, Hoffmann, "Concordia", and "Tito").
Our census of Scott 4 covers, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/uruguay/scott/4, contains 13 covers.
Census no. 4-COV-10. With 2012 R.P.S. certificate.