Sale 1289 — 2023 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Tuesday, 27 June, 2023
Category — 1861-66 Issue
10c Dark Green, First Design (62B). Deep rich color, outstanding centering with balanced margins, grid cancelEXTREMELY FINE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1861 ISSUE FIRST DESIGN.
The 10c is the only denomination of the 1861-66 Issue that was actually issued in two types. Type I, Scott 62B, was printed from Plate 4. Type II stamps -- Scott 68 and its grilled counterparts -- were printed from Plates 15 and 26. It has been surmised that Type I was pressed into service to help fill strong demand for 10c stamps after demonetization of the earlier issue. The 10c stamps paid the transcontinental rate, the ship-letter rate and certain rates to foreign countries. The Plate 4 Type I stamps left very little space between the stamps for the 12-gauge perforation holes. Examples of Scott 62B are rarely seen with margins framing the design on all sides.
With 1997, 2003 and 2012 P.F. certificates (XF 90).
10c Dark Green, First Design (62B). Intense early shade and impression, used with 5c Buff (67) and 30c Orange (71), both bright shades from early printings, 30c straight edge at left, tied by red grid cancels with matching "New York Paid 36 Oct. 9" (1861) credit datestamp and "P.D." handstamp on blue folded cover to Sable-sur-Sarthe, France, Calais arrival datestamp (Oct. 22), transit and arrival backstamps (Oct. 23), file folds do not affect stampsEXTREMELY FINE. A COLORFUL AND EXCEEDINGLY RARE COMBINATION OF 1861 ISSUES ON COVER TO FRANCE, INCLUDING THE 10-CENT FIRST DESIGN AND THE 5-CENT BUFF.
This franking paid 45c for triple the 15c treaty rate, with 36c credit for carriage by British packet steamer. It was carried on Cunarder Persia, departing New York Oct. 9, and arriving Queenstown Oct. 19.
3c Pigeon Blood Pink (64a). Radiant Pigeon Blood Pink color, choice centering, tied by grid with "South Weymouth Ms. Aug. 31" (1861) circular datestamp on small cover to Nashua N.H., upper left perfs of stamp with some minor gum soaks not mentioned on accompanying certificateFRESH AND VERY FINE COVER WITH THE RARE 3-CENT 1861 PIGEON BLOOD PINK.
With clear 2021 P.F. certificate. Signed Ashbrook with this notes calling it "Deep Pinkish Rose." Scott value $4,750.00.
5c Buff (67). Rich color, unusually choice centering with wide and balanced margins, neat strike of grid cancel, long and full perforations all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 5-CENT IN THE BUFF COLOR. SCARCE WITH SUCH CHOICE CENTERING.
There has been some confusion in nomenclature over the years with regard to the shades of the 1861 5c stamps. The three main shades are Buff (67), Brown Yellow (67a) and Olive Yellow (67b). The Buff is the darkest of the three; the Brown Yellow shows strong hints of Yellow; the Olive Yellow is the most distinct and rarest of the three, with strong Olive undertones.
Ex Hinrichs and "Natalee Grace." With 1986 and 2004 P.F. certificates as Brown Yellow. With 2009 P.S.E. certificate as Buff (XF 90; SMQ $3,000.00). Only eight grade higher (all at 95)
5c Olive Yellow (67b). Rich color in the true Olive Yellow shade, choice centering with perfs clear of outer frame lines all around, grid cancelEXTREMELY FINE. A DESIRABLE SOUND AND CENTERED EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 5-CENT IN THE RARE AND DISTINCTIVE OLIVE YELLOW SHADE. THIS IS THE SCARCEST SHADE OF THE 5-CENT 1861 ISSUE, AND IT IS EXCEEDINGLY DIFFICULT TO FIND IN SUCH CHOICE CONDITION.
With 2023 P.S.A.G. (90 used) and 2023 P.F. certificates (XF 90).
5c Olive Yellow (67b). True Olive Yellow shade, choice centering with perfs clear of outer frame lines all around, neat strike of San Francisco cogwheel cancel, tiny corner perf tip crease at lower leftEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. THE 1861 5-CENT IS EXTREMELY RARE IN THE DISTINCTIVE OLIVE YELLOW SHADE. THIS IS THE SCARCEST SHADE OF THE 5-CENT 1861 ISSUE, AND IT IS EXCEEDINGLY DIFFICULT TO FIND IN SUCH CHOICE CONDITION.
We have offered approximately a dozen unduplicated examples of the Olive Yellow shade in any condition since keeping computerized records.
With 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $16,000.00), Based on centering alone this would grade higher than 90 -- points were deducted for the negligible corner perf crease.
12c Black (69). Choice centering with wide margins all around, crisp impression showing every detail of the engraving, light strike of target cancel and also trace of red transit cancel at lower left leaves design completely clearEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1861 ISSUE, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. -- A GORGEOUS STAMP.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $2,750.00). Only four grade higher (all at 98J)
12c Black (69). Gorgeous centering with balanced margins, crisp impression on bright paper, unobtrusive cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM USED EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1861 ISSUE, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY THE P.F.
With 2022 P.F. certificate (Superb 98).
24c Reddish Violet, Thin Paper (70c var). Deep rich color and intense shade, neat strike of target cancel, Very Fine example of this unusual and rare sub-shade, with 1961 P.F. certificate as Scott 60, with 2018 P.F. certificate specifically noting this shade which is listed but unpriced in Scott
24c Brown Lilac (70a). Vertical pair, used with 5c Brown (76), tied by three light strikes of "flower bud" fancy cancel, red "N.York Br. Pkt. Paid Aug. 20" (1864) circular datestamp on buff cover to Francis Hall, Kanagawa, Japan, via Shanghai, China, addressed care of Russell & Co. with sender's directive "Via Marseilles", magenta manuscript "32" credit, red London Paid datestamp (Sep. 1), red crayon "1" British Colonial credit, blue "Hong-Kong C OC 26 64" and blue "Shanghae C NO 1 64" British P.O. backstamps, Very Fine, an attractive cover franked at the 53c rate to Japan via Marseilles, from the Magnolia collection
30c Orange (71). Used with 3c Rose (65), Masonic Square and Compass fancy cancels, 3c tied by "Ogdenburgh N.Y. May 6" (1863) circular datestamp on narrow cover to the blockader U.S.S. St. Louis at Lisbon, Portugal, forwarded to Algeciras, Spain, red "N York Am. Pkt. Paid Nov. 7" backstamp and carried on the Inman Etna, arriving Queenstown Nov. 18, red London Paid datestamp, manuscript magenta "12" credit, "40" reales rate handstamp and faint "4Rs" due handstamp in Spain, Lisbon backstamp, Dec. 5 arrival docketing in Algeciras, gently cleaned, 3c small perf flaw at topVERY FINE. A SPECTACULAR 30-CENT 1861 ISSUE COVER WITH MASONIC FANCY CANCELS, SENT TO A UNION BLOCKADING SHIP IN PORTUGAL AND FORWARDED TO SPAIN.
The U.S.S. St. Louis was an older ship, laid down in 1827. During the Civil War she was re-armed and sailed for Cadiz, Spain, on Feb. 24, 1863. For the next nearly two years she crisscrossed the Atlantic and patrolled the areas around the Canary Islands and the Azores in search of Confederate commerce raiders. This cover was addressed to the St. Louis during one of those missions. She returned to Port Royal on Nov. 26, 1864, for service in the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron.
Ex Herzog.
30c Orange (71). Vibrant color, used with 15c Black (77), tied by grid cancels, "Salem Mass. Jul. 19" circular datestamp on blue cover with printed address to Zanzibar, East Coast of Africa, printed route directive "Via Marseilles" and "Care Adumally Sultanally, Esq., Merchant, Aden, Arabia", red "Boston Am. Pkt. 24 Paid 20 Jul." (1866) credit datestamp, red London Paid datestamp, red crayon "1" British Colonial credit, Aden receiving backstamp, slightly reduced at left, part of address strengthened, Very Fine appearance, an attractive cover from the Goodhue correspondence, the 15c and 30c stamps pay the 45c British Mail via Marseilles rate for a letter up to a half-ounce, the addressee, Albert P. Goodhue, was a ship chandler and businessman from Salem, Massachusetts, he is probably related to Benjamin Goodhue, who served in the state senate from 1784-89 and then as Massachusetts representative in the first U.S. congress, Benjamin was a commercial merchant instrumental in establishing many of this country's revenue laws, and his son, Jonathan, was a prominent commercial merchant, ex Gibson, no. 7 in census published in Chronicle 234 -- from the Magnolia collection.
30c Orange (71). Vivid early shade, used with 10c Dark Green (68a) and 5c Red Brown (75), also beautiful early shades, tied by two strikes of "Elimira N.Y. Jul. 23, 1862" double-circle datestamp on tissue-paper cover to Francis Hall in Kanagawa, Japan, via Shanghai, China, addressed to the care of Olyphant & Co., sender's directive "By Overland Mail Via Marseilles" but underpaid at 45c, red "N.York Am. Pkt. Paid Jul. 26" circular datestamp, magenta manuscript "24" credit -- carried on HAPAG Borussia, departing New York Jul. 26, 1862, arriving Southampton Aug. 7 -- red london Paid datestamp (Aug. 8), black two-line handstamp "INSUFFY.STAMPED/VIA MARSEILLES" applied in London, carried on Peninsular & Oriental route, blue "Hong Kong C OC 6 62" British P.O. circular datestamp on back, forwarded to Kanagawa by Olyphant, part of backflap missing, otherwise Very Fine, from the Magnolia collection, ex Krug and Paliafito, with 2016 P.F. certificate
30c Orange (71). Intense shade, used with 12c Black, F. Grill (97), tied by segmented cork cancels and red "New York Paid All Br. Transit Dec. 5" (1868) circular datestamp, second strike of same marking on back but dated Dec. 8 on folded cover from Weston & Wolf to Charles Thorel & Company in Yokohama, Japan, red "32" credit handstamp, red London Paid datestamp (Dec. 28), red crayon "1" British Colonial credit, "Hong-Kong C FE 13 69" datestamp and two strikes of "Yokohama A FE 24 69" datestamp on backVERY FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE FRANKING PAYING THE 42-CENT RATE TO JAPAN BY BRITISH MAIL VIA MARSEILLES ON A COVER FROM THE THOREL CORRESPONDENCE.
This cover has the sender's directive "p C/ Boston & Via Marseilles" at upper left. The Inman City of Boston left New York on December 5, but had to put back to New York due to the loss of her rudder and sternpost. Her mails were put on board a later sailing, which explains the two different New York datestamps.
From the Magnolia collection. Ex Vogel.
90c Blue (72). Bright shade, choice centering with wide and balanced margins, target cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 90-CENT BLUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
With 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $4,000.00). Only five grade higher.
90c Blue (72). Lightly cancelled in black with "New Orleans La. Dec. 22" (1866) circular datestamp, red "New York Paid Dec. 29" circular datestamp with red crayon "60" credit on cover to Paris, France, red "PD" handstamp, carried on Ligne H steamer St. Laurent, red French embarkation datestamp (Dec. 29), departed New York Dec. 29 and arrived Brest Jan. 8, 1867, cover opened on three sides and some minor edge flaws not mentioned on accompanying certificatesVERY FINE AND RARE SOLO USE OF THE 90-CENT 1861 ISSUE ON COVER TO FRANCE. FEWER THAN 15 90-CENT COVERS TO FRANCE ARE KNOWN.
This cover was franked in New Orleans for six times the 15c treaty rate to France. In New York it was evidently found to weigh less and so France was credited 60c for the 5-times rate (12c credit to France per weight for transit by French Packet Direct). The additional postage was kept by the United States.
Ex Walske and from our 1981 Rarities sale. With 1997 P.F. certificate. Scott value $25,000.00.