Sale 1288 — The Nelson Berman Collection of Outstanding United States Stamps
Sale Date — Thursday, 22 June, 2023
Category — 1861-66 Issue (Scott 64-78)
3c Pink (64). Stitch watermark, radiant color, neat strike of double-circle datestamp, choice centering, Extremely Fine, with 1996 P.F. certificate
3c Lake (66). Original gum, lightly hinged, intense shade and impressionVERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 LAKE TRIAL PRINTING.
With 1996 P.F. certificate for block of four
5c Buff (67). Accompanying certificate describes soiling as a faint trace of cancel and opines regummed -- on both counts we disagree and think this is an original-gum stamp -- rich color, Very Fine, with 1982 P.F. certificate, Scott value as used
24c Red Lilac (70). Beautiful deep shade, detailed impression, face-free strike of large Boston "Paid" grid cancel, Very Fine and choice
30c Orange (71). Choice centering and extra wide margins for this difficult issue, vibrant color, neat strike of San Francisco cogwheel cancel, fresh and Extremely Fine
90c Blue (72). Attractive shade which looks to us like the Pale Blue sub-shade, bold strike of grid cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 1999 P.F. certificate
3c Scarlet (74). Original gum, vibrant color, perfs scissors-separated but intact, trivial natural inclusion on Washington's chin, unusually choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE. THE 1861 3-CENT SCARLET TRIAL PRINTING IS DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN WITH SUCH CHOICE CENTERING.
The story of the 3c Scarlet was documented by the late Jerome S. Wagshal in a series of articles appearing in the Chronicle (Nos. 56, 60, 61 and 62). Wagshal quotes statements made in 1893 and 1910 by a Washington D.C. stamp dealer, Carl F. Rothfuchs, to the effect that Rothfuchs obtained a supply of the 3c Scarlet in 1893 -- probably from the Post Office Department in exchange for his assistance with the Columbian Exposition -- and sold them with pen marks and original gum. The Rothfuchs lot is not from the same supply acquired by John W. Scott in the late 1870's, from which stamps exist uncancelled and cancelled with a New York City Station D oval.
With 1991 P.F. certificate.
5c Red Brown (75). Unused (no gum), lovely warm color, reperfed, Extremely Fine appearance, with 1986 P.F. certificate stating "genuine and with perforations as shown in the photo"
24c Lilac (78). Deep rich color nicely complemented by blue target cancel, Very Fine and choice