Sale 1278 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 21-23 March, 2023
Category — 1869 Pictorial Issue and 1869 Re-Issue (Sccott 112-133a)







EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE. THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST EAMPLES WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED.
With 2019 P.F. certificate (XF 90). By way of comparison, the P.S.E. Population Report lists only one Scott 113 at the 90 grade in Mint N.H. condition, with none higher. We last offered that example in 2009. Unlisted in Scott as Mint N.H. Scott value as hinged










EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION.
Ex Floyd. With 2001 and 2006 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95). By way of comparison, only three grade higher in the P.S.E.'s Population Report. Scott value as hinged



EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY BOTH P.S.E. AND THE P.F.
Ex Bowman. With 1985, 1999 and 2015 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (latter two XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,900.00). Only two grade higher (at 98J) and only three others share this desirable grade. These are low population numbers -- the last we offered at this grade realized $5,000 hammer in 2019.











EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING USED EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT TYPE I 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
With 2021 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95). By way of comparison P.S.E. has graded only four higher.

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT TYPE II 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
With 2020 P.S.A.G. certificate (XF-Superb 95)












EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT TYPE II 1869 PICTORIAL WITH A BOLD BLUE TARGET CANCEL.
With 1991, 2002 and 2013 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95 XQ). The "XQ" denotes "Extraordinary Quality".




VERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
Ex Price. With 1998 and 2007 P.F. certificates

EXTREMELY FINE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
With 2002 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90 Jumbo; SMQ $2,500.00)



EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
With 2021 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
With 2009 and 2019 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95 XQ). The "XQ" stands for "Extraordinary Quality". By way of comparison, P.S.E. has graded only four higher (at 95J)




FINE. AN EXTRAORDINARY MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE. THIS TOP DENOMINATION OF THE REGULARLY ISSUED 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE SELDOM COMES LIGHTLY HINGED, LET ALONE NEVER-HINGED. FOR THE COLLECTOR OF CLASSIC STAMPS IN MINT POST-OFFICE FRESH CONDITION, THIS IS THE ONLY STAMP OF ITS KIND.
Our reaction to the first report of this stamp and its accompanying P.S.E. certificate was, they got it wrong and the stamp is hinged or regummed. We were wrong. The gum is absolutely Mint Never-Hinged. If this stamp were face down next to 3c 1869 stamps in Mint N.H. condition, of which there are many, it would be impossible to tell which one was the common 3c and which was the arguably unique 90c.
One of the key characteristics of genuine gum on grilled stamps is the grill itself. In the manufacturing process, sheets were gummed first, then grilled and perforated. Therefore, the grill in original gum will show characteristics that differ from a grill that was covered with gum in regumming or brushing. Likewise, perforations that followed gumming will have a different appearance than perforations of a regummed stamp. Finally, brushing over a hinge removal will be evident in the minute crackling in the surface of the gum--what art experts call craquelure in oil paintings--but this stamp shows perfectly even crackling in the gum.
We have gone to great lengths to explain the Mint N.H. state of this stamp, because it might well be the only Scott 122 to survive in such condition. Every example we have seen is previously hinged or has disturbed gum, or has no gum at all. If this stamp were centered with a grade of 80 or better, it would be valued at $100,000 or more. With Fine centering, it will probably bring less, but for collectors of classic stamps in post-office fresh Mint N.H. condition, it is essentially priceless.
With 1980 P.F. certificate (before gum was described as never-hinged) and 2023 P.S.E. certificate "genuine, o.g., never hinged". Scott value as hinged.

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
With 2002 P.F. certificate stating "purple cancellation". With 2007 P.S.E. certificate stating "faintly cancelled, but no opinion whether or not the cancel is purple" (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $9,000.00). Only three grade higher (two at 95J, one at 98J), and only seven others share this grade. The Scott premium for a purple cancel is $3,000.00 but Scott value quoted here is for a black cancel

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY THE P.F.
With 2001, 2006 and 2011 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTPRIAL ISSUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
These high-denomination stamps were typically used on mail to foreign countries or on heavy registered letters. They were often heavily cancelled by postal clerks to make sure they were not reused. The example offered here, with a very light cancel, is a rare exception to the rule.
With 2021 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95).

VERY FINE AND CHOICE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
With 1977 and 2006 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85)




EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE. RARE IN SUCH CHOICE CONDITION.
Ex Kirke and Morton. With 1998, 2005, 2006 and 2020 P.F. certificates (XF 90). With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $2,000.00). Only four grade higher (two at 95 and two at 95J) and only three others share this grade.


EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE
With 1986, 2003 and 2021 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95). This is the highest grade awarded by the P.F. to an original gum Scott 126. By way of comparison, the highest P.S.E. grade is also 95.


VERY FINE AND CHOICE LIGHTLY-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE.
Ex "Vineyard". With 2003 P.F. certificate

EXTREMELY FINE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE. ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT DENOMINATIONS TO OBTAIN IN SUCH CHOICE USED CONDITION.
Ex Twigg-Smith, Dr. Dauer and Morton. With 2001 and 2020 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (latter two VF-XF 85; SMQ $4,500.00). Only four grade higher: a 98 which brought $23,000 in Sale 1199 in 2019, a 95 which brought $10,500 in our sale of the Kirke collection in 2012 and two at 90 (we have never offered them).

FRESH AND VERY FINE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE.
With 1978 and 1997 P.F. certificates.


EXTREMELY FINE. A VIBRANT ORIGINAL GUM, WIDE-MARGINED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE.
With 2003 P.F. certificate


EXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE.
With 1992 P.S.E., 2004 and 2022 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85)

EXTREMELY FINE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE. VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND IN SOUND AND CENTERED CONDITION.
With 1991, 2003 and 2019 P.F. certificates (XF 90). With 2019 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $4,000.00). For P.S.E., only four used copies of Scott 127 grade higher than 85 (three at 90 and one at 90J). We leave it to collectors to determine who got the grade right, in any case this is extremely difficult to obtain in such choice condition.

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE. A DIFFICULT STAMP TO FIND IN SUCH OUTSTANDING CONDITION, AND EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE. THIS REMARKABLE STAMP IS GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AND THE ONLY ONE TO ACHIEVE IT.
The 12c 1869 Pictorial Re-Issue is the second rarest of the set in used condition (the 3c is the rarest). The Rose book estimates 15-25 extant used copies, and SMQ estimates 20 extant. It was the only used 1869 Re-Issue denomination in the Zoellner collection that was accepted with a small fault.
Ex Tahoe, Merlin and Curtis. With 2001, 2015 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (latter two XF-Superb 95; SMQ $15,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded and the only example to achieve this grade.










EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE. THIS MARVELOUS STAMP HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF XF-SUPERB 95, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST AWARDED.
Ex Merlin. With 2009, 2013 P.F. and 2010 P.S.E. certificates (latter two XF-Superb 95; SMQ $7,500.00). This is the highest grade awarded and only two others have achieved this grade. This is the first we have offered since 2012.


EXTREMELY FINE. A STUNNING USED EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE.
With 2000, 2010 and 2011 P.F. certificates (XF 90). By way of comparison, P.S.E. has graded only four higher (two each at 95 and 98) and three at this grade.

VERY FINE AND CHOICE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE.
SMQ estimates that approximately 40 examples of the 30c Re-Issue are known used. Our experience has been that many are either off-center or have small faults.
With 1982 and 1998 P.F. certificates.




