Sale 1231 — The James P. Myerson Collection of Superb United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 9-10 February, 2021
Category — 1851-56 Issue (Scott 5-17)
1c Blue, Ty. Ia (6). Position 99R4, huge margins all around, deep rich Plate 4 shade and proof-like impression, barely cancelled by a very light strike of circular datestamp, the margins and the cancel combining to beautifully highlight the type characteristicsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST USED EXAMPLES OF THE IMPERFORATE 1851 ONE-CENT TYPE Ia. A BEAUTIFUL STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. -- ONE OF ONLY TWO AT THIS GRADE -- WHICH IS THE HIGHEST AWARDED.
Stamps printed from Plate 4 were issued in April, May and briefly in June 1857 before perforations were introduced. The relatively small number of imperforate Plate 4 stamps issued during this period explains the rarity and desirability of any of the imperforate stamp types produced from this plate (Ia, Ic, II, III and IIIa). The extremely rare Type Ia, showing the full design at bottom, was furnished only by 18 of the 200 subjects on Plate 4 (the remaining two bottom-row positions were sub-type Ic).
Ex Neinken and Wagshal. The 1925 Kelleher sale of the Dr. Carroll Chase collection featured a Type Ia described as "black town canc. is so light that stamp appears unused" (lot 368), which seems to describe this stamp, but since there were no photographs in the sale catalogue, we cannot be sure if this the ex-Chase stamp.
With 2010 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $96,000.00). This is one of only two Scott 6 stamps at this lofty grade, with none higher. Below these two there are four graded 95. The highest grade for an unused example is 85.
