| Lot |
Photo |
Description |
Lot 8 |
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o
1851, 1¢ blue, type I (5), position 7R1E, bright and fresh with wide side margins and a neat, centrally struck grid cancel; top and bottom well clear to just barely touching at upper and lower right, tiny natural paper flaw at bottom; a choice Very Fine example of this classic rarity. SMQ $165,000.
Scott $75,000 for Fine
ONE OF THE FINEST KNOWN EXAMPLES OF THIS RARE STAMP, COMPLETELY SOUND AND WITH ITS TYPE CHARACTERISTICS PLAINLY VISIBLE.
Expertization: 2006 PF and 2007 PSE Certificates, the latter graded VF 80.
The origin of the various types of the 1¢ 1851 arose from the last-minute discovery that the engraved design for the stamp was simply a bit too tall to fit onto the standard printing plate then being used by Toppan, Carpenter. Consequently, the plate maker had to erase a bit of the top, the bottom or both from each subject on the plate in order to make enough room for all 200 subjects. It was these erasures that created the types we know today. A solitary position, 7R1E, escaped the erasing process. Hence it became the only one, of a total of 1,000 positions on the five plates used to print the imperforate 1¢ 1851 stamps, to retain its entire design as originally envisioned.
Perfectionists among us who insist on only sound, fully four-margin used singles may never own a Scott #5. A survey of the Wagshal census reveals that no such example exists. Every used off-cover single listed is either touching on at least one point or has a fault, or, most often, suffers from both conditions.
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Lot 9 |
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1851, 1¢ blue, type Ia (6), position 94L4, clear early impression and deep color on bright paper, large to oversized margins with adjacent stamps visible at top and right and full bottom right ball and plume ornaments, barely shaved at bottom left with a light face-free town cancel; wonderfully fresh and choice Very Fine.
Scott $13,000
A TRULY EXCEPTIONAL 1¢ TYPE IA, A STAMP THAT IS EXCEEDINGLY DIFFICULT TO LOCATE WITH CLEARLY VISIBLE TYPE CHARACTERISTICS AND COMPLETELY SOUND.
Expertization: 2005 PSE, 2004 & 2006 PF Certificates, the last graded VF 80.
The key to differentiating the type Ia from the lesser type Ic is the complete ball and plume ornaments at the bottom right, which on this example have a full margin beneath them.
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Lot 10 |
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1851, 1¢ blue, type Ic (6b), "F" relief, position 91R4, very large, perfectly balanced margins, fresh with deep color and a light, completely unobtrusive manuscript cancel; Extremely Fine and choice.
Scott $5,000
A SIMPLY SUPERB 1¢ TYPE IC FROM THE BOTTOM ROW OF PLATE 4.
Expertization: 1998 & 2005 PF Certificates.
Provenance: Rogers
The best examples of type Ic came from position 91 and 96R4. These are truly rare as plate 4 was used for a relatively short time to print the 1¢ imperforate; the majority of the stamps printed from plate 4 were perforated.
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Lot 11 |
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1851, 1¢ blue, type II (7), clear to large, beautifully balanced margins with deep color, bright paper and full, lightly hinged original gum; a fresh, Extremely Fine Gem.
Scott $1,000
Expertization: 2005 PF Certificate.
Provenance: Enstrom
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Lot 12 |
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1851, 1¢ blue, type III (8), position 44L4, large margins except barely touched at upper left, with the top and bottom margins being particularly large; the exceptionally wide breaks at both top and bottom make this an excellent example of its type; intense deep color and full original gum; Extremely Fine and choice.
Scott $25,000
CHOICE ORIGINAL GUM EXAMPLES OF THE 1¢ 1851 TYPE III ARE AMONG THE RAREST OF ALL U.S. MINT 19TH CENTURY STAMPS—ONLY FIVE WELL MARGINED, SOUND, FULL ORIGINAL GUM EXAMPLES HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION, ACCORDING TO THEIR ONLINE ARCHIVE.
Expertization: 1988 & 2002 PF Certificates.
Provenance: Lilly, Drucker, "Scarsdale", Schwenk
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Lot 13 |
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o
1851, 1¢ blue, type III (8), extravagant margins all around clearly showing the type III characteristics of the "C" relief with very large breaks at top and bottom, deep color and a light Jan 11, 1858 town cancel; a choice, Extremely Fine Gem.
Scott $3,000
Expertization: 2004 PF Certificate.
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Lot 14 |
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o
1851, 1¢ blue, type III (8), position 22L4 with large margins showing clear breaks at top and bottom; dark, fresh color on bright paper and a light town cancel; faint scuff on upper left edge, well clear of the design; otherwise Extremely Fine and choice.
Scott $3,000
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Lot 15 |
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1851, 1¢ blue, type IIIa (8A), position 56R4, large margins all around with deep color on particularly bright paper, unused without gum, bright, fresh and Very Fine to Extremely Fine. SSV $2,750.
Scott $2,250
A CHOICE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE IMPERF 1¢ TYPE IIIA.
Expertization: 1991 PSE, 1974, 1990 & 2008 PF Certificates, the last graded VF-XF 85.
Provenance: Schwenk
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Lot 16 |
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1851, 1¢ blue, type IIIa (8A), horizontal pair, positions 57-58R4, truly gargantuan margins with adjacent stamps visible on all four sides, deep color, light partial "Wac(o Village), Tex." town cancel; wonderfully fresh and positively Superb.
Scott $2,500
THE QUINTESSENTIAL PAIR OF THE 1¢ TYPE IIIA FROM PLATE 4—IMPOSSIBLE TO IMPROVE UPON.
Expertization: 1987 (strip of 3 on cover), 1989 (strip of 3 off cover), 1991 & 2005 PF Certificates.
Provenance: Rogers
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Lot 17 |
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1852, 1¢ blue, type IV (9), position 9R1L showing double transfer at top, large to oversized margins with unusually deep color and lightly hinged original gum; fresh and choice Extremely Fine. SMQ $1,525.
Scott $750
Expertization: 2003 PF and 2006 PSE Certificates, the latter graded XF 90.
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Lot 18 |
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1851, 3¢ orange brown, type I (10), clear to mostly large margins with incredibly rich color and full, lightly hinged original gum; light vertical creases (not mentioned on accompanying certificate and in no way detracting), fresh and otherwise Very Fine.
Scott $4,000
A VERY DIFFICULT STAMP TO LOCATE WITH FOUR MARGINS AND ORIGINAL GUM.
Expertization: clear 1985 PF Certificate.
Provenance: Maffeo
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Lot 19 |
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o
1851, 3¢ orange brown, type II (10A), bottom sheet margin single, position 93L2E, with huge margins, including a good bit of position 94, light, clearly struck red grid cancel and razor sharp impression; a choice, Extremely Fine to Superb Gem.
Scott $170
A TRULY EXTRAORDINARY 3¢ CENT ORANGE BROWN.
Expertization: 1995 & 2000 PF Certificates as #10.
Provenance: Haas
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Lot 20 |
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1851, 3¢ orange brown, type II (10A), huge margins including full top sheet margin and a good portion of adjacent stamp at right; strong fresh color, sharp impression and neat, face-free town cancel; Extremely Fine to Superb and choice.
Scott $160
A SUPERB 3¢ ORANGE BROWN.
Expertization: 1999 PF Certificate as #10.
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Lot 21 |
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1857, 3¢ claret, type I (11 var.), full upper right corner sheet margin single, position 10R6 with a healthy portion of the three adjacent stamps; unused without gum, small thin at left edge not affecting the main stamp; a stunning, positively Superb Gem.
Scott $120
Expertization: 1972 & 2005 PF Certificates.
Provenance: Haas, Grunin
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Lot 22 |
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1852, 3¢ dull red, type II (11A), a choice vertical pair with huge margins all around, including bit of adjacent stamps at left; fresh color with full original gum, the top stamp lightly hinged, the bottom never hinged; Extremely Fine and quite remarkable.
Scott $650 ++
A SIMPLY MAGNIFICENT MINT PAIR OF THE 3¢ 1851 TYPE II.
Expertization: 2000 & 2009 PF Certificates.
Provenance: Whitman
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Lot 23 |
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1852, 3¢ dull red, type II (11A), huge, beautifully balanced margins, rich color and light blue town cancel; bright, fresh and absolutely Superb. SMQ $550.
Scott $16
Expertization: 1998 PF and 2009 PSE Certificates, the latter graded Superb 98.
Provenance: Minervino
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Lot 24 |
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o
1852, 3¢ brownish carmine, type II (11A), horizontal strip of three, positions 44-46L3, huge margins including bits of adjacent stamps all around, with rich color and neat, square dotted grid cancels; faint, inconsequential vertical crease between pos. 45/46; exceptionally fresh and truly Superb.
Scott $140
AN ABSOLUTELY STUNNING 3¢ MULTIPLE.
Expertization: 2005 PF Certificate.
Provenance: Amonette
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Lot 25 |
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1856, 5¢ red brown (12), very large margins with good bit of adjacent stamp visible at right, rich color and a sharp impression, part original gum; barely noticeable tiny tone spots, mostly visible only on reverse, otherwise Extremely Fine.
Scott $30,000
AN EXCEPTIONALLY ATTRACTIVE EXAMPLE OF THIS RARE MINT STAMP. THIS MAY WELL BE THE LARGEST MARGINED OF ANY MINT OR UNUSED 5¢ 1856.
Expertization: 2005 PF Certificate for a block of three noting "small part o.g."
Provenance: Mayer as part of a block of three
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Lot 26 |
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1856, 5¢ red brown (12), four large margins and exceptionally bright and fresh with rich, prooflike color, unused without gum, Extremely Fine.
Scott $11,000
UNUSED SINGLES WITH LARGE BALANCED MARGINS, AS WELL AS IMPECCABLY FRESH COLOR AND PAPER, ARE VIRTUALLY NON-EXISTENT.
Expertization: 2005 PF Certificate.
Provenance: Mayer
Illustrated: Frajola and Mayer, p. 16.
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Lot 27 |
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o
1856, 5¢ red brown (12), position 31L showing "Toppan Carpe(nter)" portion of imprint in the left sheet margin; huge margins all around including portion of adjoining stamp at right, exceptionally bright and fresh with a light town cancel; trivial, faint corner crease at upper right and microscopic pinhole at lower left, both entirely in the margins; still Extremely Fine.
Scott $750
A STUNNING AND POSSIBLY UNIQUE 5¢ 1856 FROM POSITION 31L. THE EXAMPLE OFFERED HERE MAY WELL BE THE LARGEST MARGINED IMPRINT SINGLE IN EXISTENCE.
Expertization: 1998 & 2006 PF Certificates, only the last noting the pinhole.
Provenance: Caspary, Ishikawa, Mayer
Illustrated: Frajola and Mayer, p. 23.
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Lot 28 |
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o
1856, 5¢ red brown (12), large to huge margins with full inter-pane sheet margin and centerline at right, exceptionally intense color on bright paper with a bold New Orleans town cancel; Extremely Fine.
Scott $750
THIS EXTRAORDINARY EXAMPLE FROM THE CASPARY AND MAYER COLLECTIONS IS ONE OF THE FINEST USED 5¢ IMPERFORATE SINGLES AVAILABLE.
Expertization: 2006 PF Certificate.
Provenance: Caspary, Mayer
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Lot 29 |
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o
1856, 5¢ red brown (12), vertical pair, large margins (bits of adjacent stamps visible at right) with exceptionally bright color and paper and a clear New Orleans town cancel; fresh and Extremely Fine.
Scott $1,750
A PAIR OF EXTRAORDINARY FRESHNESS AND BEAUTY, AND GIVEN THE BRILLIANT COLOR, LARGE MARGINS AND CRISP POSTMARK, WE CAN SEE WHY THIS PAIR HAS GRACED THE HOLDINGS OF SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT AND QUALITY-CONSCIOUS COLLECTORS.
Expertization: signed Colson ("W.H.C.") with 2006 PF Certificate.
Provenance: Caspary, Lehman, Klein, Mayer
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Lot 30 |
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o
1856, 5¢ red brown (12), vertical strip of three with left interpane sheet margin and partial centerline (positions 1/21R); large margins on the other three sides, with vibrant color and light New Orleans town cancels; faint crease at top and tiny corner crease in bottom right margin; still an Extremely Fine and rare position piece.
Scott $4,000
A CHOICE POSITION PIECE AND CERTAINLY AMONG THE MOST STRIKING MULTIPLES IN THE MAYER COLLECTION.
Expertization: 2006 PF Certificate.
Provenance: Klein, Mayer
Illustrated: Frajola and Mayer, p. 20.
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Lot 31 |
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o
1856, 5¢ red brown (12), horizontal strip of four with large to huge margins (partial sheet margin at right), rich color and light town cancels; first and third stamps with a light vertical bend, second stamp with a tiny sealed tear in margin only, none of which detract; a fresh, Extremely Fine and rare large multiple.
Estimate 10,000 - 15,000
5¢ MULTIPLES LARGER THAN A STRIP OF THREE ARE EXCEEDINGLY RARE; THIS IS MOST LIKELY THE FINEST STRIP OF FOUR AVAILABLE.
Expertization: 2006 PF Certificate.
Provenance: Walcott, West, Klein, Mayer
Illustrated: Brookman, p.150 and Frajola and Mayer, p. 19.
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Lot 32 |
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1855, 10¢ green, type I (13), huge margins including a portion of the adjoining stamp at right; exceptionally bright and fresh with vibrant color and a prooflike impression; unused without gum, a stunning, Extremely Fine to Superb Gem.
Scott $7,500
A MAGNIFICENT UNUSED TEN-CENT TYPE I, A STAMP THAT IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO LOCATE IN SUCH EXTRAORDINARY CONDITION.
Expertization: 1995 PSE and PF Certificates.
Provenance: Berlin
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Lot 33 |
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o
1855, 10¢ green, type I (13), large, perfectly balanced margins with choice color and impression and a light town cancel; exceptionally fresh and Extremely Fine.
Scott $900
Expertization: 2001 PF Certificate.
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Lot 34 |
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1855, 10¢ green, type II (14), fresh and choice with large, even margins, deep, rich color and full original gum; Extremely Fine.
Scott $5,000
AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE STAMP TO FIND WITH SUCH EXCEPTIONAL MARGINS, PROOFLIKE COLOR AND FULL ORIGINAL GUM.
Expertization: 1987, 1995 & 2005 PF Certificates.
Provenance: McKinney, Gorham
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Lot 35 |
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1855, 10¢ green, type III (15), full, evenly balanced margins with deep rich color and full original gum; remarkably fresh and Very Fine.
Scott $5,000
A TRULY RARE STAMP IN THIS PREMIUM MINT CONDITION.
Expertization: 1993 & 2006 PF Certificates.
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Lot 36 |
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1855, 10¢ green, type IV (16), recut at top and bottom, position 64L; wide beautifully balanced margins and light red grid cancel plus a faint black town cancel; wonderfully fresh and Extremely Fine with great eye appeal.
Scott $2,385
A SUPERB AND GORGEOUS EXAMPLE OF THE RAREST OF THE RE-CUT VARIETIES.
Expertization: 1994 & 2005 PF Certificates.
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Lot 37 |
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o
1855, 10¢ green, type IV (16), recut at top, position 3R; .oversized margins with particularly deep color and a light blue town cancel; exceptionally bright, fresh and Extremely Fine. SSV $3,250.
Scott $1,740
A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE SCARCEST OF THE 10¢ TYPES.
Expertization: 1991 & 2006 PF Certificates, the latter graded XF 90.
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Lot 38 |
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1851, 12¢ gray black (17), large, beautifully balanced margins with rich color, a finely etched impression and full, lightly hinged original gum; remarkably fresh and Extremely Fine. SSV $8,000.
Scott $6,250
A RARE MINT SINGLE, ESPECIALLY WITH LARGE MARGINS AND IN SUCH A WONDERFUL STATE OF PRESERVATION.
Expertization: 1998, 2002 & 2006 PF Certificates, the last graded VF-XF 85.
Provenance: Gorham
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Lot 39 |
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1851, 12¢ gray black (17), large margins with a good portion of the next stamp at the right; beautiful prooflike color and impression on bright paper; unused without gum, fresh and choice, Extremely Fine.
Scott $2,500
Expertization: 1982 & 2002 PF Certificates.
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Lot 40 |
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o
1851, 12¢ gray black (17), four truly gargantuan margins including inter-pane margin and guideline at right (position 50L) and with a bit of all five adjacent stamps visible; strong color, a razor-sharp impression and neat, light, town cancel; a bright, fresh and positively Superb Gem. One of just three at this, the highest attainable grade. SMQ $2,900 for a Superb 98.
Scott $275
ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE TO IMPROVE UPON.
Expertization: 2005 PSE Certificate graded Gem 100J.
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Lot 41 |
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1851, 12¢ gray black (17), a choice sheet margin single, position 71R1, with enormous margins showing the full inter-pane center line at left and part of the adjacent stamp at right; also with a finely detailed impression and a bold 1857 town cancel; a remarkably fresh and absolutely Superb Gem.
Scott $275
AN EXTRAORDINARY 12¢ 1851 FOR THE COLLECTOR SEEKING THE FINEST QUALITY.
Expertization: 1998 & 2005 PF Certificates.
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