604 C 15c Brown & Blue, Ty. I (118). Perfs in, tied by circle of
wedges, red "New York Paid All Br. Transit" cds on May
1869 cover to Orvieto, Italy, forwarded to Narni,
receiving backstamps, flap removed, piece torn and mended
at top, otherwise Fine, scarce Type I usage.....................$ 500
605 S 15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II (119). Deep and rich colors,
large part o.g., h.r., fresh and Extremely Fine, extremely
rare in this pristine condition, with 1982 P.F.
certificate...................................................$ 4,250
606 SBL 15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II (119). Right sheet margin block
of four, proof-like impression with deep shades of Brown
and Blue, fresh colors and paper, original gum, the top
left stamp Mint Never Hinged, others very lightly hinged,
strong grill impression, few perfs sensibly
reinforced##FINE AND RARE. ONE OF FIVE RECORDED UNUSED
BLOCKS OF FOUR OF THE 15-CENT TYPE II 1869
PICTORIAL.##Larger multiples of this stamp are recorded,
at least one of which was broken into smaller units. Ex
Caspary, Klein................................................$ 5,000
607 C 15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II (119). Two, incredibly rich
colors and deep shades, tied by targets, "Havilah Cal.
Apr. 8" cds on 1870 cover addressed in magenta to Berlin,
Germany, red New York and Verviers/Cologne transits,
receiving backstamp, minor edge nick at bottom right
corner, Very Fine, extremely unusual use of the 15c 1869
from California and a colorful cover, with 1991 P.F.
certificate...................................................$ 2,100
608 C 15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II (119). Rich colors, tied by cork
cancel and "Mobile Ala. Oct. 17" cds on cover to Tromso,
Norway, via Christiana, red "New York Oct. 22/5" 5-cents
credit cds (scarce type), red "Wfco 2" German rate hs,
lightened stain spot at left, sealed opening tear at top,
otherwise fresh and Very Fine, the only recorded 15c 1869
usage to Norway, with 1977 P.F. certificate...................$ 2,600
Twenty-Four Cent
609 S 24c Green & Violet (120). Well-centered, bright and fresh,
original gum, tiny corner perf crease at bottom right,
still Very Fine, one of the rarest of the 1869 Pictorials
in this choice condition with original gum, with 1977 P.F.
certificate...................................................$ 4,250
610 24c Green & Violet (120). Clear red "New York Paid All
Feb. 28" cds and trace of cork cancel, negligible internal
tear, Extremely Fine appearance, ex Hindes, Haas..............$ 1,050
611 24c Green & Violet (120). Neat red "New York Jun. 7" cds,
fresh and Very Fine, very rare with red town cds..............$ 1,200
613 24c Green & Violet (120). Fresh colors, cancelled by blue
circle of V's cancel, fresh and Fine..........................$ 1,000
614 24c Green & Violet (120). Bold strike of solid star cancel
of New York, sealed tear at left, appears Fine..................$ 160
616 BL 24c Green & Violet (120). Block of four, beautiful rich
colors and proof-like impressions on bright white paper,
four neat strikes of attractive circle of V's cancel,
minor wrinkles causing almost imperceptible creasing, top
right stamp has small margin tear##VERY FINE AND BEAUTIFUL
BLOCK. ONLY SIX USED BLOCKS OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL
ARE RECORDED, THIS BEING THE MOST ATTRACTIVE IN TERMS OF
CANCELLATION, COLOR AND CENTERING. NO COMPLETELY SOUND
BLOCKS ARE KNOWN.##The six recorded used blocks of the 24c
1869, not counting the unique Invert block, are as follows
(identified by last known pedigree): 1) Rose block, VF
centering, fancy circle of V's cancel neatly struck on
each stamp, 2) ex-Bechtel block, EF centering, circular
cork cancels over each vignette, 3) ex-Ishikawa block, VF
centering, heavy circle of wedges cancel, 4) ex-Anderson
block, Fine centering to top right, circle of wedges
cancel, 5) ex-Klein block, Fine centering to left,
quartered cork cancels, and 6) ex-Lopez block, perfs
cutting in at right, cork cancels. All of the blocks have
minor creases or small tears. The Rose, Ishikawa and
Bechtel blocks are the best centered and freshest of the
group, the attractive geometric cancels on the Rose block
are, in our opinion, slightly more desirable than the cork
cancels on the ex-Bechtel block.##Ex Hessel..................$ 17,000
617 C 24c Green & Violet (120). Well-centered, rich colors wth
unusually fine vignette impression, tied by blue quartered
cork cancel with matching blue "Savannah Ga. Oct. 20"
circular datestamp on blue 1869 folded letter to
Liverpool, England, double 12c rate, red New York and
"Paid/Liverpool/U.S. Packet" circular datestamps,
merchant's blue oval datestamp, sender's routing "Per City
of Antwerp from New York"##EXTREMELY FINE. PROBABLY THE
FINEST SINGLE FRANKING OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL IN
EXISTENCE. THE ONLY COVER WITH THE STAMP CANCELLED IN
BLUE.##There are 76 recorded 24c 1869 covers. In our
opinion this is the most beautiful of the covers bearing a
single stamp. Ex Waterhouse, Rust. With 1966 P.F.
certificate..................................................$ 28,000
618 C 24c Green & Violet (120). Well-centered, intense shades
and impressions of the frame and vignette, used with 10c
Yellow (116), both stamps tied by cork cancel and
"New-York" circular datestamp on Feb. 20, 1870 folded
part-printed letter from Havana, Cuba, to Lima, Peru, via
New York City, red "12" credit handstamp applied at New
York, blue Apr. 5 oval datestamp of J. de Riviera & Co.
(New York forwarding agents), blue Lima receiving
backstamp, original ship-name endorsement "Henry Chauncey"
crossed out at New York and re-endorsed "Alaska" for trip
to Panama, very slight perf toning on the 10c, which is
not unusual for mail to South America##VERY FINE. A UNIQUE
COVER SHOWING USE OF THE 24-CENT AND 10-CENT 1869
PICTORIAL ISSUE FROM CUBA TO PERU VIA THE UNITED STATES.
ONE OF THE MOST OUTSTANDING OF ALL 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE
COVERS.##This cover originally contained a second sheet
datelined at Havana on February 20, 1870, which we know
from the receipt docketing on the inside flap. The outer
address leaf is a printed notice of change in partnership
at the Havana firm of Lago, Ziegler y Cia. It was carried
outside the mails by courier from Havana to New York on
board the Henry Chauncey, one of the commercial vessels
regularly plying the waters between Cuba and the United
States. The letter was undoubtedly franked at Havana with
the 10c and 24c 1869 stamps - many business firms kept a
supply of stamps on hand for prepayment of postage on
letters bound for the United States. The U.S.-Peru rate
was lowered from 34c to 22c on February 16, 1870, due to
the reduction of British postage from 12 pence to 6 pence
for letters carried down the west coast of South America
by British packet. This change was evidently not known to
the sender in Havana on February 20th when the letter was
franked. At New York the firm of Jose de Rivera & Co.
dated the letter with its blue oval handstamp and put it
into the mails with the new ship designation "Alaska",
bound for Panama.##Ex Richey, Krug and Rust. Signed
Ashbrook with his opinion of genuineness. With 1952 P.F.
certificate..................................................$ 28,000
619 C 24c Green & Violet (120). Vertical pair, centered to
right, deep rich colors and beautiful impressions, tied by
fancy rosette cancels, red "New-York Paid All Jun. 30"
circular datestamp on 1869 blue folded letter to Cadiz,
Spain, from the Gomez correspondence, red London Paid
transit, "PD" in oval, red "24" credit handstamp applied
at New York, struck over by red "4d" British credit
handstamp and again by black "Cadiz Franco" Paid oval
receiving datestamp, sender's blue oval datestamp and
ship-name endorsement "China", backstamped "New York Paid
All Br. Transit" cds, very slight edge wrinkles and
wear##A VERY FINE AND COLORFUL COVER WITH AN EXTREMELY
RARE MULTIPLE 24-CENT 1869 FRANKING. FROM THE CELEBRATED
GOMEZ CORRESPONDENCE.##The U.S.-Spain via British mail
rate at this time was 22c, with a 12c credit to England.
The pair on this cover overpays the double rate.##From our
1980 Rarities of the World sale, where it realized
$25,000. Ex Ishikawa. With 1993 P.F. certificate.............$ 26,000
Thirty-Cent
620 S 30c Blue & Carmine (121). Deep rich colors, unusually
fresh and exceptionally well-centered, slightly disturbed
o.g., tiny corner perf crease, still Very Fine, the 30c
1869 with grill is exceedingly rare with original gum (its
counterpart without grill, Scott 121a, is actually more
common), with 1970 P.F. certificate...........................$ 5,250
621 30c Blue & Carmine (121). Perfectly centered, huge
margins, Negative Star fancy cancel, couple small faults,
still Extremely Fine and remarkable appearance..................$ 110
622 30c Blue & Carmine (121). Neat strike of blue Negative
Star fancy cancel, fresh and Fine...............................$ 700
623 30c Blue & Carmine (121). Bold strike of green Star fancy
cancel, Very Fine and incredibly rare, Rose notes his book
on p. 154 that he knows of only one example cancelled in
green - an outstanding stamp.................................$ 16,500
624 30c Blue & Carmine (121). Bold red cancel, Very Fine and
colorful........................................................$ 550
625 30c Blue & Carmine (121). Rich colors, neat brown cork
cancel, fresh and Fine, this brown cancel is the result of
a mixture of black and red ink..................................$ 260
626 30c Blue & Carmine (121). Well-centered, beautiful bright
colors, circle of wedges and part of blue transit cds,
Extremely Fine and choice.......................................$ 550
627 30c Blue & Carmine (121). Bold strike of unusual
"gearwheel" cancel, Fine and choice, this is the only
example of this cancel that we have seen on the 30c 1869........$ 450
628 30c Blue & Carmine (121). Rich colors, well-centered, bold
strike of Japanese "X" cancel, Very Fine and scarce...........$ 1,000
629 30c Blue & Carmine (121). Cancelled by neat strike of
Boston cds, fresh and Fine, town cancels on the 30c 1869
are rare, illustrated in Rose book, p. 154......................$ 180
630 30c Blue & Carmine (121). Well-centered, unusually clear
strike of French Anchor in Diamond maritime cancel, tiny
perf tear at top, otherwise Very Fine and rare, Rose notes
"at least three examples are known", ex Grunin..................$ 900
631 BL 30c Blue & Carmine (121). Block of twelve, showing typical
black cancellation, few perf separations and nibbed
perfs##FINE AND SCARCE. ONE OF THREE RECORDED USED 30-CENT
BLOCKS OF TWELVE, WHICH IS THE LARGEST RECORDED MULTIPLE
OF THE REGULAR ISSUE.##Scott retail as two blocks of four
and two pairs.................................................$ 4,000
632 C 30c Blue & Carmine (121). Perfectly centered with wide
margins and deep rich colors, used with 12c Green (117),
deep shade, tied by lightly struck segmented cork cancels
on Dec. 3, 1869 folded letter to Yokohama, Japan, sender's
ship-name endorsement "p City of Brussells & via
Marseilles" (Inman line ship that broke the speed record
on this trip), blurry red New York Dec. 4 backstamp, red
"26" credit handstamp, red London Paid Dec. 13 transit cds
also ties 12c, red "1d" British colonial rate, black
two-line handstamp "INSUFFY.STAMPED/VIA MARSEILLES", Hong
Kong (Feb. 12) and Yokohama (Feb. 22) transits##FRESH AND
EXTREMELY FINE COVER FROM THE FAMOUS THOREL
CORRESPONDENCE. ONLY TWO 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL COVERS TO
JAPAN ARE RECORDED. ONE OF THE FINEST OF ALL 60 KNOWN
30-CENT 1869 COVERS.##The postage and markings on this
cover are unusual and invite analysis. The U.S. rate to
Japan via England and Marseilles was dropped from 42c to
36c on January 1, 1870, and the U.S. share of postage was
reduced from 10c to 4c. In this instance the sender
correctly prepaid the 42c rate via Marseilles, but for
some unknown reason the letter was marked with a "26" cent
credit to England. The proper credit before and after
January 1st was 32c, comprising 24c for England plus the
8c French fast transit rate for service via Marseilles.
Observing the 26c credit, the London exchange office
marked the letter "Insufficiently Stamped via Marseilles".
It arrived in London on Dec. 13, 1869, after making the
record-fast transatlantic trip on the City of Brussels,
and it could have made the December 17th sailing via
Marseilles, but was held out due to the underpaid credit.
The Hong Kong Feb. 12 receiving backstamp confirms the
delayed transit.##Ex Gibson and Ishikawa (U.S. Post
Offices in Japan, 1981 Sotheby's sale, where it realized
$30,000).....................................................$ 57,500
633 C 30c Blue & Carmine (121). Remarkably well-centered, bright
fresh colors, tied by circle of wedges, "New-York May 5"
circular datestamp on bluish gray folded cover front
(skillfully-added side panels) to Guatemala, red "4"
internal postage due handstamp from port of arrival to
Guatemala City, sender's ship-name endorsement "p.
Alaska", a few short perfs at left##VERY FINE. ONE OF TWO
RECORDED 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL USAGES TO GUATEMALA, BOTH
OF WHICH ARE FRONTS.##Illustrated in Rose book, p. 155. Ex
Radford and Juhring. With 1956 P.F. certificate..............$ 17,500
Inverts
635 24c Green & Violet, Center Inverted (120b). Rich colors,
clearly struck large segmented cork cancellation, lighter
than usual, which allows most of the vignette to be
clearly seen, tiny negligible corner perf crease at top
right##EXTREMELY FINE AND CHOICE. ONE OF THE FINEST OF THE
83 RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL
INVERT.##This 24c stamp is cancelled by the large
segmented cork also found on the unique 24c 1869 Invert
block. The block, this stamp and another with the same
cancel are also similarly centered, with corresponding
frame/vignette orientation, lending support to the theory
that two inverts were found with the 24c Invert block,
probably on the same wrapper or cover. The story that the
block was originally six stamps, and a pair was removed by
its first owner, William Thorne, has never been reconciled
with recorded singles or pairs. However, there may be some
truth to this account, if in fact the block and two other
Inverts were cancelled on the same cover or piece, but not
joined together.##Ex Colonel Green. With blue Colson
backstamp. With 1984 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail for
Fine examples with minimal faults............................$ 26,000
636 30c Blue & Carmine, Center Inverted (121b). Unusually
bright colors and fine impressions of the flags and
central design, exceptionally well-defined grill, bold red
Leaf cancellation at the bottom of the stamp which leaves
the inverted flags completely unobscured, inconsequential
corner crease at top left and corner perf crease at bottom
left##VERY FINE AND CHOICE. THE FINEST OF THE FIVE
RECORDED 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL INVERTS CANCELLED IN
RED.##The red Leaf cancel was used in New York City on
supplementary mail. It is scarce on the 30c 1869, and only
five of the 36 recorded 30c Inverts are cancelled in
red.##Ex Colonel Green. With 1981 P.F. certificate...........$ 61,000
Ninety-Cent
637 S 90c Carmine & Black (122). Beautiful centering, slightly
disturbed o.g., h.r., some negligible perf soiling, still
Extremely Fine, with 1977 P.F. certificate....................$ 6,750
638 90c Carmine & Black (122). Rich color and proof-like
impression, vivid red "New York Paid All" circular
datestamp used to cancel stamp, fresh and Very Fine, red
town datestamps are incredibly rare on the 90c 1869 - a
magnificent stamp.............................................$ 3,500
639 90c Carmine & Black (122). Perfectly centered, bold
socked-on-the-nose strike of Rosette fancy cancel,
Extremely Fine Gem, with 1983 P.F. certificate................$ 2,200
640 90c Carmine & Black (122). Well-centered, black cork and
part of blue French transit datestamp, fresh and Very Fine....$ 2,800
641 90c Carmine & Black (122). Well-centered, bold strike of
dark blue segmented cork cancel, insignificant corner perf
crease, Very Fine and rare colored cancel on the 90c, ex
Hindes, Haas..................................................$ 3,250
642 90c Carmine & Black (122). Well-centered, fresh and bright
colors, light cork cancel, faint vertical crease,
otherwise Extremely Fine......................................$ 1,200
643 90c Carmine & Black (122). Unbelievably huge margins,
beautiful bright colors, fresh and white paper, light cork
cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1984 P.F. certificate........$ 2,100
644 90c Carmine & Black (122). Bright colors, bold strike of
Maltese Cross, fresh and Fine, scarce cancel....................$ 575
645 90c Carmine & Black (122). Rich colors, neat strike of red
Leaf cancel used on New York City supplementary mail,
Fine, extremely rare cancel on the 90c 1869, with 1994
P.F. certificate..............................................$ 1,900
646 BL 90c Carmine & Black (122). Block of four, unusually deep
shade and rich color, very lightly cancelled by segmented
cork, few perf separations sensibly reinforced, small tear
and tiny surface scrape on bottom right stamp##VERY FINE
APPEARANCE. THE FINEST OF THE FIVE USED BLOCKS OF FOUR IN
PRIVATE HANDS. ONE OF THE GREAT RARITIES OF THE 1869
PICTORIAL ISSUE.##Seven used blocks are recorded. The
largest recorded used multiple is a block of six, which,
along with a used block of four, are part of the Hirzel
collection contained in the Swiss PTT Museum. The block
offered here is the only reasonably sound and
well-centered block of the five in private
hands.##Illustrated in Brookman, Vol. 2, and in the Rose
book, p. 165. Ex West, Anderson. With 1992 P.F.
certificate..................................................$ 40,000