15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II,
Center Inverted (119b). Beautiful deep rich colors and intense
impressions on bright paper, almost complete and very clear strike of
New York City Large 5-Point Star fancy cancel, centered slightly to
upper left but perfs are well clear all around, insignificant tiny crease
across top right corner perfVERY FINE. ONE OF FINEST USED EXAMPLES OF THE 91 RECORDED 15-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL INVERT ERRORS. A STAMP OF REMARKABLE BEAUTY AND GREAT RARITY.
Our census of 1869 Inverts contains 91 examples of the 15c Invert, including three unused and 88 used (one in the British Library's Tapling collection and three No. 119c varieties). We estimate that only twelve to fifteen used copies are sound, including copies with tiny corner creases, such as the ex-Zoellner copy offered here. A large number -- more than half -- have serious faults or repairs.
One other 15c Invert exists with the Large 5-Point Star fancy cancel, which is known used on covers from New York City in April and May 1870. Seven copies have a smaller star cancel of unidentified origin, which often appears as a blob of ink.
Census No. 119b-CAN-NW03. Ex Cole and Zoellner. With 1988 P.F. certificate (Image)
24c Green & Violet, Center
Inverted (120b). Lightly cancelled by circle of wedges, red foreign
transit cancel at lower rightVERY FINE AND CHOICE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1869 INVERT.
Our published 1869 Invert census (with unpublished updates) contains 88 copies of the perforated 24c Invert, including four unused stamps and multiples.
Census No. 120b-CAN-CW04. With 1970 P.F. certificate. (Image)
30c Ultramarine & Carmine,
Center Inverted (121b). Perfect centering, incredibly rich and bright
colors on fresh white paper, clear strike of New York City circle of V's
(or Leaf) cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL INVERT WITH REMARKABLY RICH COLORS. ONLY THREE OF THE 37 RECORDED USED COPIES ARE PERFECTLY CENTERED AND SOUND.
Our published census of the 30c 1869 Invert (with unpublished updates) contains a total of 44 stamps, including 7 unused and 37 used. Of the ten used "Centered" copies, only three are sound. One of the sound copies realized $95,000 hammer in our Zoellner sale.
The circle of V's cancel on this stamp is known on covers from the Davis correspondence, mailed to Peru from New York City in August 1869 (see Chronicle 138, p. 124).
Census No. 121b-CAN-C08. Ex Newbury, Engel, Back and Concord. With 1961 and 1991 P.F. certificates (Image)