1c Indigo, First Design
(55). Unused (no gum), choice centering for this stamp with
well-balanced margins, top perfs slightly into oval as they are on
virtually all known copies, intense shade and impression, single pulled
perforation at upper leftVERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE RARE ONE-CENT 1861 FIRST DESIGN.
Our census published in the Zoellner catalogue (and available at our website at: http://www.siegelauctions.com/enc/census/55/55.htm) contains a total of 24 examples of this stamp. Of these 24, one is in the New York Public Library collection and two are cancelled. Of the remaining 21 copies, approximately half are defective to some extent. The example offered here, with a minor pulled perforation at upper left, is a most desirable example of this rarity.
Census No. 55-UNC-19. With 1969 and 2001 P.F. certificates, the former not mentioning the perforation flaw. (Image)
3c Brown Rose, First Design
(56). Original gum, h.r., rich color, Very Fine and choice, with 2001
P.F. certificate (Image) 
3c Brown Rose, First Design
(56). Original gum, intense color, Very Fine and choice (Image) 
3c Brown Rose, First Design
(56). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep shade, fresh and Very Fine (Image) 
5c Brown, First Design
(57). Original gum, lightly hinged, intense shade and sharp impression,
small closed tear at top right centerFINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF ONLY SIXTEEN RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE 5-CENT 1861 FIRST DESIGN WITH ORIGINAL GUM, AND ONE OF ONLY NINE WITH FULL ORIGINAL GUM AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS.
Our census published in the Zoellner catalogue (and available at our website at: http://www.siegelauctions.com/enc/census/57/57.htm) lists a total of 35 copies of Scott 55, including two cancelled and one sound original-gum copy in the New York Public Library collection. Of the sixteen original-gum copies available to collectors, seven have only part original gum. Of the nine copies available with full original gum, none are completely sound. Four have small perf defects, one is reperfed at right, one is repaired, one has unspecified faults (ex Caspary), and two have small closed tears.
Census No. 57-OG-20. With copy of 1948 and with 1969 P.F. certificates describing the stamp as sound. With 2001 P.F. certificate describing a small closed tear at top right center. (Image)
10c Dark Green, First Design
(58/62B). Original gum, deep rich color, choice centering with perfs
clear of design all aroundEXTREMELY FINE. A RARE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1861 ISSUE FIRST DESIGN.
This stamp is extremely difficult to find in well-centered, sound, original-gum condition. This is partly due to the narrow spacing on Plate 4, which produced this First Design (Type I, Scott 58 and 62B).
With 2001 P.F. certificate (Image)
10c Dark Green, First Design
(58/62B). Original gum, rich color and sharp impression, choice
centering for this difficult issueEXTREMELY FINE. A RARE AND REMARKABLY CENTERED ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1861 ISSUE FIRST DESIGN.
With 1960 P.F. certificate (Image)
10c Dark Green, First Design
(62B). Intense color on bright paper, faint double-circle datestamp
cancel, fresh and Extremely Fine, small purple backstamp
(Image)
10c Dark Green, First Design
(62B). Rich color, red New York cds, part of blue cancel partially
removed, Fine appearance, with 1998 P.F. certificate
(Image)
10c Dark Green, First Design
(62B). Intense color contrasted by red grid cancel, tiny corner
crease at bottom left, Fine appearance, with 2000 P.F. certificate (Image) 
12c Intense Black, First
Design (59). Unused (no gum), choice centering with margins all around
design and an especially wide margin at right, deep dark shade and intense
impression on bright fresh paper, long full perfsEXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF ONLY SIX SOUND EXAMPLES OF THE 12-CENT 1861 FIRST DESIGN AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS. AN OUTSTANDING RARITY.
The 12c is the rarest of the 1861 First Designs and Colors, with a total of 16 examples recorded, including one in the New York Public Library collection. Our census of this issue as published in the Zoellner catalogue (and available at our website at: http://www.siegelauctions.com/enc/census/59/59.htm) contains seven sound copies, including the NYPL's stamp. Of the six sound copies available to collectors, five have original gum, one of which is off center. The example offered here is one of only five sound copies of this stamp available in the grade of Extremely Fine.
Census No. 59-UNC-06. With 2001 P.F. certificate. (Image)