24c Green & Violet (120).
Beautifully centered with wide margins, rich colors and distinct vignette
impression, tied by large circle of wedges cancel, red "New York Sep. 8"
circular datestamp, matching "12" credit handstamp on 1869 blue folded
letter to Cadiz, Spain, 2c overpayment of the 22c rate, sender's
blue oval datestamp, red "New York Paid All Br. Transit Sep. 8" circular
datestamp, red London Paid circular datestamp and "PD" in oval, red crayon
"4", Cadiz receiving datestamp, sender's routing per steamship
China, negligible tiny sealed tear at top (well clear of
stamp)EXTREMELY FINE GEM EXAMPLE OF A SINGLE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL USED ON COVER. ONE OF THE FAMOUS COVERS FROM THE GOMEZ CORRESPONDENCE TO SPAIN.
In our sale of the Jonathan W. Rose 1869 collection (Sale 794), we offered a single 24c tied by a blue cancel on cover to England. Described in the Rose catalogue as "the most beautiful of the covers bearing a single stamp", the cover realized $28,000 hammer. At the time we wrote those words, we had this Gomez cover in mind as the runner-up -- they would be tied for first if this also had a colored cancellation. Only 76 24c covers in total are recorded in the 1869 PRA census.
Illustrated in 1869 PRA census book, p. 184. With 1964 P.F. certificate. (Image)
24c Green & Violet (120).
Used with 1c Buff (112), each stamp cancelled by matching circular
cork cancel and tied by part of adjoining "Boston Mass. Jan. 21 3 P.M."
circular datestamp on 1870 cover to Rosario, Argentina, red "8"
credit handstamp, faint red oval handstamp applied in Argentina, pencil
"10c", reduced at leftA FINE AND COLORFUL COVER. THE ONLY GENUINE COVER WITH THIS COMBINATION OF 1869 STAMPS AND ONE OF TWO RECORDED 24-CENT 1869 COVERS TO ARGENTINA.
The 1c and 24c stamps were intended to prepay the 25c rate (between -1/4 and -1/2 ounce) for American Packet service to Rio de Janeiro and from there by French Packet to Buenos Aires. However, the French Packet service ended by January 1870, and the cover was sent via the new British Packet. The 18c per -1/2 ounce rate applied to British mail, and the cover was correctly marked with the 8c credit.
Only two 24c 1869 covers to Argentina are recorded in the 1869 PRA census book. Although two 1c and 14c combination covers are listed in the same census, subsequent to publication the other cover (ex Ishikawa) was determined to be a forgery, leaving only this cover with the 1c Franklin and 24c Signing of the Declaration of Independence pictorial stamps.
Ex White, Emerson and Krug. Signed Ashbrook. With 1990 P.F. certificate. (Image)
30c Black, Burgoyne Plate
Essays on Salmon Surface-Tinted Paper (121-E1p). Block of 20 with
sheet margin at bottom and sides and imprint at bottom, large margin
at top, small tear in sheet margin at leftEXTREMELY FINE AND RARE BLOCK OF THE BOTTOM TWO ROWS OF THE PLATE OF THE 30-CENT BURGOYNE PLATE ESSAY. PROBABLY UNIQUE.
Scott Retail as singles (Image)
30c Ultramarine & Carmine
(121). Original gum, clearly-defined grill, rich colors on fresh
paperVERY FINE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1869 OPICTORIAL ISSUE.
The 30c 1869 Pictorial Issue is an exceedingly difficult stamp to find in sound, well-centered, original-gum condition. The example offered here, while not perfectly centered, is far better-centered than most and is remarkable for its overall freshness.
With 2000 P.F. certificate (Image)
30c Ultramarine & Carmine
(121). Unused (traces of original gum), incredibly rich colors,
well-centeredEXTREMELY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
With 1990 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as no gum (Image)
30c Ultramarine & Carmine
(121). Used with 6c Carmine (159), bright fresh colors, tied by
segmented cork cancels, red "Boston Mass. Jun. 3" circular datestamp on
greenish-blue 1870 folded letter from Chas. F. Wyman in Boston to
Manila, Philippines, blue Robt. B. Storer forwarder oval handstamp, red
crayon "32" credit, red London Paid transit and "1d" colonial rate
handstamp, Hong Kong and Manila backstamps, "2" due handstamp applied at
Manila, file folds clear of stamps, both of which have been carefully
lifted and hinged in placeEXTREMELY FINE AND COLORFUL. THE ONLY RECORDED 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL COVER TO THE PHILIPPINES. ONE OF THE MOST OUTSTANDING FOREIGN-MAIL USAGES OF THE 1869 ISSUE.
Of the 33 recorded covers from the Pierce correspondence, which reached philatelic hands in the early 1980's, only this cover bears a 30c 1869. One of the covers was originally franked with a 6c and 30c 1869, but the 30c stamp fell off and has been lost to philately. The cover offered here remains the only recorded intact 30c 1869 cover to the Philippines.
The 36c British Mail rate via Marseilles was in effect for a very brief time, from January 1870 through November 1870. This cover and one other are the only two 36-rate covers known. (Image)
90c Carmine & Black
(122). Original gum, intense color and impressions, clear grill,
centered to top left but with wide marginsVERY FINE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL.
With 1996 P.F. certificate (Image)
90c Carmine & Black
(122). Rich colors, neat cork cancel, choice centering with extra wide
margin at topEXTREMELY FINE. A CHOICE WIDE-MARGINED EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
With 2000 P.F. certificate (Image)