3c Green (147). Original
gum, lightly hinged, Jumbo margins all around, rich colorEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB STAMP.
This stamp is scarce with such enormous margins. For example, a used example with similar centering realized $525 hammer in our Twigg-Smith auction, against a catalogue value of $1.00. We do not recall seeing another sound, original-gum example with these margins.
With 1988 P.F. certificate (Image)
10c Brown (150). Original
gum, intense color and impression, near perfect centering with
well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN EXTREMELY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1870 UNGRILLED NATIONAL BANK NOTE ISSUE.
In searching past auction catalogues, we have located precious few examples of Scott 150 in the condition of the stamp offered here. The last example we offered in similar condition was in our Sale 818, which realized $6,500.00 hammer. Collectors who are unwilling to compromise on quality are well-advised to pursue this opportunity.
With 2002 P.F. certificate (Image)
10c Brown (150).
Horizontal pair, tied by circle of wedges, clear strike of "U.S. Postal
Agency Shanghai Jul. 12" circular datestamp on grayish-blue folded
letter datelined "Customs, Shanghai, 21 June 1872" from James
Leonard to Chicago, two strikes of red "Custom House * Shanghai * Paid,
29 June 1872" double-oval datestamp, second strike dated July 11, "San
Francisco Cal. Aug. 15" double-circle transit datestamp, "Carrier 5AM 21
Aug." backstamp applied at Chicago, forwarded from one street address to
another, thin strip of selvage from Great Britain Penny Red used to seal
letter, slight wear along folds reinforced with archival tapeVERY FINE. A FASCINATING AND EXTREMELY RARE COVER FROM THE UNITED STATES POSTAL AGENCY IN SHANGHAI, BEARING TWO DIFFERENT DATED STRIKES OF THE EXCEEDINGLY RARE CUSTOMS HOUSE DATESTAMP.
This letter was presumably intended for an earlier Pacific Mail Steamship Co. sailing, but was held at the Customs House until July 11 and posted on the following day. (Image)
6c Dull Pink (159). Top
left corner margin imprint and plate no. block of eighteen, original gum,
fresh and bright color, choice centering throughout, few light vertical
creases, couple expertly rejoined perf separationsEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER MULTIPLE OF THE 6-CENT 1873 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE.
Scott Retail as plate block of twelve, block of four and pair. (Image)
7c Orange Vermilion
(160). Original gum, lightly hinged, almost perfectly centered with
well-balanced margins, vibrant color and proof-like
impressionEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 7-CENT 1873 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE STAMP. SCARCE IN SUCH SUPERB CONDITION.
With 1999 P.F. certificate (Image)
10c Brown (161). Original
gum, almost perfectly centered, rich color and proof-like
impressionEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1873 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE STAMP.
With 1994 P.F. certificate (Image)
10c Brown (161). Rich
color, used with Peru, 1866, 10c Vermilion (17), both tied by "N.
York Steamship Jun. 22" circular datestamp, Peru stamp also tied by "C38"
oval (Callao) on blue cover to Marblehead Mass., neat 1875 Panama transit,
"12" handstamp, neat "Due 9" handstamp, neat "Callao NO 6, 1875" backstamp,
slightly reduced at rightVERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN EXCEEDINGLY SCARCE DOUBLE-RATE MIXED-FRANKING COVER WITH STAMPS OF PERU AND THE UNITED STATES.
The letter was sent by British mails via Panama, then by American Packet. The U.S. postage pays two-times the 5c American packet rate (effective July 1875), while the "12" due denotes fee for British Mails to Panama, which was paid in cash (the British Post Office in Callao was often running out of G.B. stamps). (Image)