2004 Rarities of the World continued...

EXTREMELY FINE FOR A 24-CENT 1861 SHADE. RARELY ENCOUNTERED WITH ORIGINAL GUM. A MUST-HAVE STAMP FOR THE COLLECTOR ASSEMBLING A RANGE OF THE 1861 COLORS.

As noted in several of the descriptions of original-gum 1861's in our past sales, these stamps are available in unused no-gum condition or low grades of original-gum condition, however, the combination of original gum and choice centering is so rare that Scott values can be very misleading. In the case of this 24c, the unusually-deep Brown Lilac shade adds another dimension of rarity -- perhaps comparable to the difference between a 5c Red Brown (75) and 5c Brown (76).

With 1998 P.S.E. and 1999 P.F. certificates (both state "previously hinged") (Image)

VERY FINE AND RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 24-CENT VIOLET ON THIN PAPER.

The 24c 1861 exists in four basic shades of Violet: Dark Violet (August 1861 trial printing, formerly Scott 60), Violet on Thin Paper (August-September 1861 regular issue, Scott 70c -- the shade offered here), Pale Gray Violet (1861 regular issue, Scott 70d) and Blackish Violet (ca. 1863 printing, Scott 78c). All four are rare, especially in sound original-gum condition. The stamp offered here is remarkable in that the Violet ink retains much of its purplish hue, especially in the darker engraved areas, which is most unusual among unused or original-gum examples.

With 2002 P.F. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 30-CENT 1861 ISSUE.

Most classic blocks of this superb quality have been broken to satisfy the demand for superb singles. This extraordinarily choice block has escaped that fate, and we hope it finds a block collector ready to preserve it as a block.

Ex Ishikawa. With 1984 and 1995 P.F. certificates. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1861 ISSUE.

With 2004 P.F. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFULLY CENTERED AND UNUSUALLY FRESH ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1863 5-CENT BROWN.

The 5c 1861-68 Issue was printed from plates with closely-spaced subjects that left little room for the large 12-gauge perforations. The Brown shade, Scott 76, is scarce in original-gum condition, and truly rare in this high grade.

With 1987 P.F. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1863 5-CENT BROWN IN A DISTINCTIVE DARK SHADE.

This stamp is printed in an unusually dark shade with proof-like impression. Its centering, original-gum state and remarkable freshness are rare traits among unused 5c 1863 stamps.

With 2002 P.F. certificate (Image)

FINE. THIS IS THE LARGEST KNOWN MULITPLE OF THE FIRST UNITED STATES STAMP PORTRAYING ABRAHAM LINCOLN. AN IMPORTANT CLASSIC MULTIPLE.

This record-size block was acquired by Robert A. Siegel in Kansas City and sold to Rudolph Wunderlich, who displayed it at Interphil '76 (illustrated in exhibition catalogue, p. 114).

Ex Wunderlich and Klein. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. EXCEPT FOR THE RARE SHADES, THE 1866 15-CENT LINCOLN COULD WELL BE THE RAREST OF THE 1861-66 SERIES IN CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.

In our catalogue descriptions, we have emphasized the rarity of 1861-66 stamps in choice original-gum condition. With the exception of the rare 5c and 24c shades, our experience shows that the 15c Black is the most difficult stamp to obtain in sound, choice original-gum condition. It is most often found without gum or disturbed gum, or the fully-gummed examples are off center. The block of six (straight edge at left), ex Caspary, Lilly and Ishikawa, is well-centered with original gum, but our search of numerous other major auction sales produced few other examples. Therefore, this stamp could be the rarest face-different design of the 1861-66 series in choice original-gum condition.

With 1979 and 1997 P.F. certificates. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. THE 24-CENT 1861-63 ISSUE IS EXTREMELY RARE IN SOUND AND WELL-CENTERED ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION. A FAR GREATER CHALLENGE TO ACQUIRE IN THIS GRADE THAN MANY COLLECTORS REALIZE.

Scott values, which are influenced by the quantity of poorly-centered copies extant, are irrelevant in the current market for choice original-gum classics.

With 2000 P.F. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1863 ISSUE.

With 1974 and 1994 P.F. and with 1995 P.S.E. certificates. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THE 24-CENT BLACKISH VIOLET IS THE MOST DIFFICULT STAMP OF THE 1861-66 SERIES TO OBTAIN -- EITHER UNUSED OR USED -- IN SOUND AND CENTERED CONDITION. WITHOUT QUESTION THIS IS THE FINEST USED EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT BLACKISH VIOLET IN EXISTENCE. A REMARKABLE STAMP IN TERMS OF COLOR, IMPRESSION, CENTERING AND CANCELLATION.

A thorough search through past auction catalogues will demonstrate how rare this stamp is in either used or unused condition. With regard to used stamps, this shade was lacking from the Ishikawa, Grunin, Klein, Caspary and Twigg-Smith collections. The Zoellner collection contained an original-gum single even though the rest of the series was obtained in used condition, because a suitable used stamp was never offered. The Dr. Morris collection contained a used example with considerably smaller margins than the stamp offered here.

An examination of the frequency with which other scarce used stamps from the 1861-66 Issue appear at auction demonstrates how undervalued this stamp is in the Scott Catalogue. The Blackish Violet is considerably rarer than the 3c 1861 Pigeon Blood Pink, which catalogues $3,500.00 in used condition.

The catalogue value for Scott 78c did not change between 1996 and 2001. It has only increased by $250 in the recently released 2002 Part I catalogue, probably in response to prices for other stamps of the 1861-66 Issue.

With 1994 P.F. certificate (Image)