1c Indigo, First Design
(55). Deep rich color on bright paper, neat strike of target
cancel at top left, full original gumVERY FINE AND RARE. ONLY 24 EXAMPLES OF THE ONE-CENT FIRST DESIGN ARE RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS -- OF THESE, ONLY TWO HAVE CANCELLATIONS.
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. Only two 1c First Design stamps are cancelled. The other cancelled copy was offered in our sale of the Concord Collection (Sale 759).
The target cancellation applied was presumably used as a control marking for samples of the First Design printings. Other denominations also exist: one 5c and one 90c are known with a similar cancellation. The 12c is known with pen "New" (see lot 70 in this sale), which was also likely used as a control marking.
With 1943 A.P.S. and 1992 and 2000 P.F. certificates. Scott Retail as uncancelled is $30,000.00 (Image)
3c Brown Rose, First Design
(56). Bottom imprint and plate no. 2 block of eight, original gum,
lightly hinged, deep rich color, choice centering throughout, minor perf
separationsEXTREMELY FINE. EASILY THE FINEST PLATE BLOCK OF THE 3-CENT 1861 FIRST DESIGN IN EXISTENCE. ONLY SIX ARE RECORDED IN THE CHAPIN CENSUS.
Ex Chapin. With 1971 P.F. certificate. (Image)
5c Brown, First Design
(57). Part original gum, rich color, bright and fresh paper, nibbed
perf tip at bottom left and negligible corner perf crease at top right
(neither mentioned on certificate)FINE. ONE OF ONLY SIXTEEN RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE 5-CENT 1861 FIRST DESIGN WITH ORIGINAL GUM.
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 57, 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-21. With 1988 P.F. certificate. (Image)
12c Intense Black, First Design
(59). Unused (no gum) with manuscript "new" discreetly written
beneath portrait, wide margins and beautifully centered, intense shade,
faint horizontal creaseEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF ONLY FIFTEEN 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 12c First Design census was published in the Zoellner catalogue (and available at our website: www.siegelauctions.com/enc/census/59/59.htm) and contains seven sound copies, including the NYPL's stamp. The stamp offered here is counted as one of the nine copies with small faults available to collectors.
This is the only 1861 First Design/Color with the "new" manuscript notation. Although it is generally accepted that the 1861 First Designs/Colors were not distributed through post offices (except for the 10c, which was regularly issued), it is apparent that these stamps were not produced as ordinary essays, which typically originate from printers' archives or officials' files. Considering the extreme rarity of multiples (except for the 3c and 10c) and the scattered origins of the 1c, 5c, 12c, 30c and 90c 1861 First Designs/Colors, it is probable that they were distributed through official U.S. Post Office Department channels to other postal authorities to alert them to the new issue when the previous 1851-57 Issues were demonetized (beginning in August 1861). The word "new" on this stamp is evidence of that possibility.
Census No. 59-CAN-02. Ex Hale. With 1980 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as unused (69-E6e). (Image)