Outstanding United States Stamps continued...

EXTREMELY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1861 ISSUE. EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLES IN EXISTENCE.

This is the first Mint N.H. example of the 10c 1861 Issue we have offered since we began maintaining computerized records in 1992. Reaching further into the past through an extensive review of auction catalogues, we have been unable to locate any Mint N.H. singles. Significantly, original-gum blocks of the 10c 1861, from which Mint N.H. stamps might be obtainable, have rarely appeared at auction, including major sales where one would expect to find them. Caspary had hinged blocks of four and six, and West had an off-center block of four. The Klein collection of blocks had only a no-gum block of six, and the Ishikawa collection had very poorly-centered hinged block of four. Not one unused block was found in the Lilly collection or any of our firm's Rarities of the World sales. In recent years the auction realizations for Very Fine or Extremely Fine original-gum (hinged) examples of the 10c 1861 have supported our observation that this issue is especially rare in such condition. With the emergence of this superb Mint Never-Hinged stamp, a significant part of the market will now be offered the opportunity to acquire what must be one of the rarest stamps in Classic U.S. philately.

With 2004 P.F. and P.S.E. certificates as strip of three. Scott Retail as hinged (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1861 ISSUE IN THE EARLY DARK GREEN SHADE.

The increased awareness of the rarity of 1847 to 1879 issues in superb original-gum condition has elevated many valuations for issues with modest Scott values. The 1861-66 issues are prime examples of this trend. This 10c Dark Green (68a) has a Scott value of $1,000.00, yet one would be severely challenged to locate more than a few examples with original gum, choice centering and rich color, the characteristics that make this stamp so extraordinary. We have offered only a handful of the 10c 1861 in this condition.

With 1991 P.F. certificate (as No. 68, which it clearly is not, as a comparison with the previous lot will prove) (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1861 ISSUE.

Knowledgeable collectors recognize and appreciate the great rarity of well-centered, original gum classics. In particular, the 1861-66 Issue has been "discovered" as one of the most challenging of all. As recent auction realizations show, collectors ignore Scott values in pursuing these elusive examples.

With 2001 P.F. certificate (Image)