Two Covers from The Barrand
Correspondence.12c Black (36). Pair and three singles, small faults, used with 5c Brown (28), trivial margin toning, tied by blue "Norfolk Va. Mar. 20, 1858" circular datestamp on cover to Funchal, Madeira, Boston exchange backstamp, red "60" credit handstamp, red London transit, blue "160" reis due handstamp, Fine, enormously rare destination, illustrated in Starnes book (p. 28), ex Gibson, Baker, Grunin and Kapiloff.
12 Black (36). Horizontal strip of five, used with 5c Red Brown (28), tied by blue "Norfolk Va. Jan. 20, 1859" circular datestamp on cover to Isle St. Vincent, Cape Verde, red New York exchange backstamp, magenta ms. "60" credit, red London transit, minor perf toning and small flaws, still Very Fine, a rare multiple franking and destination, ex Grunin and Kapiloff
A SPECTACULAR AND EXTREMELY RARE MATCHING PAIR OF COVERS. TWO OF THE MOST OUTSTANDING 12-CENT 1857 COVERS KNOWN.
These covers were a highlight of Part Three of The Grunin Sales, where they realized $16,000 hammer. With 2003 P.F. certificates (Image)
12c Black (36). Horizontal
strip of five, tied by five strikes of "New Orleans La. Dec. 14, 1858"
circular datestamp on folded cover to Vera Cruz, Mexico, neat "8"
reales due handstamp and ms. ship endorsement "per Tennessee", strip
has faint even gum toning, tiny tear at top of first stamp at left (not
mentioned on accompanying certificate)VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE MULTIPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1857 ISSUE FROM PLATE 1, PAYING SIX TIMES THE 10-CENT RATE TO MEXICO.
The vast majority of Hargous covers have 10c frankings. Ex Grunin, Klein and Sevenoaks. With 2001 P.F. certificate. (Image)
12c Black, Plate 3 (36b).
Block of four, original gum, three stamps h.r., bottom right stamp lightly
hinged, intense shade and impression, well-balanced margins for this
difficult issueVERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 12-CENT 1857 ISSUE FROM PLATE 3.
With 1998 P.F. certificate. (Image)
12c Black, Plate 3 (36b).
Block of fifty with selvage at top and right, incl. part imprint at
bottom right, unused (no gum), few faults incl. perf separations reinforced
with hinges and few creases and tearsVERY FINE APPEARANCE. THE LARGEST RECORDED MULTIPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1857 ISSUE SCOTT 36b IN PRIVATE HANDS.
This is the only half-pane of the 12c 1857 Issue in private hands. A complete pane of 100 is owned by the Franklin Institute (Jefferys Collection.
Scott Retail as ten blocks of four and five pairs with gum. (Image)
30c Orange (38). Block of
45 consisting of reconstructed blocks of 25 and 20, natural s.e. at right
with full guide line, pretty shade, cancelled by multiple strikes of
"Sacramento City Cal. Aug. 21" (ca. 1861) circular datestamps,
scissors-separated at bottom affecting a few stamps, few small faults to be
expected on a used multiple of this sizeVERY FINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS BY FAR THE LARGEST RECORDED MULTIPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1860 ISSUE, AND THE LARGEST RECORDED USED BLOCK OF ANY CLASSIC UNITED STATES STAMP. A REMARKABLE ARTIFACT.
This was originally a block of 53, which paid the postage on a bag of Gold Dust from Sacramento to Boston. The $15.90 rate corresponds to approximately 80 ounces of weight (at 10c per half-ounce).
Ex Ishikawa. Illustrated in Brookman. Scott Retail as ten blocks of four, two pairs and a single. (Image)
30c Orange (38). Used with
5c Orange Brown, Ty. II, 10c Green, Ty. V (30, 35), tied by red
grids, matching "New York Paid 9 Sep. 14" credit datestamp on 1861 blue
folded cover to Lyon, France, from the Payen correspondence,
ultramarine Havre datestamp, 5c with one pulled perf at topVERY FINE AND HANDSOME USAGE. THE 5-CENT ORANGE BROWN WAS ISSUED IN 1861, JUST PRIOR TO DEMONETIZATION. GENUINE USAGES ARE RARE.
Ex Newbury and Sevenoaks. With 1976 P.F. certificate (Image)