2005 Rarities of the World, Part One continued...

EXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE. SCARCE WITH SUCH WIDE MARGINS.

Wit 2005 P.F. certificate. (Image)

VERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.

With 2005 P.F. certificate (Image)

VERY FINE APPEARING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.

With 2001 P.F. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT OF ALL CLASSIC STAMPS TO OBTAIN IN THIS CHOICE UNUSED CONDITION. A MINIATURE WORK OF ART.

Ex our "European" Sale 819, where illustrated on the front cover of the catalogue. With 1984 P.F. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE FINEST OF THE 89 RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL INVERT.

This 24c stamp is cancelled by the large segmented cork also found on the unique 24c 1869 Invert block. The block, this stamp and another with the same cancel are also similarly centered, with corresponding frame/vignette orientation, lending support to the theory that two inverts were found with the 24c Invert block, probably on the same wrapper or cover. The story that the block was originally six stamps, and a pair was removed by its first owner, William Thorne, has never been reconciled with recorded singles or pairs. However, there may be some truth to this account, if in fact the block and two other Inverts were cancelled on the same cover or piece, but not joined together.

Ex Colonel Green and Rose. With blue Colson backstamp. With 1984 and 1998 P.F. certificates. Scott Retail for Fine examples with minimal faults (Image)

VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL WITH EXCEPTIONALLY BRIGHT COLORS AND FRESHNESS.

With 2001 P.F. certificate (Image)

VERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.

A beautiful stamp in terms of centering, gum, color and overall freshness. (Image)

VERY FINE. A SCARCE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE WITHOUT GRILL.

With 1994 P.F. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.

The 90c 1869 Pictorial is widely admired for its beautiful engraving and dignified portrait of Abraham Lincoln. However, collectors have been frustrated in their efforts to acquire choice examples of this issue. Used 90c stamps are typically heavily cancelled, because the high denomination was cause for postal clerks to thoroughly obliterate any chance for re-use. Naturally, the significant monetary value of 90c in 1869 limited the number of unused stamps that would be saved for future collectors. Therefore, the collector ideals of "well-centered with original gum" and "lightly cancelled" are seldom obtainable in the available supply of 90c 1869's. The stamp offered here, with lightly hinged original gum and choice centering, probably ranks among the top 3% of surviving 90c 1869's in unused state.

With 1984 and 2004 P.F. certificates. (Image)

VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE WITHOUT GRILL. ONLY 22 EXAMPLES HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED AS GENUINE BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION.

Of the 22 copies certified as genuine by the Philatelic Foundation, only fifteen have either part or full original gum. Only eight of these are completely sound.

With 2001 P.F. certificate (Image)