Superb and Rare United States Stamps continued...

EXTREMELY FINE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE TYPE II ONE-CENT 1851 IMPERFORATE ISSUE FROM PLATE 3.

According to Ashbrook and Neinken, Plate 3 is believed to have been made in March or April 1856, possibly to replace the defective Plate 2 and/or to meet the increased demand for stamps concurrent with the April 1855 change in postal regulations requiring prepayment of postage. For an unknown reason -- possibly a severe defect that arose in the plate -- very few stamps were printed from the new Plate 3 before it was retired, and surviving examples are rare.

With respect to Plate 3 stamps such as this, which can be plated with certainty, Neinken wrote (p. 220): "The fact is that in this day and age, if a stamp has been plated as a Plate 3 position, and this plating is substantiated by a knowledgeable student or a Philatelic Foundation certificate, the Plate 3 stamp realizes far more in auction sales, or when purchased from a dealer, even though it has no definite Plate 3 characteristics. There is only one certain way to identify a stamp as being printed from Plate 3, and that is to definitely plate the position."

With copy of 2000 P.F. certificate for strip of three (Image)

VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE 1851 ONE-CENT TYPE III IMPERFORATE ISSUE.

With 1973, 1994 and 2005 P.F. certificates (Image)

VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A DESIRABLE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 1851 ONE-CENT IMPERFORATE TYPE III FROM POSITION 99R2. THIS POSITION IS THE BEST EXAMPLE OF THE TYPE III, WITH THE WIDEST BREAKS AT TOP AND BOTTOM.

Type III is defined by breaks in the outer lines at both top and bottom. Many Type III stamps have breaks that were created or enlarged by plate wear. Since the wear occurred over a period of time, a majority of stamps of this type (both unused and used) have small breaks in at least one line. The most notable exception is Position 99R2. According to the Neinken book, "The 99R2 stamp is a fresh entry, that was short transferred both at top and bottom, over an original entry that had been erased... The reason that 99R2 is the finest example of Type III is because of its very short transfer at top and at bottom, giving us the wide breaks in these lines." (p. 184).

With 1986 and 1991 P.F. certificates (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE 1851 ONE-CENT TYPE IIIA IMPERFORATE ISSUE. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH THE COLORED CANCEL

With 2005 P.F. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A HUGE EXAMPLE OF THE 1851 ONE-CENT TYPE IV IMPERFORATE ISSUE.

With 2005 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo) (Image)

VERY FINE. A SCARCE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1856 ISSUE.

With 2005 P.F. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB LARGE-MARGINED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1856 ISSUE.

With 1985 P.F. certificate and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90 Jumbo). To date, this is the highest grade P.S.E. has assigned to Scott No. 12, and this is the only example to receive this grade. (Image)

VERY FINE APPEARING UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1855 10-CENT TYPE I IMPERFORATE ISSUE.

This scarce unused 10c Type I is extremely desirable because the defining characteristic of the type, completeness of the bottom right shell, is fully visible within a large bottom margin.

With 2005 P.F. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1855 10-CENT TYPE I ISSUE.

With 2002 P.F. certificate (Image)