Superb and Rare United States Stamps continued...

VERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 3-CENT PINK.

The 3c 1861 Pink (Scott 64) is one of the most difficult stamps of the 1861-66 Issue to find in sound, well-centered, original-gum condition with fresh color. The nature of the ink used to print the 3c Pink shade is such that over the course of time, with exposure to light and other adverse elements, the color tends to oxidize or lose its vibrancy.

Collectors who have searched in vain for a 3c Pink in such condition will appreciate the rarity of this stamp in such a remarkable state of preservation. Others who may be less familiar with the rarity of this early 1861 Issue -- and perhaps deceived by the abundance of common 3c 1861 shades (Scott 65) -- are urged to consider the extreme rarity of Scott 64 in sound original-gum condition. In numerous auctions, we have offered well-centered original-gum examples of the 1861-66 Issue, and the record realizations at large multiples of Scott value demonstrate the rarity of these stamps.

With 1994 and 2003 P.F. certificates. (Image)

VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A SCARCE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1861 ISSUE.

This is the second 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 2004 P.F. and P.S.E. certificates as strips of three. Scott Retail as hinged (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT RED LILAC.

With 1986 and 2005 P.F. certificates (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. A COLORFUL EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1861 ISSUE WITH RED GRID CANCEL.

With 1996 P.F. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. A FRESH MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT BLACK JACK ISSUE. SCARCE IN SUCH WONDERFULLY PRISTINE CONDITION.

With 2000 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as hinged (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. A WIDE-MARGINED MINT NEVER-HINGED 2-CENT BLACK JACK ISSUE.

With 2005 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as hinged (Image)

FRESH AND VERY FINE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT SCARLET TRIAL PRINTING.

With 1983 and 2005 P.F. certificates. Scott Retail as with gum (Image)

VERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT RED BROWN 1862 ISSUE CANCELLED IN GREEN.

It is not widely known that the late Marc Haas, who amassed one of the largest and most valuable U.S. cover collections of all time, also collected classic U.S. stamps in superb used condition. His collection was offered under the title "Distinguished Connoisseur" in our Sale 418, and we frequently refer to that sale catalogue to see what exists. Haas also had a penchant for green cancels, and, if he were able to obtain a green cancel on any of the 5c 1861 shades, it would have been in that sale. Not only is an example missing from the Haas sale, it is also missing from the Rohloff, Grunin and Klein sales, all of which had a significant number of 5c 1861-63 Issues.

With 2004 P.S.E. and copy of 2005 P.F. certificates as a pair. The other stamp in the pair realized $7,500 hammer in the 2005 Rarities sale. (Image)