10c Dark Green, First Design
(62B). Unused (no gum), deep rich color and proof-like impression on
bright paper, choice centering with perforations well clear of design on
all sidesEXTREMELY FINE. A RARE SOUND AND CENTERED UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1861 FIRST DESIGN.
This stamp is extremely difficult to find in well-centered, sound, unused condition. This is partly due to the narrow spacing on Plate 4, which produced this First Design (Type I, Scott 58 and 62B).
With 1965 and 2002 P.F. certificates. (Image)
1c Blue (63). Bright
color, tied by perfect strike of Waterbury Leaf fancy cancel
(Rohloff L-2), neat strike of "Waterbury Con. Aug. 30, 1866" double-circle
datestamp on Travelers Insurance Co. return address cover used locally,
some toning around perfs and few toned spots on cover, small opening tears
at topEXTREMELY FINE STRIKE. THIS IS THE ONLY EXAMPLE OF THIS STRIKE RECORDED ON A ONE-CENT STAMP.
In his census, William T. Crowe records sixteen covers with the Rohloff Ty. L-2. This is the only one on a 1c stamp.
Ex Matthies and Houser. With 1990 P.F. certificate (Image)
1c Blue (63). Cancelled by
ms. "3" and affixed to orange cover with press-printed "Cumberland Me.
Mar." circular datestamp with ms. "20" date, part-printed address to
Dover Me., ms. "1863" yeardate at right, cover with horizontal crease and
small tear at left, Very Fine appearance, scarce usage, there is some
debate as to whether the stamps were applied before the datestamp was
press-printed, it is possibly that this was done, the cover offered here
with the stamp cancelled by ms. "3" may have been uprated at the time of
usage, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate (Image)
1c Blue (63). Bright
color, cancelled by neat "Cumberland Me. April 24" precancel, tiny
perf thin at top right, Fine appearing example of this rare precancel
which, in this case, was press-printed directly on the envelopes after the
stamps were applied, Evans notes that probably no more than three or four
exist, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate (Image) 
3c Pigeon Blood Pink
(64a). Horizontal pair and single, bright color, used with 1c Blue (63)
and tied by "Paid" ovals, red "Boston Mass. Nov. 8" circular datestamp on
cover with embossed Telegraphic Fire Alarm design to Toronto,
Canada, red "United States" oval, 1861 receiving backstamp, barely
reduced at leftEXTREMELY FINE. A MAGNIFICENT USAGE OF A PAIR AND SINGLE OF THE RARE 3-CENT PIGEON BLOOD PINK ON A COVER TO CANADA.
Ex Worthington and Moody. With note on back and signed by Ashbrook. With 1974 P.F. certificate (Image)
3c Lake (66). Original
gum, bright color and detailed impression, Fine and rare, with 1985 P.F.
certificate (Image) 
24c Red Lilac (70).
Original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich color and proof-like impression,
wide margins and choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL STAMP IN TERMS OF COLOR, IMPRESSION, CENTERING, AND FRESHNESS OF PAPER AND GUM.
With a growing awareness by collectors that 1861 Issues (5c and up) are exceedingly scarce in well-centered, original-gum condition, we would expect this stamp to draw keen competition. Although one finds the 24c unused without gum in this grade, original-gum examples are often poorly centered or faulty. Only on rare occasions has our firm offered a 24c Red Lilac of this quality. The 1861-62 Red Lilac shade is actually one of the scarcest of the 24c color varieties to find in sound well-centered original-gum condition, despite its lower Scott catalogue value relative to the other shades.
With 1983 and 1994 P.F. certificates. (Image)
24c Violet, Thin Paper
(70c). Original gum, lightly hinged, brilliant color and proof-like
impression on bright paper, remarkably choice centering for this difficult
issueEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 24-CENT VIOLET ON THIN PAPER WE HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED. ONE OF THE RAREST ORIGINAL-GUM STAMPS IN SOUND, CENTERED AND ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.
The 24c 1861 exists in four basic shades of Violet: Dark Violet (August 1861 trial printing, formerly Scott 60), Violet on Thin Paper (August-September 1861 regular issue, Scott 70c -- the shade offered here), Pale Gray Violet (1861 regular issue, Scott 70d) and Blackish Violet (ca. 1863 printing, Scott 78c). All four are rare, especially in sound original-gum condition. We feel this is nearly as rare as the Blackish Violet, which has a catalogue value of $60,000.00.
With 2006 P.F. certificate (Image)
24c Violet, Thin Paper
(70c). Deep rich color and proof-like impression on bright paper, neat
strike of target cancelEXTREMELY FINE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1860 24-CENT VIOLET ON THIN PAPER. A DIFFICULT STAMP TO FIND IN SUCH CHOICE CONDITION.
With 1985 P.F. certificate (Image)
24c Pale Gray Violet, Thin
Paper (70d). Slightly disturbed original gum with some slight overall
gum staining, radiant color, choice centering with wide margins for this
difficult issueVERY FINE AND CHOICE APPEARANCE. THE 24-CENT 1861 ISSUE IN THE PALE GRAY VIOLET SHADE ON THIN PAPER IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT SHADES TO OBTAIN IN ORIGINAL-GUM AND CENTERED CONDITION. A GREAT RARITY OF THE ISSUE.
A review of our computerized records shows we have only offered one original-gum example in the past twelve years, which was off-center and repaired. None was offered in major name-sales collections, including Caspary, Floyd, Weisman or Lyons. It may well be the rarest of the 1861 Issue shades to obtain with original gum
With 2002 P.F. certificate (Image)
24c Pale Gray Violet, Thin
Paper (70d). Deep rich color and detailed impression nicely contrasted
by red target cancel, choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE. A STUNNING USED EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT PALE GRAY VIOLET ON THIN PAPER.
With 1988 P.F. certificate. (Image)