30c Orange (71). Original
gum, lightly hinged, vibrant color, unusually choice centering with
perfectly-proportioned marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1861 ISSUE. SCARCE WITH SUCH CHOICE CENTERING.
With 1983 and 2003 P.F. certificates. (Image)
30c Orange (71). Radiant
color, tied by quartered cork, red "N. York Br. Pkt. Paid Feb. 10" circular
datestamp on folded letter to Malta, endorsed "p Australian",
clear strike of blue "London FE 20, 1864" and "Malta MR 1, 1864"
backstamps, horizontal file fold well away from the stampVERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE 30-CENT 1861 USAGE TO MALTA. ONLY FIVE ARE KNOWN TO THIS DESTINATION.
Franked by the sender to pay the 30c rate via French Mails, the cover was found to be overweight and so was sent at the 5c British Open Mail rate. The cover was treated as unpaid by Great Britain, who debited Malta 1sh8p for the 8p transatlantic postage, 6p rate from Great Britain to Malta, and a 6p fine for the unpaid letter.
Ex Paliafito (Image)
90c Blue (72). Original
gum, radiant color, unusually choice centering with wide and balanced
margins, EXTREMELY FINE. A GORGEOUS ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1861 ISSUE. A REMARKABLY FRESH STAMP.
With 1988 P.F. certificate (Image)
2c Black, Die I, Large Die
Proof on India, Vermilion "Specimen" Ovpt. (73P1S). Mounted on 153 x
228mm card, green "Specimen Postage Stamp from the National Bank Note
Company No. 1 Wall Street New York" at bottom of card, trivial edgewear,
Very Fine, very rare, from National Bank Note Co. sample book, the Die I
large die proof is exceedingly rare -- none were offered in major Black
Jack sales, except with the "Specimen" overprint as offered here (Image)
2c Black, Die II, Large Die
Proof on India (73aP1). On 37 x 48mm card, die no. "1030" at bottom,
Very Fine, rare large die proof (Image)
2c Black, Atherton Shift,
Major Double Transfer of Top Left Corner and "Postage" (73 var). Neat
strike of blue target cancel which leaves double transfer clearly
visible, centered to bottom right, few small perf faults, corner crease at
bottom rightFINE APPEARANCE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE ATHERTON SHIFT -- THE MOST PRONOUNCED DOUBLE TRANSFER OF THE BLACK JACK ISSUE. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH THE BLUE CANCEL.
With 1980 A.P.S. certificate (Image)
2c Black (73). Horizontal
pair, original gum, barely hinged, intense shade and impression, choice
centeringFRESH AND EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL LIGHTLY-HINGED PAIR OF THE 2-CENT BLACK JACK WITH SUPERB CENTERING. EXCEEDINGLY RARE IN SUCH CHOICE CONDITION.
With 1986 P.F. certificate (Image)
2c Black, Diagonal Half Used
as 1c (73a). Top right diagonal half, crisp impression, tied across
the cut by blue quartered cork cancel, matching "Easton Pa. Mar. 2"
circular datestamp on orange cover with Eagle Foundry and Machine Shop
cameo corner card used locally, stamp with trivial wrinkling from gum
(not mentioned on accompanying certificate)EXTREMELY FINE. A MAGNIFICENT DIAGONALLY BISECTED USAGE OF THE 2-CENT BLACK JACK. ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE.
The combination of elements on this cover -- the full bisect showing both denominations at top, the blue cancel tying the stamp across the cut of the bisect, the advertising and its overall freshness -- makes this one of our favorite covers in this year's Rarities sale.
With 1976 P.F. certificate (Image)
3c Scarlet (74). Original
gum, brilliant color, almost perfectly centered with well-balanced
marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A RARE SOUND AND CENTERED EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 3-CENT SCARLET TRIAL PRINTING WITHOUT PEN MARKS AND WITH ORIGINAL GUM. EXCEEDINGLY RARE IN SUCH CHOICE CONDITION.
The story of the 3c Scarlet was documented by the late Jerome S. Wagshal in a series of articles appearing in the Chronicle (Nos. 56, 60, 61 and 62). Wagshal quotes statements made in 1893 and 1910 by a Washington D.C. stamp dealer, Carl F. Rothfuchs, to the effect that Rothfuchs obtained a supply of the 3c Scarlet in 1893 -- probably from the Post Office Department in exchange for his assistance with the Columbian Exposition -- and sold them with pen marks and original gum. The Rothfuchs lot is not from the same supply acquired by John W. Scott in the late 1870's, from which stamps exist uncancelled and cancelled with a New York City Station D oval.
With 1953 and 2002 P.F. certificates. (Image)
3c Scarlet (74). Four neat
pen strokes, vibrant color, radiant color, unusually choice
centeringEXTREMELY FINE. A REMARKABLY FRESH AND ATTRACTIVE EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT SCARLET TRIAL PRINTING.
As has been documented by Jerome S. Wagshal in a series of Chronicle articles (Nos. 56, 60, 61 and 62), Carl F. Rothfuchs, a Washington D.C. stamp dealer, obtained a supply of the 3c Scarlet in 1893 -- probably from the Post Office Department in exchange for his assistance with the Columbian Exposition -- and sold them with pen marks and original gum.
With 1990 P.F. certificate (Image)
5c Red Brown (75).
Original gum, deep rich color and proof-like impression, choice centering
for this difficult issueEXTREMELY FINE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1862 ISSUE IN THE RED BROWN SHADE. A STAMP OF PHENOMENAL COLOR AND BEAUTY.
This is one of the most difficult stamps of the series to obtain in such choice, sound, original-gum condition.
With copy of 1979 P.F. certificate and with 2001 P.F. certificate. (Image)