The Scarsdale Collection, Part Two continued...

EXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 ONE-CENT PERFORATED TYPE I.

Due to narrow spacing between subjects on Plate 12, it is especially difficult to find Type I stamps with margins showing the top and bottom parts of the design with the degree of completeness seen in this example.

With 1989 P.F. certificate as block of four. With 2003 P.F. certificate as a single. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN EXTRAORDINARY 1857 PERFORATED ONE-CENT STAMP WITH IMMENSE MARGIN WIDTH. SUPERB IN EVERY RESPECT AND WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF A TYPE II PLATE 11 STAMP IN EXISTENCE.

According to Neinken, Toppan Carpenter produced Plates 11 and 12 in November 1860 to replace plates that had become too worn for use. In laying down the new plates, Toppan Carpenter evidently abandoned the six-relief transfer roll and used two different three-relief rolls. With recent scholarship revising some of the old accepted concepts about 1851-57 plate production, we will go no further in explaining the mechanics of Plate 11, from which this stamp was printed.

Some of the unusual features of Type II stamps from the top row of Plate 11 are seen in this example. The strong horizontal and vertical guidelines and guide dots are visible at the upper right. The enormous margins show the complete Relief T (Type II) characteristics. This relief was used to enter only the top row (20 subjects), and the Neinken book (p. 467) notes, "The design of the T relief was a perfect example of Type II, and in this respect, none of the plates furnished finer examples of this type than those from the top row of Plate 11. They are quite scarce, as the plate was only in use slightly over six months. In addition, each sheet of 200 stamps only furnished 20 of these scarce top row Type II stamps."

With 2002 P.F. certificate. The Scott Catalogue premium for an unused Type II stamp from Plate 11 is too small, in our opinion. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS EASILY ONE OF THE BEST-CENTERED EXAMPLES OF THE PERFORATED 1857 ONE-CENT TYPE III STAMP. A STAMP OF MARVELOUS VISUAL APPEAL.

This stamp was made from Plate 4, which had narrow spacing between stamps. It originally produced imperforate stamps and was used only briefly after the introduction of perforations in 1857 before being discontinued. The narrow spacing on the plate, combined with the difficulties experienced when perforations were first introduced, accounts for the rarity of well-centered stamps made from this plate.

A review of our records found only two original-gum examples with centering comparable to the example offered here. We did not find any other unused no-gum examples that compared favorably to this one. We feel confident in stating that this is one of the best-centered copies in existence.

With 1986 and 2003 P.F. certificates. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THE TYPE IIIA RARELY SHOWS ALL OF THE DEFINING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TYPE -- THIS STAMP IS A TRUE CONDITION RARITY.

The layout of Plate 11 left little room for perforations. Most examples of Type IIIa are poorly centered, especially top-to-bottom. The example offered here, showing clear and unmistakable characteristics of the type, is a condition rarity.

With 1989 and 2003 P.F. certificates (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT TYPE I 1857 ISSUE.

This stamp is especially desirable because the outer framelines, the defining element of Type I, are visible all around. It is also exceedingly fresh, which is a very rare attribute for this issue.

With 1998 P.F. certificate. (Image)

VERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT BROWN 1857 ISSUE. AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT STAMP TO FIND IN SUCH PRISTINE CONDITION. THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES IN EXISTENCE.

Due to the narrow spacing between subjects on the first 5c 1856 plate, many of the stamps have the outer projections touched or cut into by the perforations. A review of our computerized records shows that we have only offered eight other original-gum examples of this stamp since 1994. Of these, perhaps two would rate the grade of Very Fine or Extremely Fine. The example offered here, with full original gum, deep rich color, full perforations and with balanced margins, is a true condition rarity.

With 1969 and 1997 P.F. certificates. The last well-centered original-gum example we offered was in Sale 902 and realized $24,000 hammer. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL WIDE-MARGINED ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT TYPE II ORANGE BROWN ISSUED IN 1861.

With 1998 and 2004 P.F. certificates (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT TYPE II 1860 ISSUE.

Unlike its Orange Brown counterpart, the 5c Type II in Brown was not on hand in post offices when the 1861 demonetization order took effect. Therefore, original-gum examples of Scott 30A are far scarcer than Scott 30. The narrow spacing between subjects on the plate, as well as Toppan Carpenter's imprecise perforating, leaves collectors with very few well-centered original-gum examples.

Ex Drucker. With 1985 and 2002 P.F. certificates (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE FINEST KNOWN ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THE 1857 10-CENT GREEN FROM PLATE 1. A SPECTACULAR STAMP IN TERMS OF CENTERING, COLOR, IMPRESSION AND GUM.

The first perforated 10c stamps produced by Toppan Carpenter from sheets printed from Plate 1 are notorious among collectors for their poor centering. They are also very scarce in original-gum condition because, unlike 10c Plate 2 stamps (Scott 35), there were no supplies on hand in 1861 when the issue was demonetized due to the outbreak of the Civil War.

With 1992 and 2002 P.F. certificates. (Image)