2011 Rarities of the World continued...

VERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN EXTREMELY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED COMBINATION BLOCK OF FOUR OF TYPES I AND II. MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLES OF THIS ISSUE ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN IN THIS CHOICE CENTERED CONDITION.

As an indication of rarity, we have offered only three Mint N.H. examples of the Type I (all singles) and four Mint N.H. examples of the Type II (all singles) since keeping computerized records.

With 2011 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as hinged combination block. (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE COMBINATION BLOCK OF FOUR FROM PLATE FOUR, CONTAINING THREE EXAMPLES OF TYPE III AND ONE EXAMPLE OF TYPE IIIa. THIS IS ONE OF THE RAREST COMBINATION BLOCKS OF THE 1857 ONE-CENT ISSUE.

A Power Search review and our records revealed that blocks of any size containing more than two examples of the rare Type III are very difficult to find. The block of six, ex Moody, containing five examples of Type III (offered in our 1975 Rarities sale), has since broken into singles. Most perforated multiples contain two each of Types III and IIIa, or three copies of Type IIIa. Although one would expect more Type III perforated stamps from positions that wore as the plate was used, the reality is they are very rare, which suggests that the sheets were stacked with the earlier impressions at the bottom. The top of the pile was released without perforations, and the bottom sheets in the pile (earlier impressions) were subsequently perforated and issued.

Ex Lilly. With 2011 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as pair of Type III and pair of Types III and IIIa. (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

VERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF POSITION 99R2 IN A STRIP WITH TYPES II AND IIIA. THIS IS ONE OF TWO USED MULTIPLES CONTAINING THE PERFORATED ONE-CENT 1857 ISSUE FROM POSITION 99R2. THIS POSITION FURNISHED THE WIDEST BREAKS OF ANY TYPE III ENTRY, AND THIS STRIP CONTAINS ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF THE PERFORATED 99R2 IN USED CONDITION.

On Plate 2, 198 of the 200 positions were Type II. Position 100R was Type II in the early stage of the plate, but as wear began to weaken the bottom line, it became Type IIIa with a small break at bottom. Positions 89R and 99R on Plate 2 have been the focus of special attention, because of their unusual nature. Ashbrook states: "A study of the double transfers of 89R2 and 99R2 is most interesting, because here in a vertical pair of positions we have two distinct varieties... 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 stamp, 89R2, is a re-entry, but not in the proper sense of this term, because the re-entry on the lower part of this position was an error, as it was not made to correct an existent fault of the original 89R transfer."

Plate 2 stamps were issued imperforate from December 1855 through June 1857. Beginning in July 1857 stamps from Plates 1 Late, 2 and 4 were issued with perforations, and Plates 2 and 4 continued to produce stamps through late 1857. Plate 2 stamps are rarer perforated than in imperforate form, conversely, Plate 4 stamps are rarer imperforate than in perforated form.

Our unpublished census of perforated Position 99R2 stamps contains one unused in a block of nine, three on covers, two in strips of three and 18 used singles. Most have faults or are poorly centered.

Ex Newbury and Neinken (illustrated in his book on p. 194). With 2011 P.F. certificate (returned from the Wagshal sale and reoffered). Listed but unpriced in Scott as strip. Scott Retail for a 99R2 used single is $20,000.00 (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

FINE CENTERING AND ATTRACTIVE CONDITION. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1857 3-CENT PERFORATED TYPE I.

The type characteristic of Type I, which shows the complete outer frameline, is often difficult to see on a single copy due to the narrow spacing on the plate. This block is an excellent way to display the type characteristic. (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

VERY FINE AND CHOICE. THIS IS THE FIRST MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1861 ORANGE BROWN SHADE WE HAVE OFFERED SINCE KEEPING COMPUTERIZED RECORDS. A RARITY OF THE HIGHEST ORDER.

This was the last 5c to be issued before demonetization and was only used for a very short period of time (earliest documented use is May 8, 1861). Unused remainders were discovered in the South after the war, and so unused copies are readily available. However, examples of this printing are rare in Mint N.H. condition. In fact, we could not locate a Mint N.H. single in our database using Power Search.

With 2001 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85, unlisted in SMQ in Mint N.H. condition). Unlisted in Scott as Mint N.H. Scott Retail as hinged. (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

VERY GOOD. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 PERFORATED 10-CENT TYPE I.

The scarcer types of the perforated 10c 1857 are rarely found with original gum. Although the perfs cut in at top, this Type I stamp has a wide bottom margin which clearly shows the type characteristics.

With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

FINE. THE 1857 10-CENT TYPE IV IS ONE OF THE RAREST CLASSIC UNITED STATES ISSUES TO FIND IN UNUSED CONDITION.

The 1857 10c Type IV stamps come from eight positions scattered throughout Plate 1 that have the top, bottom or both lines recut. Only 4% of all 10c Plate 1 stamps produced were Type IV's, and an even smaller percentage were issued with perforations. Most are either faulty or off-center.

With 1976 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com