The Natalee Grace Collection of Used United States Stamps, Part One continued...

EXTREMELY FINE. THE 24-CENT BLACKISH VIOLET IS THE MOST DIFFICULT STAMP OF THE 1861-66 SERIES TO OBTAIN -- EITHER UNUSED OR USED -- IN SOUND AND CENTERED CONDITION. THIS IS EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE.

A thorough search through past auction catalogues will demonstrate how rare this stamp is in either used or unused condition. With regard to used stamps, this shade was lacking from the Ishikawa, Grunin, Klein, Caspary and Twigg-Smith collections. The Zoellner collection contained an original-gum single even though the rest of the series was obtained in used condition, because a suitable used stamp was never offered. The superb used single in our Sale 878 (lot 324, realized $22,000 hammer) was stolen from a Fedex courier and has not been recovered.

Our census of Scott 78c, available at our website at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/78c/78c.pdf , records a total of 36 used examples of this issue, of which only 31 have been certified as genuine by the Philatelic Foundation. We also record nine on cover plus three unused, for a total of 48 potential examples. Of the used off cover copies only ten are confirmed as sound, and of these ten only four have decent centering (one of which is the stolen copy). This leaves only three used copies which are confirmed as sound and centered -- Census Nos. 01 (ex Dr. Morris), 02 (offered here) and 30 (ex Floyd).

With 1994 and 2005 P.F. certificates. (Image)

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VERY FINE. ONLY TWO EXAMPLES OF THIS PRINTED ON BOTH SIDES RARITY ARE RECORDED. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED SOUND EXAMPLE AND THE ONLY ONE ON COVER.

Engraved stamps printed on both sides usually have a poor impression on one side and a second, complete impression on the other. They probably occurred when a sheet was printed without proper moistening, which prevented the paper from picking up the ink in the recessed lines of the engraved plate. The inverted impression on back is a result of the sheet being turned 180 degrees before it was put on the press the second time.

Our list of printed-on-both-sides stamps is included as an appendix to this catalogue. Only one other example of the 24c printed on both sides is known (shown below). It has an "1867" manuscript cancellation (matching the year date on this cover), and its backside impression is identical to the stamp offered here. Without question, the two came from the same sheet. The other stamp has a defect at bottom right, while the stamp offered here, with its original cover, is sound.

Ex Isleham, where it was erroneously described as reperfed at left (a subsequent P.F. certificate and our own examination confirms that the perforations are genuine), and ex Drucker. With 1986 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as on cover

For our on-line census of Scott 78d: http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/78d/78d.pdf (Image)

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