2012 Rarities of the World continued...

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THE 1861 24-CENT VIOLET ON THIN PAPER. ONE OF THE RAREST CLASSIC STAMPS IN SOUND AND CENTERED 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 $100,000.00.

With 2008 P.F. certificate. The only comparable copy we were able to locate was offered in our 2009 Whitman sale. (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE. THE 1861 24c VIOLET ON THIN PAPER IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT DENOMINATIONS OF THE 1861-66 ISSUE TO FIND WITH WIDE MARGINS SURROUNDING THE DESIGN.

With 1966 P.F. certificate (Image)

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VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A SCARCE UNUSED BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 30-CENT 1861 ISSUE.

Scott Retail as no gum singles (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A TRULY OUTSTANDING USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 90-CENT BLUE WITH EXCEPTIONALLY WIDE MARGINS. THIS IS THE ONLY 90-CENT 1861 GRADED GEM 100 BY P.S.E.

Ex Hinrichs and Dauer. 1991 and 2004 P.F. certificates no longer accompany. With 2012 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100, unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $14,000.00 as 98). This is the highest grade awarded to date to this Scott number in any category (OG, used etc.) and is the only example to achieve this grade. (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL BLOCK OF TEN OF THE 1863 2-CENT BLACK JACK ISSUE.

Most multiples such as this have been broken to feed collector demand for high-quality singles. This spectacular block was featured in our firm's 500th sale and also in our 1983 and 1986 Rarities sales.

Scott Retail as two blocks of four and pair (Image)

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A FINE AND EXTREMELY RARE REGISTERED USE OF THE 2-CENT BLACK JACK FROM CALIFORNIA TO NEW YORK, USED TO CARRY STAMPS FROM AN EARLY DEALER.

The Pacific Stage Express Co. closed in 1864, but its franked envelope was used in this instance by a San Francisco stamp dealer. The 2c stamps paid the double 3c rate for over -1/2 ounce. The registry fee was paid in cash.

Ex Haas. Illustrated in Nathan book on page 157. With 1968 P.F. certificate (Image)

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VERY FINE. A MAGNIFICENT STAMP IN TERMS OF COLOR, CENTERING AND IMPRESSION. THE 3-CENT SCARLET IS EXCEEDINGLY DIFFICULT TO FIND IN SUCH PRISTINE CONDITION.

Many examples of this stamp have either somewhat faded color or poor centering. Despite the absence of gum, we would rank this stamp among the finest examples we have seen. (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 2-CENT D GRILL. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT ISSUE TO OBTAIN IN SOUND AND CENTERED CONDITION.

The 2c D Grill is the rarest of the regular-production 1867-68 Grilled Issues (excluding the 1867 trials and rarest Z Grills), followed in order of scarcity by the 3c Z Grill, the 3c D Grill and the 12c Z Grill. It is our theory that two grilling machines were used simultaneously, and that one of the machines was converted from the D to E Grill in early 1868, after a small number of 2c sheets were run through the D-equipped machine. This was the first time the Black Jack received a grill.

With 1999 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85, SMQ $13,000.00). (Image)

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VERY FINE AND CHOICE. THE 1868 2-CENT D GRILL IS AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT ISSUE TO OBTAIN IN SUCH CHOICE CONDITION.

The 2c D Grill is the rarest of the regular-production 1867-68 Grilled Issues (excluding the 1867 trials and rarest Z Grills), followed in order of scarcity by the 3c Z Grill, the 3c D Grill and the 12c Z Grill. It is our theory that two grilling machines were used simultaneously, and that one of the machines was converted from the D to E Grill in early 1868, after a small number of 2c sheets were run through the D-equipped machine. This was the first time the Black Jack received a grill.

With 2011 P.F. certificate. (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE. A JUMBO USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 3-CENT Z GRILL. A DIFFICULT STAMP TO FIND IN SUCH CHOICE CONDITION.

With 2006 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85 Jumbo, SMQ $6,200.00 as 85, $9,600.00 as 90). Only four have graded higher to date and only one other shares this grade. (Image)

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VERY FINE. A PRETTY USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 3-CENT Z GRILL.

A scarce stamp in sound condition. With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (VF 80, SMQ $4,000.00) (Image)

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