United States Stamps continued...

EXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 1851 ONE-CENT IMPERFORATE TYPE III FROM POSITION 99R2 IN A STRIP OF THREE WITH FLANKING POSITIONS 98 AND 100R2. THE 99R2 IS THE BEST EXAMPLE OF TYPE III, WITH THE WIDEST BREAKS AT TOP AND BOTTOM.

Type III is defined by breaks in the outer lines at both top and bottom. Many Type III stamps have breaks that were created or enlarged by plate wear. Since the wear occurred over a period of time, the majority of stamps of this type (both unused and used) has small breaks in at least one line. The most notable exception is Position 99R2. According to the Neinken book, "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 reason that 99R2 is the finest example of Type III is because of its very short transfer at top and at bottom, giving us the wide breaks in these lines." (p. 184).

This piece is a new 99R2 discovery, buried among the hundreds of thousands of documents in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. The odds of finding a 99R2 are incalculable, but we did. (Image) (imagea)

EXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1851 ONE-CENT TYPE IV IMPERFORATE.

With 2000 P.S.E. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A HUGE EXAMPLE OF THE 1851 ONE-CENT TYPE IV, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED SUPERB 98 JUMBO BY P.S.E.

With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo, SMQ $1,800.00 for 98, unpriced above the grade of 98). Having the graded certificate only confirms the obvious, but it is worth noting that only one stamp has received a higher P.S.E. grade. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB AND SPECTACULAR USED STRIP OF THE 1851 IMPERFORATE ONE-CENT TYPE IV.

Although most of the attention in today's stamp market is focused on graded singles, philatelists who study and collect multiples will appreciate the extreme rarity of this used strip of the 1851 1c Type IV. Perhaps because the flanking stamps at left and right are equals to the spectacular center stamp, this strip was not cut to furnish a Jumbo single. Combining the enormous margins with brilliant color and the sharpest strikes of the New York City datestamp we have encountered, this strip offers everything to the condition-conscious collector. With high-grade singles bringing $1,500 to $3,000 or more, this strip should be worth exponentially more.

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