2008 Rarities of the World continued...

VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL FOUR-MARGIN AND SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE IN THE DARK BROWN SHADE.

With 1977 P.F. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT USED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.

With 2006 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98, SMQ $4,350.00). (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE. THIS STAMP WILL CERTAINLY ACHIEVE A VERY HIGH NUMERICAL GRADE.

With 2004 P.F. certificate (Image)

VERY FINE. THIS IS A NEWLY-DISCOVERED 5-CENT 1847 COVER WITH THE WHEELING GRID. IT IS THE EARLIEST OF THE FOUR RECORDED 5-CENT WHEELING GRID COVERS, AND, SINCE NO OTHER CANCELLATION WAS APPLIED TO THE STAMP, THIS COVER DEMONSTRATES THAT THE WHEELING GRID SERVED AS A PRECANCEL.

This cover is offered to the market for the first time. It is consigned by a long-established Virginia family and was found in a family member's correspondence.

The red grid of Wheeling, Virginia, was applied to sheets of the 5c and 10c 1847 Issue, precisely at the center of each block of four. Some have argued that the Wheeling grid is a control mark, not a precancel, because almost all examples were additionally cancelled by the customary "Paid" or grid in blue. However, the example offered here, an early use, has no other cancel on the stamp, indicating that the Wheeling postmaster considered the stamp cancelled. This use meets every criteria for a precancel.

The Alexander census lists three 5c and four 10c covers with the Wheeling grid. This cover, held by the addressee's descendants since 1847, now becomes the fourth 5c cover. The earliest 10c cover is dated October 1, 1847. Only two others are cancelled solely by the Wheeling control marking. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. A RARE FOUR-MARGIN ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE. THIS STAMP HAS THE HIGHEST P.S.E. GRADE AWARDED TO A 10-CENT 1847 WITH ORIGINAL GUM.

P.S.E. encapsulated (VF-XF 85, SMQ $70,000.00). It is important to note that this stamp still graded very highly despite the light natural gum crease. This is the highest grade awarded to date and the only example to achieve this grade. (Image)

FRESH AND FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE. SCARCE WITH SUCH FRESHNESS.

With 1972 P.F. certificate (Image)

VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE.

With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (VF 80, SMQ $13,800.00) (Image)