2008 Rarities of the World continued...

A FINE AND SOUND EXAMPLE OF THIS MAJOR CLASSIC RARITY. POSITION 7R1E -- THE SEVENTH STAMP IN THE RIGHT PANE OF PLATE 1 EARLY -- IS THE ONLY ONE OF THE 1,000 POSITIONS USED TO PRINT IMPERFORATE ONE-CENT STAMPS THAT SHOWS THE COMPLETE DESIGN (TYPE I). OFFERED TO THE MARKET FOR THE FIRST TIME.

The published census compiled by Jerome S. Wagshal contains at least 98 unduplicated records of Scott 5. There are probably no more than ten examples existing outside of the Wagshal census population. Therefore, the 1c 1851 Type I is the rarest of all United States stamps issued regularly prior to the 1868 Grills.

The Wagshal Census notes about this cancel that Ashbrook stated "I believe it was used only on printed circulars as I have never seen its use on a drop letter." Ashbrook also states that earliest recorded use of this cancel is Nov. 5, 1851 and the latest is Jan. 1, 1852.

Wagshal Census No. 5-CAN-090. (Image)

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE STRIP OF THREE ON COVER CONTAINING THE DESIRABLE TYPE I IMPERFORATE ONE-CENT 1851 ISSUE -- POSITION 7 FROM THE RIGHT PANE OF PLATE ONE EARLY. ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES ON COVER IN A VERTICAL STRIP OF THREE AND THE ONLY EXAMPLE WITH THE LOUISVILLE & CINCINNATI MAIL LINE ROUTE AGENT'S MARKING.

The published census compiled by Jerome S. Wagshal contains 90 unduplicated records of Scott 5. There are probably no more than ten examples existing outside of the Wagshal census population. Therefore, the 1c 1851 Type I is the rarest of all United States stamps issued regularly prior to the 1868 Grills.

Only 22 covers bearing Scott No. 5 are recorded in the Wagshal census. Of these, some may have been soaked off of their covers to satisfy collector demand for singles. When discovered, the bottom stamp on this cover had a large scraped-away area at lower left. It was expertly repaired and has since been a significant piece in several important collections.

Wagshal Census No. 5-COV-087. Ex Chase, Michaels, Ishikawa and Kapiloff (Image)

VERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE. A RARE AND DESIRABLE COVER BEARING A STRIP OF THREE OF THE IMPERFORATE ONE-CENT 1851 ISSUE, INCLUDING TWO TYPE IB STAMPS FLANKING A CHOICE EXAMPLE OF POSITION 7R1E, THE RARE TYPE I.

Ex Jacobs, Krug and Kapiloff. Signed Ashbrook. With 1987 P.F. certificate. (Image)

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A SCARCE FOREIGN MAIL USAGE COMBINING THE IMPERFORATE ONE-CENT TYPE IA WITH A PERFORATED ONE-CENT TYPE II ON A 3-CENT NESBITT ENTIRE. THE IMPERFORATE TYPE IA IS RARELY ENCOUNTERED ON ANYTHING OTHER THAN A DOMESTIC COVER.

Ex Kapiloff. (Image)

VERY FINE. A SCARCE HORIZONTAL STRIP OF SIX OF THE IMPERFORATE ONE-CENT TYPE II FROM PLATE ONE EARLY, PAYING THE 6-CENT TRANSCONTINENTAL RATE.

The 6c transcontinental rate was effective from July 1, 1851, to April 1, 1855. Approximately seven such West Coast multiples are known to us.

Ex Kapiloff (Image)

FINE AND VERY ATTRACTIVE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE FRANKING TO PAY THE 10-CENT RATE TO CANADA.

Ex Baker and Kapiloff. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1851 ONE-CENT IMPERFORATE TYPE III, WITH CLEAR AND DISTINCT BREAKS IN OUTER LINES AT TOP AND BOTTOM -- THE DEFINING CHARACTERISTIC OF THE TYPE.

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, a majority of stamps of this type (both unused and used) have small breaks in at least one line. The most notable exception is Position 99R2, which has the widest breaks of any Type III position, due to the short transfer during plate entry.

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

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1851 ONE-CENT TYPE IV HAS BEEN GRADED GEM 100 JUMBO BY P.S.E., WHICH IS THE HIGHEST GRADE ATTAINABLE BY ANY STAMP IN ANY PERIOD. IT IS BY FAR THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO AN UNUSED IMPERFORATE OR PERFORATED CLASSIC ISSUE, AND, IN FACT, THIS IS THE ONLY UNUSED STAMP PRIOR TO SCOTT 212 TO REACH THE ZENITH OF THE GRADING SYSTEM.

Professional Stamp Experts recently introduced a new system for numbering basic United States stamp designs. The U.S. Design (USD) numbering system identifies the denomination and design at its most fundamental level, essentially in accordance with what the U.S. Post Office Department would have called a new issue, starting with the 5c and 10c 1847's. The USD system completely ignores production variations and traditional philatelic classification (printing method, shades, watermark, paper type, perforations gauge, coils, types, etc.) to create a simplified approach to collecting U.S. stamps, which P.S.E. hopes will encourage growth in the number of entry-level collectors. P.S.E. believes that once these new collectors build USD sets, some of them will develop an interest in the more traditional Scott Numbering System, yet others will still feel a sense of achievement in completing a basic USD-based collection.

What does this have to do with the stamp offered here? The April-June 2008 edition of Stamp Market Quarterly specifically cites the 1c 1851, stating, "The Scott Catalog lists no fewer than five whole numbers for this stamp...These small variations notwithstanding, the basic stamp remains the one cent issue of 1851. For many collectors, one nice example of the type would be sufficient." If the USD system has the desired effect of creating a new approach to collecting, then the demand for the most common 1c 1851 -- Type IV, Scott 9, the stamp offered here -- will increase at a far greater rate than the demand for other types, which have characteristics outside the scope of the USD numbering system. Taking this one step further, if collectors want to assemble a set of 1851's according to USD number in the highest possible grade, then the significance of a Mint Never-Hinged Scott 9 in P.S.E. 100 Jumbo grade increases exponentially.

We mention all of this in connection with this stamp, because the stamp market is changing. Whether traditionalists agree or disagree with the USD concept, everyone can agree that the 1c 1851 offered here is remarkable by any standard. It is the most striking example of an unused 1c 1851 we have ever seen. Add to this its Mint Never-Hinged condition and 100 Jumbo P.S.E. grade, and you have what may become future philately's ultimate classic stamp. Purists will always have their rare types, but it will be interesting to see if the "Gem USD" collectors emerge to create another class of philatelic rarity which challenges today's Scott-based rarities.

With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100 Jumbo, unpriced in SMQ as Mint N.H.) (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS GORGEOUS STAMP HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF GEM 100 JUMBO BY P.S.E. -- ONLY THREE EXAMPLES HAVE ACHIEVED THIS GRADE TO DATE, AND THIS IS LIKELY THE ONLY ONE IN THE MORE DESIRABLE DEEP CLARET SHADE.

With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100 Jumbo, unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $970.00 as 98 in the Claret shade). (Image)

FINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 1851 3-CENT WITH CHICAGO PERFORATION ON COVER, AND A VERY EARLY USAGE.

Wilson Hulme recorded 40 used on cover, including a pair. He recorded the earliest date of use as May 3, 1856. He also recorded five others used prior to the example offered here.

With 2008 certificate from Richard Celler confirming plating. (Image)