The Alan B. Whitman Collection of Outstanding United States Stamps continued...

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THE 5-CENT 1856 ISSUE. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT FACE-DIFFERENT DESIGNS TO OBTAIN IN SUCH SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.

The 5c stamp was issued in 1856, five years after the 1c, 3c and 12c values and one year after the 10c were issued. It was typically used to pay the 5c shore-to-ship rate for mail sent overseas and also in multiples for the 10c transcontinental or 15c U.S.-French treaty rates.

With the exception of some rare types of the 1c and 10c, such as Scott Nos. 5 and 16, the 5c stamp is the most difficult denomination to obtain with four margins in sound and original-gum condition. The spacing between stamps was very narrow. This left little margin for error when separating the stamps, and it explains why so few examples are known with four margins. When other factors such as gum, color and impression are taken into consideration, the rarity and beauty of the stamp offered here may be fully appreciated.

Ex Seymour. With 1985, 1990 and 2000 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF 90). This is the highest grade awarded to date and the only OGph example to achieve this grade. (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1855 10-CENT TYPE I IMPERFORATE. THIS SUPERB STAMP IS WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE. ITS GUM, MARGINS, COLOR, IMPRESSION AND OVERALL FRESHNESS ARE UNRIVALLED.

Type I stamps come from the bottom 20 positions of the plate. They are the only stamps to show the design complete at bottom. For some reason the sheet margin at bottom was often trimmed away, leaving a dearth of quality copies. The Type IV stamps come from only eight positions, but we would rank the two types equally in terms of the rarity of sound four-margined original-gum copies.

A review using Power Search demonstrates exactly how rare this type is in sound, four-margin, original-gum condition. The last example we offered in comparable condition was in our 1999 Golin sale, and the stamp offered here is clearly superior by virtue of the wider top margin.

With 1987 and 2000 P.F. certificates (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1855 IMPERFORATE 10-CENT TYPE II. WORTHY OF THE FINEST COLLECTION.

Given the wide spacing between subjects on the plate used to print the 10c 1855 Issue, one would expect to find an ample supply of examples in sound original-gum condition with four margins. However, such stamps are extremely rare.

With 1999 P.F. certificate (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A GORGEOUS ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1855 IMPERFORATE 10-CENT TYPE II.

The majority of sound unused examples of the 10c 1855 are without gum, and the few original-gum singles have faults. This superb original-gum stamp has extraordinary freshness and full balanced margins. It ranks among the best three or four examples by our firm during the past 13 years.

Ex Bingham, Dupuy and Ishikawa. With 1972 P.F. certificate (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE. A GORGEOUS ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1851 ISSUE, WITH AN ENORMOUS SHEET MARGIN AT LEFT.

As multiples demonstrate, the spacing between stamps on the plate was very narrow. Sound original-gum examples with four margins are great rarities, and most have been cut from larger multiples. The presence of the sheet margin and the portion of the adjoining stamp at right add considerable value to this stamp.

With 1993 P.S.E. and 1997 P.F. certificates (Image)

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