2010 Rarities of the World continued...

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE IMPERFORATE TYPE IV 10-CENT 1855 ISSUE FROM THE MISPLACED RELIEF POSITION -- THE ONLY RECUT POSITION ON THE RIGHT PANE OF THE PLATE.

When the plate was being entered from the transfer roll (or rolls), three vertical rows were started with the B relief instead of the A relief. These were the first two rows of the left pane and the third row of the right pane. Only the first position in each vertical row is misplaced -- the rest of the sheet was laid out with the A Relief used for the top two rows. Position 3R1, one of the three misplaced relief positions on the plate, also bears the distinction of being one of the eight recut positions and the only position recut on the entire right pane of the plate.

With 1973 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95, SMQ $5,850.00) (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS STAMP IS ONE OF THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THE 10-CENT TYPE II 1855 ISSUE IN EXISTENCE. A MAGNIFICENT CLASSIC STAMP IN ALL RESPECTS -- FRESHNESS OF GUM, SIZE OF MARGINS, COLOR, IMPRESSION AND OVERALL APPEAL.

The prepaid transcontinental rate was raised from 6c to 10c in April 1855, which prompted the Post Office Department to add a 10c value to the current series. Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Company produced one plate of 200 subjects for the imperforate issue, which was also used when perforations were introduced in 1857. Although the subjects were spaced further apart than they had been on the 1c, 3c and 12c plates, there were still variations in the designs. Four design types are recorded for the first plate (Plate 1): Type I with the full bottom shell (from the bottom row only), Type II with the top part of the design nearly complete, Type III with the design at top incomplete, and Type IV with recut lines at top and/or bottom.

Although the wider spacing on the 10c plate provided more room for separation, this stamp has remarkably huge margins all around, each of which goes well beyond the mid-point between stamps.

Ex "Connoisseur", Dr. Morris and Scarsdale. P.S.E. encapsulated (OGph, Superb 98, SMQ $29,400.00). Only one has graded higher to date and this is one of only two examples to achieve this grade. (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

VERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE. A REMARKABLE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF NINE OF THE 12-CENT 1851 ISSUE ON PART INDIA PAPER. THIS IS ONE OF THE LARGEST AND FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCKS OF THIS ISSUE. A BEAUTIFUL EXHIBITION-WORTHY MULTIPLE.

The 3c and 12c 1851 Issue are both found on Part India paper, which is a hand-made silky paper that varies in thickness within the same sheet. The Neinken 12c 1851-57 book (pp. 61-64) quotes from earlier publications by Ashbrook, Chase and Jaeger, which describe the look and feel of Part India stamps. Referring to a pair (ex Richey) and strip of five (ex Newbury), the 12c Part India stamps are described as "undoubtedly from the very first impressions from the Twelve Cent plate. The engravings are very sharp and resemble die proofs or plate proofs on India. The shades of both these items are of the earliest known, the distinctive grayish." It is also speculated that the Part India stamps "came from 'trial printings' i.e., proof sheets that were afterwards thrown in the regular stock, then gummed and issued to various post offices." Although the 12c Part India paper has been described as "thin" or "very thin", it is actually thicker when gauged on a micrometer. Its "thinness" is better described as "softness", a paper characteristic that enhances the impression, but appears to have been problematic in gumming.

This is probably the block of nine offered in the 1917 Worthington sale (J. C. Morganthau & Co., 131st Sale, Aug. 21-23, 1917, lot 109), where described as "lighter shade, block of 9, o.g., the right hand stamps gum crease." We know of two other 12c Part India blocks, both of four stamps. There are also original-gum blocks of nine, ten and fifteen in the normal Black shade on regular paper.

Ex "J & J Collection. With 2005 P.F. certificate (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE USE OF THE 1851 12-CENT BISECT IN COMBINATION WITH THE "VIA NICARAGUA/AHEAD OF THE MAILS" HANDSTAMP AND NEW YORK SHIP-LETTER DATESTAMP. A FASCINATING COVER SHOWING CORRECTED RATING AS AN UNPAID SHIP LETTER.

During the period from 1853 to April 1855, bisected 12c 1851 stamps were used on mail from San Francisco to prepay the 6c over-3,000 miles rate to the East Coast. Upon arrival in New York, the bisects were either accepted or rejected. In this case, the New York office did not accept the bisect, but incorrectly applied the 6c due marking for a letter received from a non-contract vessel addressed to the port of arrival. This was then corrected by applying the New York "Ship" datestamp and 7c rate for a non-contract ship letter to another post office (5c unpaid rate plus 2c ship fee).

Ex Grunin. With 2007 P.F. certificate (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

VERY FINE. AN EXTRAORDINARY USE OF A 12-CENT 1851 BISECTED STAMP FROM ONE MAJOR EAST COAST CITY TO ANOTHER, PREPAYING THE DOUBLE 3-CENT DOMESTIC LETTER RATE.

The majority of 12c 1851 bisects are found on transcontinental covers, usually applied in California. Only a small number of intra-East Coast usages are known.

Ex Sheriff and Martin. With 1980, 1986 and 2005 P.F. certificates. (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL BISECT OF THE 12-CENT 1851 ISSUE ON A COVER FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO BOSTON.

Ex Hessel and Kapiloff. With 1992 and 2006 P.F. certificates (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

VERY FINE. A CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1851 ISSUE BISECT ON COVER.

With 1981 P.F. certificate. Last offered to the market in our 1984 Rarities sale. (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com