1851, 3¢ experimental orange brown, type II. Position 28L1L, four full to large margins, canceled by deep blue "Oct 8" town cds only two days after EDU; tiny corner crease at bottom left, otherwise Extremely Fine, with 2006 P.F. certificate and Amonette note "Exp. O.B. Color".
Scott No. 11A; $300.

SAMPLE E used in first XRF pigment analyses of 3¢ stamps at the Smithsonian Institution. See "The U.S. 1851 3¢ Stamp: Color, Chemistry and Changes" Proceedings of the First International Symposium on Analytical Methods in Philately, Washington, D.C., 2013. US$0 (Image)

Scott $300

1851, 3¢ bright experimental orange brown, type II. Position 22L1L, large margins except just touched at bottom, stitch watermark variety, bright shade, blue Philadelphia Pa. town cancel, fresh and Very Fine, with Amonette note "brightest plate 1^L Experimental orange brown I have seen-very unusual.".
Scott No. 11A; Estimate $300 - 400. US$300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

Sale No: 5
Lot No:125
Symbol:Cat No:11A

1851, 3¢ experimental orange brown, type II. Position 76R1L. Four margins with part of top and bottom stamps, tied by blue 7-bar circular grid, matching sharp "Brookfield, Vt., Oct 7" cds on light buff 1852 cover to South Woodstock Vt.; cover faint corner stain lower right., Very Fine, the second earliest documented use of this color and plate 1 late, signed Amonette on reverse.
Scott No. 11A; Estimate $300 - 400. US$300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

Sale No: 5
Lot No:126
Symbol:Cat No:11A var.

1852, 3¢ "transitional" orange brown, type II. Position 2R1L. Rich vibrant color, large margins except barely clear or touched at right, tied by sharp "Philadelphia Pa., Oct 18" cds on 1851 folded cover to New York City; horizontal fold reinforced, particularly fresh and Very Fine.
Scott No. 11A var.; Estimate $500 - 750.

This is an apparent experimental ink that is primarily colored with red lead pigment and very little iron oxide. Additionally, the gummy or sticky nature of this ink is evident in the background around the bust and different spots on the frame lines. Classified as a "transition" color for the experimental orange brown of plate one late in 1940 (original notes attached), and later by Amonette, as it doesn't fit the color system of the period. At one point, Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co. was connected by an underground tunnel to the Philadelphia post office. This allowed them to place useful, but "different appearing" stamps into postal use without commentary about quality or color from the pm's of the other city offices (which was common early in the production of the 3¢ stamps. See Travers Paper, uspcs.org website).

References: Illustrated in Jim Allen's "The 3¢ 1851 Stamp Plates: Color Changes and Earliest Documented Uses", Chronicle 266, May 2020, p. 143, fig. 11. US$500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

Sale No: 5
Lot No:127
Symbol:Cat No:11A

1851, 3¢ experimental orange brown, type II. 86R1L. Four margins except touched at bottom left, tiny margin flaw at top, tied by sharp blue "Augusta. Geo. '3 Paid' Jan 31" integral-rate cds on fresh 1852 folded letter to Cumming Ga.; couple file folds, Extremely Fine and beautiful, a premium color example of the Experimental Orange Brown variety.
Scott No. 11A; Estimate $400 - 600. US$400-600 (Image)

Est. $400-600

Sale No: 5
Lot No:128
Symbol:Cat No:11A

1851, 3¢ experimental orange brown, type II. Position 50R1L showing part imprint and "No. 1". Touched to just in at top, tied by blue "Philadelphia Pa. Dec 31" cds on 1851 blue folded letter to Providence R.I.; stamp with small closed tear along top, Fine appearance, ex-Amonette.
Scott No. 11A; Estimate $500 - 750.

THIS IS THE EARLIEST DOCUMENT USE OF A MARGINAL IMPRINTED PLATE NUMBER ON ANY U.S. STAMP PLATE.

Sometime in the Fall 1851, Plate 1 Late was re-entered for a second time. This time the marginal inscription was added. It reads "Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co., Banknote Engravers, Phil. New York. Boston & Cincinnati, No. 1". US$500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

Sale No: 5
Lot No:129
Symbol:Cat No:11A

1851, 3¢ pale experimental orange brown, type II. Position 21R1L plated by Chase. Dull shade, left center margin single with margins all around, huge to barely clear showing part of adjacent stamp at top, tied by bold "New York, Feb 19" three-bar experimental cds on gray cover to Deep River Conn.; file fold tone spot, Very Fine.
Scott No. 11A; Estimate $300 - 400. US$300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

Sale No: 5
Lot No:130
Symbol:Cat No:11A

1851, 3¢ experimental orange brown, type II. Singles on three covers from same St. Francisville La. correspondence to R. J. Palfrey, New Orleans La. with black cds strikes of Nov. 15th with pos. 50L1L large margins all around including sheet margin at right, Dec. 29th with pos. 39L1L large margins to in at right, and Mar. 15th with pos. 75L1L with four large margins showing part of stamp at top; all with similar file folds, F.-V.F. correspondence trio.
Scott No. 11A; Estimate $400 - 600. US$400-600 (Image)

Est. $400-600

Sale No: 5
Lot No:131
Symbol:Cat No:11A var.

1851, 3¢ experimental orange brown, type II. Pos 51R1L. Singles on 6 covers, reference collection showing full range of shades and hues, all are Plate 1 Late, Nov. 20th with position 48L1L, blue town cancel, file fold through stamp; Dec. 1st with pos. 96R1L, blue Philadelphia Pa. cds, ex-Hulme; Dec. 13 with pos. 31L1L, blue Philadelphia cds; Jan. 6th with pos. 80L1L margin single; Feb. 19 with pos. 11R1L, pale, margin copy, red Rouse's point cds and red grid, Jul. 2, 1852 with pos. 51R1L margin single, blue Lowell Mass. cds late use not mid-'52 color; each plated by Amonette or Celler, three with Amonette notes and others, a F.-V.F. study experimental orange brown study group.
Scott No. 11A var.; $4,200; Estimate $400 - 600. US$400-600 (Image)

Scott $4,200
Est. $400-600

Sale No: 5
Lot No:132
Symbol:Cat No:11A

1851, 3¢ experimental orange brown, type II. Three vertical pairs, positions 28/38, 30/40, 29/39R1L, each pair with bright color and tied by blue "Philadelphia, Pa., Jan 6" cds on cover to Astoria, Oregon Territory; bit of flap missing, Very Fine and choice use at three-times the 6¢ transcontinental rate, with 2013 P.F. certificate.
Scott No. 11A; Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.

A REMARKABLE TRIPLE-RATE USAGE TO OREGON TERRITORY BEARING THE SCARCE 3¢ EXPERIMENTAL ORANGE BROWN ISSUE, THE LARGE RECORDED MULTIPLE USE OF THIS DISTINCTIVE SHADE.

This correspondence from Philadelphia to Henry Baring Powel Esq. in Astoria, Oregon Terr. yielded several distinct color variations of Plate 1 Late. US$3,000-4,000 (Image)

Est. $3,000-4,000

1851, 3¢ orange brown, type I. Position 40R1E. Large margins except barely touching at bottom, wide sheet margin at right proving the absence of an imprint on this state of the plate; trivial light tone spots, creasing in extreme right margin, still Very Fine and choice example, ex-Amonette, Wagshal, Dr. Robertson, Eubanks.
Scott No. 10; Estimate $750 - 1,000.

The early state of Plate 1 was printed without the Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co. imprint or plate number. After a short time, the imprint was added to the plate, starting at the fourth horizontal row from the top and ending at the 7th row. US$750-1,000 (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

1851, 3¢ orange brown, type II. Position 51L0, huge margins to clear including left sheet margin and part imprint, large part of adjoining stamp at bottom, rich color, neat circular grid cancel, Very Fine and choice, a beautiful part imprint 3¢ orange brown, ex-Eubanks, with 2016 P.F. certificate.
Scott No. 10A; Estimate $500 - 750.

Fabulous single shows the imprint added in late Fall 1851. US$500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

Sale No: 5
Lot No:26
Symbol:Cat No:10A

1851, 3¢ orange brown, type II. Position 41L1E with large sheet margin demonstrating the lack of marginal imprint on the earliest state of Plate 1 Early. Margins to shaving frameline, canceled by magenta small Boston "Paid" grid, matching magenta "Boston '3 cts' 26 Jul" integral-rate cds on 1851 blue folded letter to Mansfield Conn., Very Fine and rare, ex-Chase, Wagshal, Eubanks.
Scott No. 10A; Estimate $750 - 1,000.

THE FINEST OF ONLY TWO RECORDED USES OF PLATE 1 EARLY DEMONSTRATING THE LACK OF MARGINAL IMPRINT ON THE EARLIEST STATE OF PLATE 1 EARLY.

Chase note on reverse "One of about 5 known copies showing the absence of any imprint (& Plate number) from Plate 1E. The only one seen on cover." A second on-cover use has been recorded of 60R1E lacking imprint (also ex-Wagshal, Eubanks) that is heavily creased. US$750-1,000 (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

1851, 3¢ orange brown, type I. Position 64R1i, large even margins including part of adjacent stamp at top, canceled by neat "Brattleboro Vt. Oct 6" cds, choice and Extremely Fine, with 1987 P.F. certificate.
Scott No. 10; $190. US$0 (Image)

Scott $190

1851, 3¢ orange brown, type I. Position 13L1i, margins to in, tiny scissor cut bottom right, rich color, canceled by bold numeral "3" cancel (Skinner-Eno NS-C 8 var.), an Extremely Fine strike.
Scott No. 10; $205. US$0 (Image)

Scott $205

Sale No: 5
Lot No:29
Symbol:Cat No:10

1851, 3¢ orange brown, type I. Position 16L1E. Deep reddish shade, large margins except just touched at bottom, rich color, tied by neat St. Louis "STEAM 5" straightline on gray December 14, 1851 folded letter from New Orleans to St. Louis Mo., Extremely Fine and choice orange brown steamboat use.
Scott No. 10; Estimate $400 - 600. US$400-600 (Image)

Est. $400-600

Sale No: 5
Lot No:30
Symbol:Cat No:10

1851, 3¢ orange brown, type I. Position 1R1E. Huge corner margin single showing left guildeline, other sides full to barely touched at bottom, tied by square grid cancel, bold red "New-York, Jul 12" cds on small cover to Warwick N.Y., pigment ratios noted on reverse; 3¢ just affected by light cover bend, otherwise Very Fine and rare corner margin use.
Scott No. 10; Estimate $300 - 400. US$300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

Sale No: 5
Lot No:31
Symbol:Cat No:10

1851, 3¢ orange brown, type I. Position 21R1E. Left sheet margin single, four margins large to just clear at bottom, canceled by blue circular grid, matching "Middlebury Vt., Jul 10" cds on blue cover to New York City, stamp hinged in place to show matching blue "5" unpaid rating handstamp beneath, 1851 docketing at left, Very Fine and unusual unpaid use updated to paid, signed Chase notes on reverse, with 1978 P.F. certificate.
Scott No. 10; Estimate $300 - 400. US$300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

Sale No: 5
Lot No:32
Symbol:Cat No:10

1851, 3¢ orange brown, type I. Position 22R1E. Four clear to full margins, canceled by sharp blue circular grid cancel, matching "Washington Pa. Jul 17" cds on circa 1851 folded cover to Pittsburg Pa.; some of back missing, Very Fine and choice first month use.
Scott No. 10; Estimate $300 - 400. US$300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

Sale No: 5
Lot No:33
Symbol:Cat No:10

1851, 3¢ orange brown, type I. Position 52L1E. Rich color, four large margins except just touched at top left, adjacent stamp shows at top, tied by two strikes of blue circular grid, matching sharp blue "Canaan Ct., Jul 29" cds on immaculate small lady's cover to Great Barrington Mass.; Chase notes "Very Fine" on reverse, Extremely Fine and beautiful.
Scott No. 10; Estimate $300 - 400. US$300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

Sale No: 5
Lot No:34
Symbol:Cat No:10

1851, 3¢ orange brown, type I. Position 93L1i. Four margins except barely touched at bottom right, strong fresh color tied by neat blue circular grid cancel, matching sharp "Frederick Md. Aug 23" cds on 1851 blue folded cover to Hagerstown Md., Very Fine and beautiful.
Scott No. 10; Estimate $300 - 400. US$300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

Sale No: 5
Lot No:35
Symbol:Cat No:10

1851, 3¢ orange brown, type I. Position 42R1E. Large margins except just touched top left, strong color, tied by neat red circular grid cancel, matching "Richmond Va. Jul 9" cds on clean 1851 blue folded letter to New York City; couple light file folds do not affect stamp, Very Fine and attractive first month use.
Scott No. 10; Estimate $300 - 400. US$300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

Sale No: 5
Lot No:36
Symbol:Cat No:10

1851, 3¢ orange brown, type I. Position 52R1e, margins to in, corner tear, tied by blue "Philadelphia Pa. Mar 15" cds on blue cover to Rye N.Y., forwarded with red "Mamaroneck N.Y. March 23" fancy oval with manuscript date and pen canceled 3¢ orange brown (10) pos. 84R1i, four margins, rich color, to New York City, Very Fine and attractive forwarded use.
Scott No. 10; Estimate $300 - 400.

This cover was used for the Mamaroneck tracing in Simpson. US$300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

Sale No: 5
Lot No:37
Symbol:Cat No:10

1851, 3¢ orange brown, type I. Large margins including top sheet margin, rich color, tied by neat "New-York, Sep 13" cds on 1851 blue folded letter to Philadelphia Pa., fresh and Very Fine.
Scott No. 10; $260. US$0 (Image)

Scott $260

Sale No: 5
Lot No:38
Symbol:Cat No:10

1851, 3¢ orange brown, type I. Position 67R1i. Three large margins, in at left, tied by "Paid 3" in Circle cancel, matching "Buckfield Me. Dec 1" cds on 1851 blue folded letter to Portland Me., Very Fine.
Scott No. 10; $260. US$0 (Image)

Scott $260