The Natalee Grace Collection of Used United States Stamps, Part One continued...

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS PHENOMENAL STAMP HAS BEEN GRADED GEM 100 JUMBO BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE POSSIBLE ON THE GRADING SCALE. THIS IS ALSO THE ONLY PERFORATED STAMP PRIOR TO SCOTT 148 TO ACHIEVE THIS PERFECT GRADE. A TRULY REMARKABLE STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT.

The 10c is the only denomination of the 1861-66 Issue that was actually issued in two types. Type I, Scott 62B, was printed from Plate 4. Type II STAMPS -- Scott 68 and its grilled counterparts -- were printed from Plates 15 and 26. It has been surmised that Type I was pressed into service to help fill strong demand for 10c stamps after demonetization of the earlier issue. The 10c stamps paid the transcontinental rate, the ship-letter rate and certain rates to foreign countries.

Despite the high production numbers this is a difficult denomination to obtain in superb quality. Of the 145 used copies sent to P.S.E. for grading, only six have graded higher than a 95 (including the stamp offered here). Another denomination produced in even greater quantity, the 3c, has none graded 100J and only one at 100, despite more than 400 submissions. Submissions tend to be skewed towards higher-quality stamps, so this statistic is even more significant.

With 1997 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (Gem 100 Jumbo, unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $2,750.00 as 98). This is the highest grade awarded to date. This is also the earliest perforated Scott number to achieve this grade -- none have graded 100J for the 1857-60 Issue, and this is the only example for the entire issue (plus the next three issues) to achieve this grade. The next perforated stamp to achieve this grade is the 6c Bank Note Issue, Scott 148. (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS STUNNING USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 24-CENT RED LILAC ISSUE HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE.

With 1997 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95, SMQ $3,500.00). This is the highest grade awarded to date (ten others share this grade). (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A TRULY OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1861 STEEL BLUE COMBINING THE ELEMENTS OF CENTERING, COLOR AND CANCELLATION.

The Steel Blue is the most distinctive of all the 24c shades. The example offered here, with unusually wide margins, gorgeous color and a beautiful cancel, is a condition rarity.

Ex Ishikawa and Sevenoaks. With 2001 P.F. certificate (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT VIOLET 1861 ISSUE ON THIN PAPER. AMONG THE FINEST COPIES OF THIS STAMP IN EXISTENCE.

The 24c 1861 exists in four basic shades of Violet: Dark Violet (August 1861 trial printing, formerly Scott 60), Violet on Thin Paper (August-September 1861 regular issue, Scott 70c -- the shade offered here), Pale Gray Violet (1861 regular issue, Scott 70d) and Blackish Violet (ca. 1863 printing, Scott 78c).

With 2003 P.F. certificate (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE. A STUNNING USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 24-CENT IN THE PALE GRAY VIOLET COLOR.

The 24c Pale Gray Violet shade, Scott 70d, comes from an early 1861 printing on thin paper, a characteristic shared by the Violet and Steel Blue stamps. Scott 70d's rarity has been more widely recognized in recent years -- we have only sold two with original gum since keeping computerized records, and we have sold very few sound used copies in Extremely Fine condition.

Ex Zoellner. With 1994 P.F. certificate. (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION THE FINEST USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 30-CENT ORANGE IN EXISTENCE. THIS PHENOMENAL STAMP, WITH JUMBO MARGINS, GORGEOUS COLOR AND A CLEAR CANCEL, HAS BEEN GRADED SUPERB 98 JUMBO BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE AND THE ONLY EXAMPLE TO ACHIEVE THIS GRADE.

The 30c is known used very early after the series was issued, the earliest documented use is August 20, 1861. The narrowly-spaced 30c 1861 plate left very little room for the 12-gauge perforations between stamps. Brookman notes "coupled with the fact it is very hard to find a well-centered copy, this color, which always cancels badly, makes a truly superb used copy almost a rarity. I consider it the most difficult stamp of the 1861 Series to obtain in choice used condition". Scott Catalogue also acknowledges the difficulty of obtaining this issue in better condition, stating "Values for No. 71 are for examples with small margins, especially at sides. Large-margined examples sell for much more".

Ex Filstrup, Koppersmith and Hinrichs. With 1986 and 2004 P.F. certificates. With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo, unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $5,550.00 as 98). This is the highest grade awarded to date, and it is the only example to achieve this grade. (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 90-CENT IN THE PALE BLUE SUB-SHADE. A GORGEOUS EXAMPLE OF THIS SHADE, AND ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE.

A review using Power Search found that we have only offered six unused and used examples of this shade since keeping computerized records. A review of the Philatelic Foundation's online records found a slightly greater supply, but most tend to be either defective or poorly centered.

With 1991 P.F. certificate. (Image)

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