2012 Rarities of the World continued...

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A GORGEOUS USED EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1860 ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 JUMBO BY P.S.E. AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT STAMP TO FIND IN SUCH SUPERB USED CONDITION.

The 30c 1860 challenges collectors for several reasons. First, the subjects were closely spaced together on the plate, leaving almost no room for perforations and little opportunity to create stamps with perforations clear of the design on all four sides. Second, the 30c and 90c 1860 were only in circulation for a brief period before the series was demonetized in the Fall of 1861. Third, this high-denomination stamp was issued for use on transatlantic mail, and postal clerks were careful to thoroughly cancel the stamps to prevent cleaning and re-use. Therefore, 30c 1860 stamps in sound, well-centered and lightly-cancelled condition defy all circumstances and are extremely rare.

With 2006 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95J, SMQ $4,750.00 as 95, $10,500.00 as 98). This is the only example to achieve this grade and one has graded higher (at 98). (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

EXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1860 ISSUE.

With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, VF-XF 85, SMQ $4,100.00) (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

VERY FINE AND CHOICE APPEARANCE. A SCARCE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1860 ISSUE.

The 90c stamp was issued in 1860, along with the 24c and 30c values, all of which were needed to prepay high international letter rates established by various postal treaties. The basic 24c and 30c rates to England, France and Germany created a large volume of mail franked with those values. However, the 90c saw much more limited use, partly due to the rates in effect, but more because of the American Civil War. When supplies of current postage stamps were declared invalid in the South and ultimately demonetized by the Federal government, the 90c had been in use for only one year. For this reason, genuinely cancelled copies are scarce and covers bearing the 90c are extremely rare. Approximately 180 used examples have been certified as genuine by the Philatelic Foundation, of which approximately one-quarter are sound. (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

EXTREMELY FINE GROUP OF PLATE BLOCKS OF 12 OF THE 1857 REPRINTS ON INDIA PAPER.

Scott Retail as plate blocks of eight and singles (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

EXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1857 REPRINT.

Only 878 were sold. With 2012 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85, SMQ $3,450.00). Only two have graded higher to date and only one other shares this grade. (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

EXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT REPRINT OF THE 1857-60 ISSUE.

Only 489 were sold. With 2012 P.F. certificate (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com