The Merlin Collection of Superb Quality 19th and 20th Century United States Stamps continued...

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EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL SOUND AND CENTERED USED EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT BLACK JACK RE-ISSUE. ONLY 23 USED EXAMPLES ARE RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS.

The 2c Re-Issue was printed from a new plate of 100 subjects, compared to the original plate of 200 in two panes. 10,000 stamps were printed (100 impressions). Only 979 of the 2c were sold, the remaining 9,021 were destroyed on July 16, 1884. The 2c plate can be easily identified by a spot on the cheek.

Our census of Scott 103 used, available at our website at http://siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/103/103.pdf , records 23 examples. It is known with a variety of cancels. Approximately half are sound. The stamp offered here, with a well-struck contemporary cancel, is arguably the finest example known. In fact, we believe the P.S.E. should have graded this stamp XF-Superb 95, but used 1861-66 Re-Issues are frequently penalized by the P.S.E. for having hallmark genuine duplex or oval cancellations.

Census No. 103-CAN-22. With 2005 P.F. and 2011 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90, SMQ $52,500.00). This is the highest grade awarded and only one other shares this grade. (Image)

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VERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN EXTREMELY RARE SOUND AND CENTERED USED EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT BLACK JACK RE-ISSUE. ONLY 23 USED EXAMPLES ARE CONTAINED IN OUR CENSUS AND THE EXAMPLE OFFERED HERE IS UNQUESTIONABLY ONE OF THE FINEST.

The 2c Re-Issue was printed from a new plate of 100 subjects, compared to the original plate of 200 in two panes. 10,000 stamps were printed (100 impressions). Only 979 of the 2c were sold, the remaining 9,021 were destroyed on July 16, 1884. The 2c plate can be easily identified by a spot on the cheek (see illustration).

Our census of Scott 103 used, available at our website at http://siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/103/103.pdf , records 23 examples. It is known with a variety of cancels. Approximately half are sound. The stamp offered here, with a well-struck contemporary cancel, is one of the finest in existence.

Census No. 103-CAN-06. With 2011 P.S.E. certificate (VF 80, SMQ $25,000.00) (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST OF THE 21 USED EXAMPLES OF THE 3-CENT 1861 RE-ISSUE RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS. A GREAT RARITY.

The 3c Re-Issue was printed from the original plate, which contained 200 subjects in two panes. 10,000 were printed (50 impressions). Only 465 of the 3c were sold, the remaining 9,535 were destroyed on July 16, 1884.

Our census of Scott 104 used, available at our website at http://siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/104/104.pdf , records 21 examples, plus one with a non-contemporary cancel. Most have duplex cancels, with a large portion sent from New York. Only seven are confirmed as sound and few of these have choice centering, six others need to be confirmed as sound.

Census No. 104-CAN-21. With 2011 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85, SMQ $25,500.00). This is the highest grade awarded to a used copy and only one other shares this grade (offered in our Kirke sale). (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS MAY BE THE FINEST USED EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1861 RE-ISSUE. ONLY FOURTEEN USED COPIES ARE RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS, OF WHICH ONLY SIX ARE CONFIRMED AS SOUND. A PHENOMENAL RARITY.

The 12c Re-Issue was printed from a new plate of 100 subjects, compared to the original plate of 200 in two panes. 10,000 stamps were printed (100 impressions). Only 389 of the 12c were sold, the remaining 9,611 were destroyed on July 16, 1884.

Our census of Scott 107 used, available at our website at http://siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/107/107.pdf , records only fourteen examples. Of these, only nine are potentially sound. Three of the nine have not been examined since the early 1970's and are not confirmed as sound, leaving only six confirmed sound copies.

Ex Sheriff, Zoellner and Collier. Census No. 107-CAN-13. With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95, SMQ $60,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded and the only example to achieve it. Accompanied by note from William A. Litle stating "Perhaps 98 if not for the cancel" -- the cancel is actually quite normal for the issue and leaves Washington's face almost completely unobscured (Image)

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VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE SOUND USED EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT 1866 RE-ISSUE. ONLY FOURTEEN ARE RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS.

The 15c Re-Issue was printed from the original plate of 200 subjects. 10,000 stamps were printed (50 impressions). Only 397 of the 15c were sold, the remaining 9,603 were destroyed on July 16, 1884.

Our census of Scott 108 used, available at our website at http://siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/108/108.pdf , records only fourteen examples.

Census No. 108-CAN-13. With 2011 P.S.E. certificate (F-VF 75). Only two used copies have been graded (both at 75). The SMQ value of $25,900.00 -- less than Scott -- is misleading, since there is no example of Scott 108 graded higher than F-VF 75, and the stamp offered here is Very Fine by any standards and historically Extremely Fine for this issue. Even by P.S.E. standards, this stamp should grade VF 80, but they punish 1861 Re-Issues because of the normal grid and oval cancellations. (Image)

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VERY FINE. THE 30-CENT 1861 RE-ISSUE IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT DENOMINATIONS TO OBTAIN IN SOUND CONDITION WITH DECENT CENTERING. ONLY 21 IN TOTAL ARE RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS, AND OF THESE ONLY FOUR ARE CONFIRMED AS SOUND.

The 30c Re-Issue was printed from the original plate of 200 subjects. 10,000 stamps were printed (50 impressions). Only 346 of the 30c were sold, the remaining 9,654 were destroyed on July 16, 1884.

Our census of Scott 110 used, available at our website at http://siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/110/110.pdf , records only 21 copies (including one in the Benjamin K. Miller collection at The New York Public Library). Of these only four are confirmed as sound. Three copies (Census Nos. 07, 08 and the Miller copy) have not been examined in several decades, so their condition is unconfirmed. The narrow space between stamps resulted in most copies with perforations touching or cutting into the design.

Census No. 110-CAN-21. With 2011 P.S.E. certificate (F-VF 75, SMQ $20,700.00). (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. ONE OF THE TWO FINEST USED EXAMPLES OF THE 90 CENT 1861 RE-ISSUE. ONLY FOUR USED COPIES ARE KNOWN TO EXIST. AN OUTSTANDING CLASSIC RARITY.

The 90c Re-Issue was printed from the original plate of 200 subjects. 10,000 stamps were printed (50 impressions). Only 317 of the 90c were sold, the remaining 9,683 were destroyed on July 16, 1884.

Our census of this issue, which forms the basis for the information in the Scott Catalogue, contains only four copies. They are shown below and at our website at http://siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/111/111.pdf . A fifth copy with non-contemporary cancel is not included.

This stamp is the basis of the Scott earliest documented use, since it is the only dated example. The Scott footnote describes the date as Nov. 30, 1888.

Census No. 111-CAN-01. Ex Sheriff, Zoellner and Dauer. With 2006 P.F. certificate (XF 90) and 2011 P.S.E. certificate (VF 80, SMQ $250,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded and one other shares it. (Image)

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