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

VERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 1851 ONE-CENT TYPE Ib CONTAINED IN AN ATTRACTIVE SHEET-MARGIN STRIP FROM PLATE ONE EARLY.

Type Ib was produced only as an imperforate stamp. Six positions on Plate 1 Early furnished stamps qualifying as Type Ib -- Positions 3-6R and 8-9R -- distinguished by the complete design at top and nearly complete design at bottom. When first entered on the plate, these six positions (as well as 7R1E) had the complete design at top and bottom. However, unlike 7R, small portions of the bottoms of 3-6R and 8-9R were ironed out when the entries were made below them. Positions 6R and 8R had less of the bottom ironed out than the other Type Ib positions, and for this reason they are more desirable examples of the type. Positions 1R and 2R (the two left stamps in this strip) were entered from Relief T on the trimmed-relief transfer roll.

Ex Ashbrook (removed from the Plate 1E Right Pane reconstruction offered in lot 15), Neinken and Wagshal. Scott Retail as a Type Ib-II pair is $14,000.00 (the sound Position 3R1E in this strip has an individual Scott value of $10,000.00) (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING EXAMPLE OF THE 1851 IMPERFORATE TYPE Ib, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. -- A REMARKABLE STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT.

Type Ib was produced only as an imperforate stamp from Plate 1 Early. Six positions on Plate 1E furnished stamps qualifying as Type Ib -- Positions 3-6R and 8-9R -- distinguished by the complete design at top and nearly complete design at bottom. When first entered on the plate, these six positions (as well as 7R1E) had the complete design at top and bottom. However, unlike 7R, small portions of the bottoms were ironed out when the entries were made below them. These top-row positions usually have an ample top margin, but frequently the margins are close or cutting into the sides or bottom. A Type Ib stamp with large margins all around is a great rarity, particularly in sound condition.

With 1989 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95, SMQ $32,300.00). Only one has graded higher (offered in our Kirke sale) and two others share this grade. (Image)

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VERY FINE. AN IMPORTANT 1851 ONE-CENT ISSUE MULTIPLE FROM THE TOP ROW OF PLATE ONE EARLY, COMPRISING THREE RARE TYPE Ib POSITIONS, INCLUDING 6R1E, ONE OF THE TWO BEST EXAMPLES OF TYPE Ib. THIS STRIP CONTAINS THE LARGEST NUMBER OF TYPE Ib POSITIONS KNOWN IN A SINGLE USED MULTIPLE.

Type Ib was produced only as an imperforate stamp. Six positions on Plate 1 Early furnished stamps qualifying as Type Ib -- Positions 3-6R and 8-9R -- distinguished by the complete design at top and nearly complete design at bottom. When first entered on the plate, these six positions (as well as 7R1E) had the complete design at top and bottom. However, unlike 7R, small portions of the bottoms were ironed out when the entries were made below them. Positions 6R and 8R had less of the bottom erased than the other Type Ib positions, and for this reason they are more desirable examples of the type. Although Positions 3-6R1E could form a strip of four, no such multiple has been recorded in used condition. Only the original-gum block from Positions 4-9/14-15R1E (Wagshal Census 5-UNC-002) contains a larger number of Type Ib positions than this strip.

Ex Waterhouse, Neinken and Wagshal. Scott Retail $35,900.00 as off-cover singles of Positions 4, 5 and 6R1E. (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN EXTREMELY RARE SOUND FOUR-MARGIN EXAMPLE OF THE TYPE I, POSISITION 7R1E, WHICH IS THE ONLY ONE OF THE 1,000 POSITIONS USED TO PRINT IMPERFORATE ONE-CENT STAMPS THAT SHOWS THE COMPLETE DESIGN. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH THE RED COLORED CANCEL. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE, AND IT IS ONE OF TWO GRADED XF 90 JUMBO BY P.S.E. -- THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.

The published census compiled by Jerome S. Wagshal contains 90 unduplicated records of Scott 5. There has been one addition to the Wagshal census, and there are probably no more than ten examples existing outside of the census population. Therefore, the 1c 1851 Type I is the rarest of all United States stamps issued regularly prior to the 1868 Grills.

Because of the significance attached to the outer portions of the 1c 1851 design, rare types that have been carefully cut apart, so as not to impinge on any part of the design, are extremely desirable. The narrow spacing between stamps in the sheet and the users' indifference to the outlying ornamentation during separation are factors that contributed to the great rarity of four-margin copies. The example offered here comes from a strip of three of Positions 6-8R1E, offered in our 2007 Rarities sale, which was cut apart with a view towards preserving the margins of this stamp. Examples of Position 7R1E (Scott 5) with large right and bottom margins, where there was very little space between it and the adjoining stamps, are true rarities. In fact, using the census data, it is clear that this stamp is among the two or three finest sound off-cover examples known. The ex-Newbury strip on cover and the ex-Vogel single on cover are among the finest examples of Position 7R1E on cover.

Wagshal Census 5-MUL-66. P.S.E. encapsulated (XF 90 Jumbo, SMQ $430,000.00 as 90, unpriced in any higher grade). This is the highest grade awarded and one other shares it (cancelled in black). (Image)

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AN EXTREMELY RARE AND IMPRESSIVE 1851 ONE-CENT MULTIPLE FROM THE TOP ROW OF PLATE ONE EARLY, COMPRISING A PAIR OF TYPE Ib, INCLUDING POSITION 8R1E -- ONE OF THE TWO BEST EXAMPLES OF THE TYPE -- AND POSITION 10R1E, THE ONLY TYPE II POSITION ON PLATE ONE EARLY WITH THE COMPLETE DESIGN AT TOP.

Type Ib was produced only as an imperforate stamp. Six positions on Plate 1 Early furnished stamps qualifying as Type Ib -- Positions 3-6R and 8-9R -- distinguished by the complete design at top and nearly complete design at bottom. When first entered on the plate, these six positions (as well as 7R1E) had the complete design at top and bottom. However, unlike 7R, small portions of the bottoms were ironed out when the entries were made below them. Positions 6R and 8R had less of the bottom erased than the other Type Ib positions, and for this reason they are more desirable examples of the type. Position 10R was more extensively ironed out at the bottom, but the entry still retained its characteristic Type I Relief T complete design at top.

Ex Ashbrook (removed from the Plate 1E Right Pane reconstruction offered in lot 15), Neinken and Wagshal. Scott Retail as single examples of Positions 8, 9 and 10R1E is $29,000.00 (the strip is unlisted). (Image)

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A SPECTACULAR AND HISTORIC COMPLETE PLATE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE LEFT PANE OF PLATE ONE EARLY. THIS RECONSTRUCTION WAS ASSEMBLED BY STANLEY B. ASHBROOK, WHOSE PIONEERING WORK ON THE ONE-CENT 1851-57 ISSUE CREATED THE FOUNDATION FOR FUTURE SPECIALISTS.

Ex Ashbrook, Neinken and Wagshal. Scott Retail of approximately $28,000.00 does not take into consideration multiples (which are scarce to rare from Plate 1 Early), colored cancels or plate varieties such as double transfers. (Image)

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A MONUMENTAL RECONSTRUCTION OF THE RIGHT PANE OF PLATE ONE EARLY. THIS IS ARGUABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT PANE IN CLASSIC UNITED STATES PHILATELY, PRODUCING SUCH LEGENDARY RARITIES AS THE ONE-CENT 1851 TYPE I AND Ib IMPERFORATE. THIS RECONSTRUCTION WAS ASSEMBLED BY STANLEY B. ASHBROOK, WHOSE PIONEERING WORK ON THE ONE-CENT 1851-57 ISSUE CREATED THE FOUNDATION FOR FUTURE SPECIALISTS.

Ex Ashbrook, Neinken and Wagshal. Scott Retail of approximately $43,000.00 does not take into consideration multiples (which are scarce to rare from Plate 1 Early), colored cancels or other plating varieties (Image)

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VERY FINE. A WONDERFUL 1851 ONE-CENT PLATE ONE EARLY MULTIPLE WITH A SCARCE COMBINATION OF TYPES AND CAPTURING THE COVETED BALLS OF POSITION 7R1E.

The reason that Position 7R1E retained its Type I elements at the bottom is because 17R1E was short transferred at the top, thus reducing the "ironing out" effect on 7R1E. If one cannot afford an example of Scott 5, Position 7R1E, this provides an alternative, after all, having the balls of 7R1E is nearly as important as having the whole stamp.

Ex Wagshal. Scott Retail as pair of Scott 8A and single Scott 7. (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS STUNNING 1851 ONE-CENT STAMP FROM PLATE 1 EARLY, WITH MASSIVE MARGINS ON ALL SIDES, BRILLIANT COLOR AND A BLUE CANCEL, HAS BEEN GRADED GEM 100 JUMBO BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE POSSIBLE ON THE GRADING CHART.

With 1995 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (Gem 100 Jumbo, unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $1,850.00 as 98). This is the highest grade possible and only two others have achieved this grade. Only one has been graded 100, which is an excellent indication of how rare it is to find this imperforate issue in such perfect condition. (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS MARVELOUS STAMP, WHICH IS SURELY ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE, HAS BEEN AWARDED THE SUPREME GRADE OF GEM 100 JUMBO BY P.S.E. -- A PERFECT STAMP IN TERMS OF MARGINS, COLOR, IMPRESSION, CANCEL AND OVERALL FRESHNESS.

Ex Tahoe. With 2006 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100 Jumbo, unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $1,200.00 as 98). This is the highest grade possible on the grading chart and only seven others have achieved it. (Image)

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