United States Essays, Proofs and Stamps continued...

VERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF ONE OF THE TWO MOST DISTINCT TYPE Ib POSITIONS FROM PLATE ONE EARLY, SHOWING THE COMPLETE DESIGN AT TOP AND NEARLY COMPLETE DESIGN AT BOTTOM.

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 burnished away. Positions 6R and 8R had less of the bottom erased than the other Type Ib positions, particularly in the left plume, and for this reason they are more desirable examples of the type.

All Type Ib stamps are very scarce, and the two best examples (6R and 8R) are rare. These top-row positions usually have an ample top margin, but frequently the margins are close or cutting into the bottom. A Type Ib with large margins all around is a great rarity. With its wide bottom margin and sound condition, this is an unusually choice Type Ib.

With 1999 and 2006 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (VF 80 Jumbo, SMQ no longer prices Positions 6R1E and 8R1E. SMQ for the lesser Ty. Ib positions $9,750.00 for 80, $13,500.00 for 85). (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE TWO FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THE 5-CENT 1856 ISSUE. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT FACE-DIFFERENT DESIGNS TO OBTAIN IN SUCH SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.

The 5c stamp was issued in 1856, five years after the 1c, 3c and 12c values and one year after the 10c were issued. It was typically used to pay the 5c shore-to-ship rate for mail sent overseas and also in multiples for the 10c transcontinental or 15c U.S.-French treaty rates.

With the exception of some rare types of the 1c and 10c, such as Scott Nos. 5 and 16, the 5c stamp is the most difficult denomination to obtain with four margins in sound original-gum condition. The spacing between stamps was very narrow, leaving little margin for error when separating the stamps, which explains why so few examples are known with four margins. When other factors such as gum, color and impression are taken into consideration, the rarity and beauty of the stamp offered here may be fully appreciated. The only stamp that rivals this example was in our sale of the Scarsdale collection (Sale 918, lot 9, realized $57,500 hammer).

Ex Seymour and Whitman. With 1985, 1990 and 2000 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF 90, SMQ $60,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded and the only original-gum example to achieve this grade (the next highest is VF 80). (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1855 10-CENT TYPE III IMPERFORATE.

Ex Hansen. With 1990 and 2008 P.F. certificates (Image)

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VERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN INCREDIBLY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 PERFORATED ONE-CENT TYPE II FROM THE TOP ROW OF PLATE 4. THIS IS THE ONLY MINT NEVER-HINGED COPY OF SCOTT 20 FROM PLATE 4 WE HAVE OFFERED. A GREAT RARITY.

When perforations were introduced in 1857, the plates used to print stamps at Toppan, Carpenter & Co. were laid out with narrow spaces between the subjects, because no thought had been given to the concept of perforation holes between the stamps. The imperforate sheets of 1c stamps on hand were printed from Plates 1 Late, 2 and 4, and the perforations on those stamps rarely clear the design all around. The example from Plate 4 offered here is not only extremely rare as a Mint Never-Hinged copy, it is also exceptionally well-centered.

Ex Odeneal. With 1990 and 2007 P.F. certificates, the former with selvage at top. Scott Retail as hinged. (Image)

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VERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 PERFORATED ONE-CENT TYPE IIIA.

Ex Hoffman. With 1982 and 2006 P.F. certificates (Image)

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VERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1860 5-CENT BROWN TYPE II.

Ex "Laila". With 1996 and 2009 P.F. certificates (Image)

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

With 1995 P.F. certificate. (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE. A MAGNIFICENT EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1857 REPRINT. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE STAMP WITH SUCH CHOICE CENTERING.

The 30c 1857 Reprint, of which 480 were sold, is one of the tightest-margined of the series. This is an extraordinary stamp, by virtue of its wide margins and choice centering.

Ex Hoffman. With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90, SMQ $8,000.00). Only two have graded higher (at 90J) and only five others share this grade. (Image)

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