2017 Rarities of the World continued...

EXTREMELY FINE. A CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 ONE-CENT TYPE I STAMP.

This is a scarce stamp in sound original-gum condition and better than Very Fine centering.

With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, VF-XF 85; SMQ $4,750.00). (Image)

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FINE APPEARING AND RARE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 PERFORATED ONE-CENT TYPE Ia.

Type Ia was produced by only 18 of the 20 bottom-row positions on Plate 4.

With 2004 P.S.E. certificate (Image)

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

This stamp was printed from Plate 4, which originally produced imperforate stamps and was used only briefly after the introduction of perforations in 1857 before being discontinued. Original-gum examples of stamps from Plate 4 are extremely scarce.

Ex Wagshal. With 1980 P.F. certificate. (Image)

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FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE PERFORATED 1857 ONE-CENT TYPE III.

With 1987 P.F. certificate stating "heavily toned". However, much of the toning on the front has subsequently been removed (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 ONE-CENT BLUE TYPE III FROM PLATE 4.

Due to the narrow vertical spacing on this plate, stamps are most typically found with the perforations impinging on some portion of the design. The example offered here is centered so that the type characteristics are clearly visible.

With 2003 P.F. and 2012 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85; SMQ $3,550.00) (Image)

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VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE PERFORATED ONE-CENT 1857 ISSUE FROM POSITION 99R2. THIS POSITION FURNISHED THE BEST EXAMPLES OF TYPE III.

Plate 2 was made in late 1855, and consists of 198 stamps that are Type II, one position that is Type III (99R2) and one that is Type IIIA (100R2).

Guide dots were used to accurately lay out the subjects on the plate. Positions 79 and 89 were transferred perfectly using their guide dots. However, the guide dot to the south-east of Position 88R2, which was used to align the single B Relief for Position 99R2, was placed far out of line, resulting in the bottom part of the A Relief being transferred into the bottom part of Position 89 (and in the margin below this position) by mistake. When the fresh entry was made in Position 99R a full transfer of the design was not possible without running into the error in Position 89R. The position was therefore short transferred at top, and apparently also at bottom, creating the finest example of Type III found on any plate (see pp. 183-184 of Neinken book).

Plate 2 stamps were issued imperforate from December 1855 through June 1857. Beginning in July 1857 stamps from Plates 1 Late, 2 and 4 were issued with perforations, and Plates 2 and 4 continued to produce stamps through late 1857. Plate 2 stamps are rarer perforated than in imperforate form; conversely, Plate 4 stamps are rarer imperforate than in perforated form. Perforated 99R2 stamps are of extreme rarity.

Our census, which incorporates the records of noted student Jerome S. Wagshal, the Philatelic Foundation, the Levi records and our own work, is available at our website at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/21/21.pdf . Only one unused example is known, in a block. Twelve used singles are recorded, as are three on covers and two in strips, for a total of 18 known in any form. Virtually all have faults or are very off-center -- only three off-cover singles and one on cover are confirmed as sound and not all have decent centering.

Ex Sheriff and Wagshal. With 1986 and 2011 P.F. certificates. (Image)

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VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A REMARKABLE AND EXTREMELY RARE BLOCK OF THE 1857 ONE-CENT PERFORATED ISSUE FROM PLATE FOUR, COMBINING TYPES III AND IIIa.

This block was printed from Plate 4, which originally produced imperforate stamps and was used only briefly after the introduction of perforations in 1857 before being discontinued. Original-gum examples of stamps from Plate 4 are extremely scarce.

This was part of the vertical block of six in the Grunin and Klein collections. After the 1988 Klein sale it was divided into this block and two singles (Positions 63R and 64R).

Ex Grunin, Klein and Hall. With 1991 (as sound) and 2015 P.F. certificates (mentioning faint horizontal crease at top). The Scott U.S. Specialized Catalogue lists combination blocks from Plate 4, but does not value them. The Type III-IIIa combination pair and Type IIIa pair have a combined value of $27,750.00 (Image)

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VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A REMARKABLY FRESH ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 ONE-CENT TYPE IIIa PERFORATED ISSUE.

Ex Hansen. With 2005 P.F. certificate (Image)

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VERY FINE APPEARING AND RARE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1858 5-CENT BRICK RED.

With 2012 P.F. certificate (Image)

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FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE AND DESIRABLE SOUND UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1858 5-CENT INDIAN RED.

Our search of old auction catalogues and the records of The Philatelic Foundation and P.S.E. yielded only eleven unused examples of Scott 28A. Of these, the majority are without gum.

With 2002 P.F. certificate (Image)

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VERY FINE AND CHOICE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 5-CENT INDIAN RED.

With 2002 P.F. certificate for a vertical pair (Image)

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