2017 Rarities of the World continued...

EXTREMELY FINE. A HANDSOME USED EXAMPLE OF THE FIRST DESIGN 10-CENT 1861 ISSUE. AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT STAMP TO FIND IN THIS PRISTINE CONDITION.

The 10c is the only denomination of the 1861-66 Issue that was actually issued in two types. Type I, Scott 62B, was printed from Plate 4. Type II stamps -- Scott 68 and its grilled counterparts -- were printed from Plates 15 and 26. It has been surmised that Type I was pressed into service to help fill strong demand for 10c stamps after demonetization of the earlier issue. The 10c stamps paid the transcontinental rate, the ship-letter rate and certain rates to foreign countries. The Plate 4 Type I stamps left very little space between the stamps for the 12-gauge perforation holes. Examples of Scott 62B are rarely seen with margins framing the design on all sides.

With 2000 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $4,500.00). Only two have graded higher and two have equaled this grade. (Image)

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VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE WILLIAM NEWTON & CO. GROCER DEALER 5-CENT FRACTIONAL CURRENCY NOTE WITH 1861 ISSUE STAMPS.

Due to a shortage of coins during the Civil War, some private firms used stamps to make change and in the process to help advertise their business. Best known among these uses are the various issues of encased postage. This note from William Newton & Co. is highly collectible as a United States stamp rarity and as a precursor to U.S. issued fractional currency (which followed in August 1862).

There are two types of the William Newton & Co. note. The first issue, offered here, is dated July 4 and lacks the imprint at the bottom. The second issue, dated July 24, states "Unless kept clean these Stamps will be useless for circulation and Post Office purposes" (see Siegel Sale 955, lot 4130 for an example of the second issue). Due to the fragile nature of the paper most of these were likely destroyed. The few known examples of both issues have creases and some are defective.

With 2005 P.F. certificate (Image)

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FINE. AN EXCEDINGLY RARE SOUND, ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1861-66 ISSUE IN THE BROWN YELLOW SHADE.

The 5c Buff and its shade varieties (Brown Yellow and Olive Yellow) are recognized as being among the rarest of 1861-66 Issue stamps in sound original-gum condition. Perhaps the only shade varieties rarer than the 5c Brown Yellow are the 3c Pigeon Blood Pink and 24c Blackish Violet (Scott 64a and 78c). A review of Power Search found only about a dozen other unduplicated sound, original-gum examples of the 5c Buff or Brown Yellow.

Ex "Laila". With 1972 A.P.S. and 2000 P.S.E. certificates (Image)

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VERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1861 ISSUE.

With 1994 and 2004 P.F. certificates (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1861 RED LILAC.

The 1861 Issues (5c and up) are exceedingly scarce in well-centered, original-gum condition. Although one finds the 24c unused without gum in this grade, original-gum examples are often poorly centered or faulty.

With 2000 P.S.E. (as 70a Brown Lilac) and 2010 P.F. certificates (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1861 ISSUE HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED AND IT IS SHARED BY NO OTHERS.

We have encountered perhaps a half-dozen sound 90c 1861 stamps with original gum and Very Fine or Extremely Fine centering. The multiples that were broken to furnish singles were generally off center.

With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (OGh, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $15,000.00). Since this stamp was graded in 2009, it has stood alone as the only original-gum copy to achieve a 95 grade (Image)

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VERY FINE. A MAGNIFICENT STAMP IN TERMS OF COLOR, CENTERING AND IMPRESSION. THE 3-CENT SCARLET IS EXCEEDINGLY DIFFICULT TO FIND IN SUCH PRISTINE CONDITION.

Many examples of this stamp have either somewhat faded color or poor centering. Despite the absence of gum, we would rank this stamp among the finest examples we have seen. (Image)

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VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A SCARCE SOUND AND CENTERED ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1862 ISSUE IN THE RED BROWN SHADE.

A Power Search review shows that we have offered very few sound and centered original-gum examples of this issue.

With 1985 and 2003 P.F. certificates. (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE. WITH A FEW EXCEPTIONS FOR RARE SHADES, THE 1866 15-CENT LINCOLN COULD WELL BE THE RAREST OF THE 1861-66 SERIES IN CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.

Throughout years of Siegel sales, we have emphasized the rarity of 1861-66 stamps in choice original-gum condition. With the exception of the rare 5c and 24c shades, our experience shows that the 15c Black is the most difficult stamp to obtain in sound, choice original-gum condition. It is most often found without gum or disturbed gum, or the fully-gummed examples are off center. The block of six (straight edge at left), ex Caspary, Lilly and Ishikawa, is well-centered with original gum, but our search of numerous other major auction sales produced few other examples apart from the block. Therefore, this stamp could be the rarest face-different design of the 1861-66 series in choice original-gum condition.

With 1979, 1997 and 2004 P.F. certificates. (Image)

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