The Grant Inman Collection, Part 7: Private Die Medicine Stamps continued...

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT ORANGE DIE CUT JAMES SWAIM ISSUE WITH MANUSCRIPT SIGNATURE. ONLY NINE ARE RECORDED, AND ALMOST ALL HAVE FAULTS.

The Aldrich book records only nine examples of the 6c on old paper. It is not known on any other paper. It is believed the price for Swaim's Panacea was raised to $2 per bottle in early 1864, requiring the use of 8c stamps. The book notes that three are sound, but we have been unable to locate these in our extensive records.

Ex Turner and Himpsl. (Image)

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THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT ORANGE JAMES SWAIM ISSUE WITHOUT SIGNATURE. ONE OF THE KEYS TO A COMPLETE COLLECTION OF THE SWAIM ISSUES, AND OFFERED TO THE MARKET FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE 1991 JOYCE SALE.

The Swaim stamps were printed by Butler & Carpenter in James Swaim's home town of Philadelphia. The stamps were printed in sheets of 16 (2 x 8). They are very unusual, in that the stamps were run through the press a second time to apply the facsimile signature (no inverted signatures are known until William Swain took over -- see lot 2176 in this sale).

Two orders were placed for the 6c stamps; the first, in April 1863, was for 9,185. The second order, in November of the same year, was for 8,768 stamps. It is believed the price for Swaim's Panacea was raised to $2 per bottle in early 1864, making the 6c stamps obsolete and requiring the use of 8c stamps.

Apparently some of the 6c and 8c stamps did not go thru the press the second time for the facsimile signature. The 8c is known with manuscript signature -- these are extremely rare -- in both imperforate and die cut format. The 8c stamp without signature on old paper is listed in Scott under William Swain, Scott 234ak, and is also unique. It is offered in this sale as lot 2171. This 6c is the sole example of the James Swaim issue without signature.

Ex Joyce and offered to the market for the first time since 1991. With 1991 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail of $5,000.00 is hopelessly outdated. (Image)

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VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A SCARCE EXAMPLE OF THE 8-CENT JAMES SWAIM IMPERFORATE ISSUE ON OLD PAPER. ONLY 14 ARE RECORDED.

A small supply was issued in imperforate form. The Aldrich book records 14 copies and notes half are sound, but we have been unable to locate any without at least a crease. (Image)

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VERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 8-CENT JAMES SWAIM DIE CUT ISSUE WITH MANUSCRIPT SIGNATURE. PERHAPS NINE ARE RECORDED.

Of the nine examples recorded in the Aldrich book, not a single one is sound, with creases and tears the norm. A seriously defective example offered as RS233ah in a 2012 Harmer Schau sale subsequently received a certificate as Scott RS233e on experimental silk paper, so the number known may be reduced by one. (Image)

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FINE CENTERING. AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 8-CENT JAMES SWAIM ISSUE ON EXPERIMENTAL SILK PAPER. THIS IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL SWAIM ISSUES.

The Aldrich book lists only one example, which is ex Joyce. The Joyce copy was described in that 1991 catalogue as "a rare new discovery", and had the corners clipped at right. The online records of the P.F. contain two others, including one that appears to be partly hand trimmed, bringing the total count of this rarity known to us up to four copies. The example offered here has the nicest margins of any of the four, all of which have faults.

With 2009 P.F. certificate. Scott Catalogue is woefully underpriced for a rarity such as this. (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. THE IMPERFORATE 8-CENT WILLIAM SWAIM ISSUE ON OLD PAPER IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL SWAIM ISSUES -- PERHAPS TWO ARE KNOWN -- THIS VIRTUALLY SOUND CORNER SHEET-MARGIN EXAMPLE IS SPECTACULAR .

The Aldrich book notes that two are known, and when this was sold in Joyce it was described as "believed to be the only known example on old paper". The April 1959 Siegel auction of the Gordon S. Dills Collection contained one, but we are unsure of its whereabouts, and it no doubt needs to be examined again for authenticity.

Ex Joyce and offered to the market for the first time since 1991. Scott Retail of $9,000.00 is hopelessly outdated. We have placed what we think is a conservative estimate on this great rarity. (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE AND THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE 8-CENT SWAIM STAMP ON OLD PAPER WITHOUT SIGNATURE. ONE OF THE GREATEST REVENUE RARITIES, AND ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE INMAN MEDICINE COLLECTION.

The 8c Swaim stamp on old paper without signature is listed in Scott Catalogue under the William Swaim section. It is not known when or how the plates and use of the stamps were transferred from James to William. The 6c without signature is listed in Scott (offered as lot 2166 in this sale), which can definitely be attributed to James, since that denomination was never used by William.

The Swaim stamps were printed in sheets of 16 (2 x 8). They are very unusual, in that the stamps were run through the press a second time to apply the facsimile signature (no inverted signatures are known until William Swain took over -- see lot 2176 in this sale). A single 8c on silk paper without signature is also known (offered as lot 2173 in this sale), which must come from the William Swaim period, since silk paper was never used to print the James Swaim stamps.

Ex Colonel Green and Joyce. Offered to the market for the first time since 1991. Scott Catalogue value of $10,000.00 is low. We have placed what we think is a conservative estimate on this great rarity. (Image)

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VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 8-CENT WILLIAM SWAIM ISSUE ON SILK PAPER. ONLY NINE ARE RECORDED.

The Aldrich book notes only nine examples of this issue on silk paper, including a rejoined pair from the Joyce sale. Most have faults. The example offered here, with a light vertical crease, may be considered one of the most desirable.

Ex Joyce and Himpsl. (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE 8-CENT SWAIM ISSUE ON SILK PAPER WITHOUT SIGNATURE. ONE OF THE GREAT RARITIES OF THE ISSUE.

One example without signature on old paper and one on silk paper is known for the 8c Swaim stamp. It is not known when or how the plates and use of the stamps were transferred from James to William. The silk paper was never used by James Swaim, so this can positively be attributed to the William Swaim time period. Old paper was used by both James and William, so there is no way to determine whether the sole example on old paper without signature was issued during the James or William time period. The unique 6c without signature can be attributed to James, since this denomination was never used by William.

Ex Van Derlip, Colonel Green and Joyce. Offered to the market for the first time since 1991. Scott Catalogue value of $10,000.00 seems very low to us, we have placed what we think is a conservative estimate on this great rarity. (Image)

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VERY FINE AND CHOICE APPEARANCE. THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF THE DIE CUT 8-CENT WILLIAM SWAIM ISSUE ON OLD PAPER IN EXISTENCE.

The Aldrich book records only 17 examples, and notes only two are sound. We would like to see those, as every example we have encountered has faults, including several that are repaired.

Ex Bulkley. With 2012 P.F. certificate (Image)

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