The David Wingate Collection of United States Stamps continued...

FINE-VERY FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE AND EXTREMELY RARE BLOCK OF THE 24-CENT 1861 ISSUE IN THE BROWN LILAC SHADE.

After spending hours searching on-line records and our extensive auction catalogue library, we were only able to confirm the existence of two or possibly three unused blocks of Scott 70 Red Lilac and Scott 70a Brown Lilac, including this block. One of the other two is a block of six (ex "European Connoisseur", Siegel Sale 1115, lot 2218).

We would have lost a bet if asked about the rarity of unused blocks of Scott 70 or 70a before trying to answer the question of how many exist. The collections that are famous for blocks -- Caspary, Lilly, Ishikawa and Klein -- did not have any Red Lilac or Brown Lilac unused blocks. Crocker had one described as an "intermediate shade" which was offered years later as a 24c Lilac, Scott 78. Hind had a "badly centered" original-gum block of six of a shade called Lilac, which was almost certainly Scott 78. Worthington had a block of six described as "Red Lilac (70), darker shade...o.g., very fine," but the darker shade was almost certainly the later Scott 78 color. Sinkler had a block described as "Red Lilac, block, o.g., fine," which is off center and very pale in the catalogue photo, so it is impossible to say if it is truly the Red Lilac, Scott 70 (it probably is not). Colson, in his booklet on the Duckwall collection, describes a well-centered, original-gum block of the Red Lilac, but that was in 1929, and we simply cannot verify his identification, let alone if the block still survives intact. In fact, the absence of blocks in the more modern collections (Lilly, Klein, Ishikawa) is a strong indicator of rarity -- if more blocks existed, these collectors would have had one.

Why did we start with the mistaken impression that this block was one of several? Because the large number of 24c Lilac and Gray Lilac (Scott 78) unused multiples tricks the memory. The rarity of the earlier printings in Red Lilac and Brownish Lilac (on thinner paper) should not be confused with the later printings in the common shade on thicker paper.

With 2001 P.F. certificate (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 24-CENT STEEL BLUE. THE STEEL BLUE IS ONE OF THE MOST DISTINCTIVE AND COLLECTIBLE OF THE 24-CENT SHADES, AND THIS IS SURELY ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE.

The Steel Blue is the most distinctive of all the shades. Unlike some of the others, it is rarely mistaken or misidentified, and as such has always been a favorite of collectors. Examples with original gum are rare, and those with Very Fine or Extremely Fine centering are of tremendous rarity, probably numbering no more than a dozen, and some have faults.

With 2001 P.S.E. and 2002 P.F. certificates, the former as Mint N.H. (Image)

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FINE AND RARE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 24-CENT VIOLET ON THIN PAPER.

The 24c 1861 exists in four basic shades of Violet: Dark Violet (August 1861 trial printing, formerly Scott 60); Violet on Thin Paper (August-September 1861 regular issue, Scott 70c -- the shade offered here); Pale Gray Violet (1861 regular issue, Scott 70d) and Blackish Violet (ca. 1863 printing, Scott 78c). All four are rare, especially in unused condition.

With 1992 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail for original gum is $35,000.00. Scott Retail as no gum (Image)

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FINE-VERY FINE BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 30-CENT 1861 ISSUE, WHICH IS THE LARGEST RECORDED MULTIPLE FOR THIS ISSUE.

As this block demonstrates, the 30c 1861 plate left very little space between the stamp subjects. Consequently, perforations usually cut into part of the design. This fact is acknowledged in both the Scott Catalogue and Stamp Market Quarterly, and the 30c 1861-68 Issue is one of the few for which which centering standards are adjusted accordingly. Virtually every well-centered original-gum block of the 30c 1861 has been broken into singles -- this is a rare survivor with much better centering than usual.

Ex "Sevenoaks". With 2001 P.F. certificate (Image)

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FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE MULTIPLE OF THE 2-CENT UNGRILLED BLACK JACK SHOWING THE COMPLETE IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER.

Fourteen full plate blocks of eight are recorded in the Chapin census, but very few have been offered on the market -- Power Search contains only two offered in our auctions since 1994 and all of our Rarities sales. Plate 29 is especially rare, as only three full plate blocks are recorded in the Chapin census, including one listed as stolen.

Ex "Sevenoaks". With 2001 P.F. certificate (Image)

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FRESH AND FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT SCARLET TRIAL PRINTING.

Many examples of this stamp have either somewhat faded color, poor centering, faults or a combination of those problems. This is a particularly fresh example.

With 1996 P.F. certificate (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE. MAGNIFICENT QUALITY FOR THE 5-CENT BROWN 1863 ISSUE, WHICH RARELY COMES WELL-CENTERED WITH FULL ORIGINAL GUM.

The 5c Brown stamp in the 1861-66 series is one of those that challenges collectors who demand choice original-gum examples. The vast majority of 5c Brown stamps are off-center, faulty or without gum. By virtue of its pristine lightly hinged original-gum and choice centering, the example offered here is truly rare.

With 2000 P.F. certificate (Image)

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FRESH AND FINE. A SCARCE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF THE 5-CENT BROWN WITH THE CENTER STAMPS IN MINT NEVER-HINGED CONDITION.

A Power Search review shows that most other surviving blocks have similar centering, and many have faults.

With 2001 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as a hinged block of four and a pair (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE. THE 24-CENT 1861-66 IS EXTREMELY RARE IN SOUND, WELL-CENTERED ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION. THE SHADE AND IMPRESSION OF THIS STAMP ARE VERY RARELY ENCOUNTERED.

This stamp is the intense Dark Lilac shade. Every background line and detail of the lathework is printed with perfect clarity. The paper of is whiter, slightly thicker and more opaque -- it is similar to the paper on which the Blackish Violet (Scott 78c) is found -- and we suspect that the printings in this Dark Lilac shade and Blackish Violet shade occurred in close proximity, probably on similar paper stock.

The Scott value is based on a typical 24c stamp and does not begin to reflect the rarity of this stamp, in terms of its condition and depth of color.

With 1997 P.F. certificate (Image)

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FINE-VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE BLOCK OF THE 1862 24-CENT LILAC SHADE. THIS IS A DIFFICULT BLOCK TO FIND IN SUCH CHOICE CONDITION.

Original-gum blocks of the 24c 1861 are very scarce in choice condition. We have offered only three others since 2001, including two with perfs into the design and one with a pulled perf and diagonal crease. None was offered in our Whitman or Zoellner sales, probably because a block of suitable quality could not be found. This block is one of the nicest we have encountered.

With 2001 P.F. certificate (Image)

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