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

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS WIDELY REGARDED AS THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 10-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE. SIMPLY PHENOMENAL IN EVERY RESPECT -- FRESHNESS OF COLOR, PAPER, CENTERING, GUM AND OVERALL APPEARANCE.

Ex Walske ("Lafayette" Collection). With 1989 and 2003 P.F. certificates (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1869 ISSUE, WHICH IS ONE OF THE MORE DIFFICULT TO FIND IN THIS CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.

With 1995 P.F. certificate (Image)

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VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT TYPE I 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE. THIS IS VERY RARE IN SUCH CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.

The 15c Type I comes from the first 1869 printing; in May 1869 the 15c went to press using the second frame plate, which produced Type II. In a condition census, both Type I and II would show similar numbers known in the top tier of original-gum condition -- probably 8 to 10 of each. However, Type I is generally a rarer stamp and carries a much higher Scott Catalogue value. Very few of this quality have been offered in years.

With 1980 and 1999 P.F. certificates (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. ONE OF THE FEW 15-CENT TYPE II 1869 PICTORIAL STAMPS IN EXISTENCE WITH ORIGINAL GUM, SUPERB CENTERING AND FRESHNESS.

Even though the supply of Type II stamps (Scott 119) is more plentiful than its Type I counterpart (Scott 118), we have found that is at least as difficult, if not more so, to find in such superb condition. This Type II is both centered and lightly hinged, and the vignette is nicely aligned to the frame, something that perfectionists will appreciate.

With 1999 P.F. certificate. (Image)

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FINE-VERY FINE. A BLOCK OF 20 IS THE LARGEST RECORDED MULTIPLE OF THE 15-CENT TYPE II 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE. A WONDERFUL SHOWPIECE.

There are no more than five known unused blocks of 20, as follows:

1) Block of 20 with selvage at left, from our 2002 Rarities sale, the block offered here

2) Bottom right corner selvage with imprint and plate no., ex previous Rarities sales (including 1977), Walske and Heimburger

3) Block of 20 with bottom right selvage and imprint and plate no. 23, centered strongly to bottom and right, originally a block of 33 and reduced in size to a block of 20 sometime after our 1966 Stern sale (Siegel Sale 309, lot 144)

4) Block of 20 with right sheet selvage, ex Worthington and Caspary

5) Block of 20, centered to bottom right, offered in our 1999 Rarities sale

With 2002 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as four blocks of four and two pairs (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A FRESH AND BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.

The 24c 1869 Pictorial, even in original-gum condition, is not a rare stamp. However, centering and soundness are elusive qualities among examples of this issue. This stamp has color, centering and margins that appear more like its re-issue counterpart.

The 24c vignette was engraved by James Smillie from John Trumbull’s oil painting Declaration of Independence. There are two versions of this painting; one hangs in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, and the other at Yale University. Contrary to the popular belief that this painting depicts the signing ceremony, Trumbull actually painted a romanticized image of the presentation of the Declaration draft. There are 47 individuals portrayed in the painting, and the tiny engraving captures virtually all of them in minute detail. A similar engraving appears on the back of the 1863 First Charter $100 note, and the vignette is also found on 10c 1869 essays.

With 1997 P.F. certificate (Image)

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A FINE AND EXTREMELY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE. THIS IS THE SECOND LARGEST OF THE FIVE RECORDED UNUSED MULTIPLES.

Our records of multiples of the 24c 1869 Pictorial include a block of nine, this block of six and three blocks of four. This block and the block of nine -- the largest known multiple -- are identically centered and both have the trimmed margin at right. They probably originate from the same sheet and location.

With 1999 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as a block and pair (Image)

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FINE. ONE OF ONLY FIVE RECORDED UNUSED BLOCKS OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL, AND THE ONLY EXAMPLE WITH SHEET SELVAGE. A REMARKABLE SHOWPIECE.

Our records of 24c 1869 unused multiples include a block of nine (off-center), a block of six (offered in the previous lot) and three blocks of four. Two of the blocks of four have perfs that do not touch the design, and at least one of them has faults. The ex Moody and Burrus block needs to be reexamined. It is doubtful that any other blocks exist.

With 2002 P.F. certificate (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE. THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL IS A RARITY IN WELL-CENTERED ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION. THIS SUPERB STAMP IS ONE OF THE FINEST KNOWN.

The rarity of centered original-gum examples of the 30c 1869 with grill is somewhat obscured by the availability of off-center copies of the 30c with and without grill. If the scope were narrowed to Scott 121 only, and only grades of Very Fine or Extremely Fine were considered, we estimate that fewer than 15 examples would be counted. This stamp possesses remarkable richness of color and clarity of impression.

The 30c 1869 Pictorial was originally intended to depict the surrender of General Burgoyne. For whatever the reason, this design was discarded and James MacDonough is credited with its replacement -- the Eagle-and-Shield with Flags-and-Stars design. This was the first time the American flag appeared on a stamp, and the choice of patriotic red and blue colors on white paper was deliberate.

With 1970 P.F. certificate (Image)

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