The William H. Gross Collection: United States Multiples continued...

DESCRIPTION

1¢ Blue, Type Ib (5A), Positions 8-9R1E, mostly ample to full margins, bright Plate 1 Early shade and sharp impression, cancelled by at least three strikes of olive green circular datestamp (we can see "Mar 24" date and a few letters, but not enough to identify the town)

PROVENANCE

Saul Newbury, Siegel Auction Galleries, Part 4, 5/16-17/1962, Sale 251, lot 54, to Chapin

John C. Chapin (collection sold privately to Shreves and then to William H. Gross, 2002)

CERTIFICATION

The Philatelic Foundation (1962)

CONDITION NOTES

Very Fine appearance; slightly toned on back, pinhole between stamps toward top, a few specks of red wax, faint vertical crease at left

SCOTT CATALOGUE VALUE (2019)

$18,000.00 for Position 8R1E and 9R1E as singles without premium for pair or green cancellation (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

Get Market Data for [United States 5A]

DESCRIPTION

1¢ Blue, Type II-Ib (7-5A), Positions 2-3R1E, horizontal pair with Type II at left and Type Ib at right, large margins all around, grid cancels, beautiful bright Plate 1 Early shade and proof-like impression

PROVENANCE

John C. Chapin (collection sold privately to Shreves and then to William H. Gross, 2002)--this pair sold by Shreves Philatelic Galleries

"Lake Shore" collection, Siegel Auction Galleries, 12/7/2004, Sale 888, lot 9, to William H. Gross

CERTIFICATION

The Philatelic Foundation (1976)

CONDITION NOTES

Type Ib (at right) Extremely Fine; Type II (at left) Very Fine

SCOTT CATALOGUE VALUE (2019)

$12,000.00 as Type Ib-II combination pair (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

Get Market Data for [United States 5A]

DESCRIPTION

1¢ Blue, Type Ia (6), Positions 95-97L4, horizontal strip of three, full to clear margins with all of the bottom ornamentation showing (the key characteristics of Type Ia), gorgeous deep rich Plate 4 shade and proof-like impression, neatly cancelled by two pen lines, Position 97L4 at right shows the Curl on Shoulder plate variety

PROVENANCE

John C. Chapin (collection sold privately to Shreves and then to William H. Gross, 2002)

CERTIFICATION

The Philatelic Foundation (1971)

CONDITION NOTES

Very Fine

HISTORY AND COMMENTARY

The 1¢ Type Ia Comes Only from Bottom of Plate 4

The 1¢ 1851 stamp, with a bust of Franklin based on Caffieri's sculpture, was one of the workhorses of postage stamps issued during the decade it was current. To print enough 1¢ stamps to meet demand, twelve steel plates were made--one was never used (Plate 6), and the first plate was reworked to add life to it (thus, the Early and Late states).

The 1¢ Franklin stamps printed from Plate 4 were issued in April, May and briefly in June 1857, shortly before perforations were introduced into the stamp production process.

Two 1¢ types listed as major Scott Catalogue numbers were produced exclusively from Plate 4--Type Ia (6 or 19) and Type Ic (6b or 19b). Type Ia shows the complete ornamentation at bottom, including the plumes at bottom left and right. That makes it instantly recognizable among imperforate 1¢ 1851 stamps (Type Ic is nearly complete).

Plate 4 stamps were issued both imperforate and perforated, but the relatively smaller production of imperforate stamps explains the great rarity of imperforate versions of Types Ia and Ic from Plate 4. Type Ia stamps were furnished by only 18 of the 200 positions on Plate 4 (the remaining two bottom-row positions are sub-type Ic). Therefore, statistically, Type Ia positions represent 9% of all Plate 4 production, either imperforate or perforated, and only 1.8% of all imperforate stamp production from all plates.

Frank S. Levi, Jr., recorded seven used strips of three of the imperforate 1¢ in which all stamps are Type Ia (see Bakers' U.S. Classics, page 188). There is no larger multiple of Type Ia positions. (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

Get Market Data for [United States 6 var.]

DESCRIPTION

1¢ Blue, Type II (7), Positions 38-40/48-50/58-60/68-70R2, unused block of twelve (no gum) from the right pane of Plate 2 with "Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co. ANK NOTE ENGRAVERS. Phila. New York, Boston & Cincinnati" imprint and "No. 2." plate number at right, Positions 48R, 49R and 58R are significant double transfer varieties, full to large margins, rich color

PROVENANCE

As part of pane of 100: Arthur Hind, Phillips-Kennett sale, 11/20-24/1933, lot 119, to Klein

Mortimer L. Neinken (sold privately to Ishikawa)

Ryohei Ishikawa, Sotheby Parke Bernet sale, 6/24/1980, Sale 46, lot 106

As plate block of 12: Siegel Auction Galleries, 1988 Rarities of the World, 4/23/1988, Sale 692, lot 57, to Wampler

Dr. J. Paul Wampler, Shreves sale, 4/24-25/1998, lot 3, to Mr. Gross

CENSUS, LITERATURE AND EXHIBITION REFERENCES

Stanley B. Ashbrook, The United States One Cent Stamp of 1851-1857, 1938 edition, Vol. 1, page 208 and fig. 18-V, page 209

John C. Chapin, A Census of United States Classic Plate Blocks 1851-1882, census no. 4, note on page 6: "4) The cutting-up in 1980 of the only known pane of the 1 cent blue, Type II, of 1851 (Scott 7), which had been in the Hind, Neinken and Ishikawa collections"

Mortimer L. Neinken, The United States One Cent Stamp of 1851 to 1861, page 188, fig. 13-T (page 189) and detail in fig. 13-V (page 192)

CONDITION NOTES

Very Fine appearance; some faults, including creases, thins, light toning at center and small tear in sheet margin at upper right

SCOTT CATALOGUE VALUE (2019)

Plate block of eight listed at $37,500.00

HISTORY AND COMMENTARY

The Earliest Plate Number Blocks

Plate number strips and blocks have been popular with collectors for many years, but the presence of an imprint or plate number on a stamp or multiple issued prior to 1888 is unusual. The simple reason is classic issues rarely survived in sheets or multiples with intact imprints.

When Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Company made the first plates used to print the 1851 Issue stamps, they did not bother to add imprints or plate numbers until 1852. Very few plate number blocks of the 1851 Issue exist, and only two full plate blocks (of eight or twelve stamps) are recorded for the 1¢ Type II, and they both come from Plate 2. The plate block offered here is the finer of the two (the other has ink spots).

For the first 129 years of its existence, this block was part of a full pane of 100, which was owned in succession by Arthur Hind, Mortimer L. Neinken and Ryohei Ishikawa. Soon after the 1980 Ishikawa 1¢ 1851-57 sale, the pane was cut into smaller blocks, including the Position 99R2 block that was resold to Ishikawa (see lot 15 in this Gross sale) and the plate block offered here. Many philatelists then and now regard the decimation of the Plate 2 pane as a wanton act of vandalism. (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

Get Market Data for [United States 7 var.]

DESCRIPTION

1¢ Blue, Type II (7), Positions 58-60R2, horizontal strip of three from the right pane of Plate 2 with "(Toppan, Carpen)ter, Casilear & Co. ANK NOTE EN(GRAVERS. Phila. New York, Boston & Cincinnati)" portion of imprint and full "No. 2." plate number at right, mostly large to huge margins showing parts of adjoining stamps at top, lightly cancelled by neat pen strokes

PROVENANCE

Saul Newbury, Siegel Auction Galleries, Part 4, 5/16-17/1962, Sale 251, lot 202

John C. Chapin (collection sold privately to Shreves and then to William H. Gross, 2002)

CERTIFICATION

The Philatelic Foundation (1982)

CONDITION NOTES

Extremely Fine (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

Get Market Data for [United States 7]

DESCRIPTION

1¢ Blue, Type II (7), Positions 1-2L2, horizontal pair from the top left corner of left pane of Plate 2 with major plate crack appearing as a lightning bolt through right stamp, original gum, deep shade and fine impression, large to huge margins showing parts of adjoining stamps at bottom

PROVENANCE

Alfred H. Caspary, H. R. Harmer sale, 1/16-18/1956, lot 205

John C. Chapin (collection sold privately to Shreves and then to William H. Gross, 2002)

CERTIFICATION

The Philatelic Foundation (1957)

CONDITION NOTES

Extremely Fine appearance; slight vertical crease in left stamp, tiny thins in selvage (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

Get Market Data for [United States 7 var.]

DESCRIPTION

1¢ Blue, Types II and III, Position 99R2 (7, 8), Positions 78-80/88-90/ 98-100R2, unused block of nine (no gum) containing Type III, Position 99R2, others Type II, huge margins to just touched at top, including parts of adjoining stamps at left and bottom right corner sheet margins, Position 89R2 with pronounced double transfer, rich color and an early impression with Position 100R2 showing complete bottom line (thus Type II, not IIIa)

PROVENANCE

As part of pane of 100: Arthur Hind, Phillips-Kennett sale, 11/20-24/1933, lot 119, to Klein

Mortimer L. Neinken (sold privately to Ishikawa)

Ryohei Ishikawa, Sotheby Parke Bernet sale, 6/24/1980, Sale 46, lot 106

As block of 9: Ryohei Ishikawa (bought after pane was divided), Christie's Robson Lowe sale, 9/28-29/1993, lot 91, to William H. Gross

CENSUS, LITERATURE AND EXHIBITION REFERENCES

Stanley B. Ashbrook, The United States One Cent Stamp of 1851-1857, 1938 edition, Vol. 1, page 208 and fig. 18-V, page 209

Mortimer L. Neinken, The United States One Cent Stamp of 1851 to 1861, page 188, fig. 13-T (page 189) and detail in fig. 13-V (page 192)

CERTIFICATION

The Philatelic Foundation (1993)

CONDITION NOTES

Extremely Fine appearance; small internal tear in Positions 78-79 in top row, slight thins in bottom three stamps, light stains on back of sheet margin at bottom do not show through

HISTORY AND COMMENTARY

The 1¢ 1851 Imperforate Type III Position 99R2

Plate 2 was made in late 1855, and produced 198 stamps that are Type II, one position that is Type III (99R) and one that can be either Type II or Type IIIA (100R), depending on plate wear. The creation of the Type III (99R2) and the 89R2 major double transfer is a story of human error.

To lay out the plate, the siderographer used a tool to make tiny dots in the plate that served to guide him in rocking in entries from the transfer roll. Positions 79 and 89 were transferred perfectly using their guide dots. However, the guide dot to the southeast of Position 88R2, which was used to align the single B Relief for Position 99R2, was placed far out of line. The misplaced dot caused the siderographer to transfer the 99R entry far out of alignment and rock the adjoining A Relief on the transfer roll into the bottom part of Position 89 (and in the margin below this position).

The first 99R entry was erased and re-entered, but the parts of the A Relief transferred into the bottom of Position 89R remained. 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 pages 183-184 of Neinken book).

There are five recorded imperforate blocks with 99R2:

1) Block of 18, Positions 82-90/92-100R2, corner margins, original gum, creases, ex Newbury (Siegel Sale 251, lot 526), unavailable to collectors, ex Hirzel, currently in the Swiss Museum of Communications

2) Block of 9, Positions 78-80/88-90/98-100R2, corner margins, no gum, small faults, cut from the ex-Hind pane of 100, offered in this sale

3) Block of 6, Positions 79-80/89-90/99-100R2, corner margins, original gum, creased, Siegel Sale 1037, lot 1406, currently in the Eubanks collection

4) Block of 4, Positions 88-89/98-99R2, original gum, faults including tear in 99R2, Siegel Sale 788, lot 55

5) Block of 4, Positions 89-90/99-100R2, corner margins, original gum, creased, probably cut from the Duveen block of 8, ex Hind, Ward, Siegel Sale 660, lot 25

A sixth block, ex Hessel and Klein, was reduced to a pair after the 1988 Klein sale. The perforated block is unique.

For the first 129 years of its existence, this block was part of a full pane of 100, which was owned in succession by Arthur Hind, Mortimer L. Neinken and Ryohei Ishikawa. Soon after the 1980 Ishikawa 1¢ 1851-57 sale, the pane was cut into smaller blocks, including the plate block offered as lot 12 in this sale and this 99R2 block that was resold to Ishikawa. Many philatelists then and now regard the decimation of the Plate 2 pane as a wanton act of vandalism. (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

Get Market Data for [United States 7,8]

DESCRIPTION

1¢ Blue, Type IV (9), Positions 31-33/41-43/51-53L1L, unused block of nine (no gum) from the left pane of Plate 1 Late with "Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co. ANK NOTE ENGRAVERS. Phila. New York, Bosto(n & Cincinnati)" nearly complete imprint and "No. 1" plate number at left, five of the seven recut varieties are represented (lacking only once at bottom, and twice at bottom), Positions 31 and 41 are double transfer varieties, ample margins to slightly in, rich color

PROVENANCE

Saul Newbury, Siegel Auction Galleries, Part 4, 5/16-17/1962, Sale 251, lot 529

John A. Fox sale, 3/11/1964, lot 170

Siegel Auction Galleries, 6/22/1967, Sale 319, lot 82

John C. Chapin (collection sold privately to Shreves and then to William H. Gross, 2002)

CENSUS, LITERATURE AND EXHIBITION REFERENCES

John C. Chapin, A Census of United States Classic Plate Blocks 1851-1882, census no. 8

CONDITION NOTES

Fine-Very Fine appearance; faint horizontal crease at top, Position 33L thin spot, 43L tiny tear--very minor faults for a plate block of this era (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

Get Market Data for [United States 9 var.]

DESCRIPTION

1¢ Blue, Type IV (9), Positions 50/60/70/80/90R1L, unused strip of five (no gum) from the right pane of Plate 1 Late with "Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co. ANK NOTE ENGRAVERS. Phila. New York, Bost(on & Cincinnati)" nearly complete imprint and "No. 1" plate number at left, full to large margins

PROVENANCE

Frank A. Hollowbush, Part 2, John A. Fox sale, 1/4-5/1966, lot 637

Rudolph G. Wunderlich, Siegel Auction Galleries, 1/29/1976, Sale 484, lot 166

Leonard Sheriff, Siegel Auction Galleries, 12/11-12/1985, Sale 655, lot 78

John C. Chapin (collection sold privately to Shreves and then to William H. Gross, 2002)

CENSUS, LITERATURE AND EXHIBITION REFERENCES

Chapin census no. 5

CONDITION NOTES

Stamps Very Fine or similar appearance; light diagonal crease, some thins mainly in sheet margin, paper erosion in margin but not the stamps (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

Get Market Data for [United States 9]

DESCRIPTION

3¢ Orange Brown, Type II (10A), block of four, original gum, lightly hinged, rich "copperish" shade, large margins to ample for this narrowly spaced plate

PROVENANCE

Alfred H. Caspary, H. R. Harmer sale, 1/16-18/1956, lot 329, to Cole (for Lilly)

Josiah K. Lilly, Jr., Siegel Auction Galleries, 2/7-8/1968, Sale 327, lot 11, to Robinson (for Klein)

Walter C. Klein, Christie's Robson Lowe sale, 9/27/1988, lot 55

Siegel Auction Galleries, 1995 Rarities of the World, 6/5/1995, Sale 767, lot 53, to William H. Gross

CONDITION NOTES

Extremely Fine; bottom left stamp has slight crease (ending in tiny break) and small toned speck

SCOTT CATALOGUE VALUE (2019)

$20,000.00 (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

Get Market Data for [United States 10A]

DESCRIPTION

3¢ Orange Brown, Type II (10A), Positions 50/60R5E, vertical pair with 13.5mm sheet margin at right showing "(Toppan, Carpen)ter, Casilear & Co. BANK NOTE ENGRAVERS. Phila. New York, Bos(ton & Cincinnati)" portion of imprint and no plate number, which was not present on Plate 5 Early, other margins large to just barely touching frameline, original gum, rich color and excellent impression

PROVENANCE

Stanley M. Piller, Siegel Auction Galleries, 3/25/1993, Sale 748, lot 71

John C. Chapin (collection sold privately to Shreves and then to Mr. Gross, 2002)

CENSUS, LITERATURE AND EXHIBITION REFERENCES

Thomas J. Alexander, "3¢ 1851, Plate 5 Early," Chronicle 104, page 256 (illustrated)

CERTIFICATION

The Philatelic Foundation (2000)

CONDITION NOTES

Extremely Fine; small scissors cut in bottom stamp at upper left

SCOTT CATALOGUE VALUE (2019)

$7,500.00 for normal pair without imprint (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

Get Market Data for [United States 10A]