2006 Rarities of the World continued...

VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1861 ISSUE. SCARCE WITH SUCH CHOICE CENTERING.

With 1983 and 2003 P.F. certificates. (Image)

VERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE 30-CENT 1861 USAGE TO MALTA. ONLY FIVE ARE KNOWN TO THIS DESTINATION.

Franked by the sender to pay the 30c rate via French Mails, the cover was found to be overweight and so was sent at the 5c British Open Mail rate. The cover was treated as unpaid by Great Britain, who debited Malta 1sh8p for the 8p transatlantic postage, 6p rate from Great Britain to Malta, and a 6p fine for the unpaid letter.

Ex Paliafito (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. A GORGEOUS ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1861 ISSUE. A REMARKABLY FRESH STAMP.

With 1988 P.F. certificate (Image)

FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE ATHERTON SHIFT -- THE MOST PRONOUNCED DOUBLE TRANSFER OF THE BLACK JACK ISSUE. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH THE BLUE CANCEL.

With 1980 A.P.S. certificate (Image)

FRESH AND EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL LIGHTLY-HINGED PAIR OF THE 2-CENT BLACK JACK WITH SUPERB CENTERING. EXCEEDINGLY RARE IN SUCH CHOICE CONDITION.

With 1986 P.F. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. A MAGNIFICENT DIAGONALLY BISECTED USAGE OF THE 2-CENT BLACK JACK. ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE.

The combination of elements on this cover -- the full bisect showing both denominations at top, the blue cancel tying the stamp across the cut of the bisect, the advertising and its overall freshness -- makes this one of our favorite covers in this year's Rarities sale.

With 1976 P.F. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. A RARE SOUND AND CENTERED EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 3-CENT SCARLET TRIAL PRINTING WITHOUT PEN MARKS AND WITH ORIGINAL GUM. EXCEEDINGLY RARE IN SUCH CHOICE CONDITION.

The story of the 3c Scarlet was documented by the late Jerome S. Wagshal in a series of articles appearing in the Chronicle (Nos. 56, 60, 61 and 62). Wagshal quotes statements made in 1893 and 1910 by a Washington D.C. stamp dealer, Carl F. Rothfuchs, to the effect that Rothfuchs obtained a supply of the 3c Scarlet in 1893 -- probably from the Post Office Department in exchange for his assistance with the Columbian Exposition -- and sold them with pen marks and original gum. The Rothfuchs lot is not from the same supply acquired by John W. Scott in the late 1870's, from which stamps exist uncancelled and cancelled with a New York City Station D oval.

With 1953 and 2002 P.F. certificates. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. A REMARKABLY FRESH AND ATTRACTIVE EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT SCARLET TRIAL PRINTING.

As has been documented by Jerome S. Wagshal in a series of Chronicle articles (Nos. 56, 60, 61 and 62), Carl F. Rothfuchs, a Washington D.C. stamp dealer, obtained a supply of the 3c Scarlet in 1893 -- probably from the Post Office Department in exchange for his assistance with the Columbian Exposition -- and sold them with pen marks and original gum.

With 1990 P.F. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1862 ISSUE IN THE RED BROWN SHADE. A STAMP OF PHENOMENAL COLOR AND BEAUTY.

This is one of the most difficult stamps of the series to obtain in such choice, sound, original-gum condition.

With copy of 1979 P.F. certificate and with 2001 P.F. certificate. (Image)