2006 Rarities of the World continued...

EXTREMELY FINE. A RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT DARK BROWN 1863 ISSUE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE STAMP IN MINT NEVER-HINGED CONDITION -- THIS IS PROBABLY THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE.

This is an extremely rare stamp in Mint N.H. condition. A shortage of multiples, particularly with decent centering, contributes to this scarcity. The only other Mint N.H. examples we have offered in over fifteen years are two center stamps in a block of six, but the perfs touch on two sides.

With 1980 P.F. certificate. With 2006 P.S.E. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1863 5-CENT BROWN SHADE.

With 2000 P.F. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. EXCEPT FOR THE RARE SHADES, THE 1866 15-CENT LINCOLN COULD WELL BE THE RAREST OF THE 1861-66 SERIES IN CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.

In our catalogue descriptions, we have emphasized the rarity of 1861-66 stamps in choice original-gum condition. With the exception of the rare 5c and 24c shades, our experience shows that the 15c Black is the most difficult stamp to obtain in sound, choice original-gum condition. It is most often found without gum or disturbed gum, or the fully-gummed examples are off center. The block of six (straight edge at left), ex Caspary, Lilly and Ishikawa, is well-centered with original gum, but our search of numerous other major auction sales produced few other examples. Therefore, this stamp could be the rarest face-different design of the 1861-66 series in choice original-gum condition.

With 1990 P.F. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. WITH A FEW EXCEPTIONS FOR RARE SHADES, THE 1866 15-CENT LINCOLN COULD WELL BE THE RAREST OF THE 1861-66 SERIES IN CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.

In our catalogue descriptions, we have emphasized the rarity of 1861-66 stamps in choice original-gum condition. With the exception of the rare 5c and 24c shades, our experience shows that the 15c Black is the most difficult stamp to obtain in sound, choice original-gum condition. It is most often found without gum or disturbed gum, or the fully-gummed examples are off center. The block of six (straight edge at left), ex Caspary, Lilly and Ishikawa, is well-centered with original gum, but our search of numerous other major auction sales produced few other examples apart from the block. Therefore, this stamp could be the rarest face-different design of the 1861-66 series in choice original-gum condition.

With 1979, 1997 and 2004 P.F. certificates. (Image)