The Scarsdale Collection, Part Two continued...

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF 95 BY P.S.E. -- THE ONLY EXAMPLE TO ACHIEVE THIS HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE.

With 1999 P.F. certificate. With 2004 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95, SMQ $2,850.00) (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING LIGHTLY-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE. THIS STAMP, AWARDED THE LOFTY GRADE OF 95 JUMBO BY P.S.E., IS THE ONLY EXAMPLE TO RECEIVE THIS GRADE. A TRUE CONDITION RARITY.

With 1996 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo, SMQ $2,850.00 as 95, $4,600.00 as 98) (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE. A STUNNING STAMP IN TERMS OF GUM, COLOR, PAPER, PERFORATIONS AND CENTERING.

With 1998 P.F. certificate. With 2004 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90, SMQ $1,650.00). Scott Retail as hinged (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE. A STAMP OF GREAT VISUAL APPEAL.

With 1999 P.F. certificate. With 2004 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85, SMQ $4,450.00) (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE. SCARCE IN SUCH PRISTINE CONDITION. THIS STAMP IS GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E., WHICH IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO THIS ISSUE THUS FAR.

Ex Dr. Morris and Billington. With 1990 and 2000 P.F. certificates. With 2004 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95, SMQ $7,550.00) (Image)

VERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE. A STAMP OF MARVELOUS VISUAL APPEAL.

With 1999 P.F. certificate. With 2004 P.S.E. certificate (VF 80, SMQ $2,650.00) (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT TYPE I 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.

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.

With 1980 and 1999 P.F. certificates. With 2004 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85, SMQ $12,300.00) (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT TYPE II 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE WITH WONDERFUL COLOR, CENTERING AND OVERALL FRESHNESS. THIS IS THE ONLY EXAMPLE OF THIS ISSUE TO OBTAIN THE GRADE OF 90 FROM P.S.E., WHICH IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE.

Even though the supply of Type II stamps is more plentiful than its Type I counterpart, we have found that is at least as difficult (if not more so) to find in such superb condition. This superb stamp has the brilliance of its re-issue counterpart, Scott 129, which is rarely encountered in stamps from the 1869 Type II printing.

With 1999 P.F. certificate. With 2004 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90, SMQ $8,050.00)

VERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.

With 1996 P.F. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.

With 1999 P.F. certificate. With 2004 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85, SMQ $11,400.00) (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM WITH THE EXALTED P.S.E. GRADE OF XF-SUPERB 95. THIS IS EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE IN EXISTENCE. A MAGNIFICENT STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT.

The 90c 1869 Pictorial is widely admired for its beautiful engraving and dignified portrait of Abraham Lincoln. However, collectors have been frustrated in their efforts to acquire choice examples of this issue. Used 90c stamps are typically heavily cancelled, because the high denomination was cause for postal clerks to thoroughly obliterate any chance for re-use. Naturally, the significant monetary value of 90c in 1869 limited the number of unused stamps that would be saved for future collectors. Therefore, the collector ideals of "well-centered with original gum" and "lightly cancelled" are seldom obtainable in the available supply of 90c 1869's. The stamp offered here, with lightly hinged original gum and choice centering, probably ranks among the top 1% of surviving 90c 1869's in unused state.

With 1997 P.F. certificate. With 2004 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95, SMQ $44,000.00) (Image)