United States Stamps continued...

FINE. A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF POSITION 6R1E, ONE OF THE TWO POSITIONS THAT FURNISHED THE BEST TYPE IB EXAMPLES, SHOWING THE COMPLETE DESIGN AT TOP AND NEARLY COMPLETE DESIGN AT BOTTOM.

Type Ib was produced only as an imperforate stamp. Six positions on Plate 1 Early furnished stamps qualifying as Type Ib--Positions 3-6R and 8-9R--distinguished by the complete design at top and nearly complete design at bottom. When first entered on the plate, these six positions (as well as 7R1E) had the complete design at top and bottom. However, unlike 7R, small portions of the bottoms were burnished away. Positions 6R and 8R had less of the bottom erased than the other Type Ib positions, and for this reason they are more desirable examples of the type.

With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Image)

VERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF POSITION 6R1E, ONE OF THE TWO POSITIONS THAT FURNISHED THE BEST TYPE IB EXAMPLES, SHOWING THE COMPLETE DESIGN AT TOP AND NEARLY COMPLETE DESIGN AT BOTTOM.

With Ashbrook note and 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Image)

VERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 1851 ONE-CENT TYPE IA IMPERFORATE.

The extremely rare Type Ia, showing the full design at bottom, was furnished only by 18 of the 200 subjects on Plate 4 (the remaining two bottom-row positions were sub-type Ic).

With 2007 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail with non-pen cancel $12,500.00. Considering the fact that a light pen cancel leaves the design characteristics unmasked, the reduced Scott value for a pen-cancelled No. 6 seems unjustified. (Image)

VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE TYPE II ONE-CENT 1851 IMPERFORATE FROM PLATE 3.

According to Ashbrook and Neinken, Plate 3 is believed to have been made in March or April 1856, possibly to replace the defective Plate 2 and/or to meet the increased demand for stamps concurrent with the April 1855 change in postal regulations requiring prepayment of postage. For an unknown reason -- possibly a severe defect that arose in the plate -- very few stamps were printed from the new Plate 3 before it was retired, and surviving examples are rare.

With 1992 P.F. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED USED EXAMPLE OF THE IMPERFORATE 1851 ONE-CENT TYPE II FROM PLATE ONE EARLY. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH THE FACE-FREE BLUE CANCEL.

With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98, SMQ $2,400.00). Eight Scott No. 7's (1c Type II imperforate) have achieved the P.S.E. grade of Superb 98 or better, but the P.S.E. Population Report does not break down the 1c 1851's by plate. We are quite sure that the more desirable and scarcer Plate 1E stamps are much rarer in high grades than their Type II counterparts from other plates. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. A SPECTACULAR 1851 ONE-CENT TYPE II SINGLE, WITH GIGANTIC MARGINS, A LEFT SHEET MARGIN AND AN UNUSUAL FORM OF CANCELLATION.

With 2007 P.F. certificate (Superb 98, SMQ $2,400.00 with handstamp cancel) (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STRIKING EXAMPLE OF THE 1851 ONE-CENT TYPE II IMPERFORATE.

With 2007 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95, SMQ $1,100.00 with handstamp cancel), given its huge margins we are surprised this only graded 95 -- it deserves at least the "J" Jumbo appellation. (Image)