The Jay Hoffman Collection of United States Stamps continued...

EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1861 ISSUE.

Knowledgeable collectors recognize and appreciate the great rarity of well-centered, original gum classics. In particular, the 1861-66 Issue has been "discovered" as one of the most challenging of all. As escalating auction realizations show, collectors ignore Scott values in pursuing these elusive examples.

With 2005 P.F. certificate (Image)

VERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 24-CENT RED LILAC. SCARCE IN SUCH PRISTINE ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.

With a growing awareness by collectors that 1861 Issues (5c and up) are exceedingly scarce in well-centered, original-gum condition, we would expect this stamp to draw keen competition. Although one finds the 24c unused without gum in this grade, original-gum examples are often poorly centered or faulty. Only on rare occasions has our firm offered a 24c Red Lilac of this quality. The 1861-62 Red Lilac shade is actually one of the scarcest of the 24c color varieties to find in sound well-centered original-gum condition, despite its lower Scott catalogue value relative to the other shades.

With 2002 P.F. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1861 ISSUE, WITH WONDERFUL GUM, CENTERING, COLOR AND PERFORATIONS.

The narrowly-spaced 30c 1861 plate left very little room for the 12-gauge perforations between stamps. Consequently, examples with wide margins at sides are extremely rare -- this fact is acknowledged in the Scott Catalogue footnote to No. 71.

Ex Scarsdale. With 1986 and 2003 P.F. certificates (Image)

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

With 2002 P.F. certificate (Image)

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

This stamp is very scarce in original-gum condition. The brilliant paper and incredibly vibrant color of this stamp are found only on a few examples, probably originating from the same multiple.

With 2002 P.F. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFULLY CENTERED AND UNUSUALLY FRESH ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1863 5-CENT BROWN.

The 5c 1861-68 Issue was printed from plates with closely-spaced subjects that left little room for the large 12-gauge perforations. The Brown shade, Scott 76, is scarce in original-gum condition, and truly rare in this high grade.

With 2002 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90, SMQ $3,950.00). Only one has graded higher to date (at 95) and only three others share this grade. (Image)

VERY FINE AND CHOICE. LIKE THE OTHER HIGH DENOMINATION 1861 ISSUES, THE 24-CENT 1861-63 ISSUE IS EXTREMELY RARE IN SOUND AND WELL-CENTERED ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION. A FAR GREATER CHALLENGE TO ACQUIRE IN THIS GRADE THAN MANY COLLECTORS REALIZE.

Scott values, which are influenced by the quantity of poorly centered copies extant, are irrelevant in the current market for original-gum classics.

With 1999 P.F. certificate (Image)