Spink Shreves Galleries Sale

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United States Stamps continued...

1875 REPRINTS OF THE 1857 ISSUE continued...

Lot

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

CV or Estimate

1021

#42, 5c Orange brown reprint, without gum as issued, unusually well centered for this value, deep luxuriant color and impression, single nibbed perforation at each side, still very fine; only 878 sold; 1982 PF certificate; ex-Hewitt. (Image)

$1,400.00

SOLD for $525.00
Will close during Public Auction

1022

#43, 10c Blue green reprint, without gum as issued, a magnificent example of this reprint rarity, being in a quality that very few of the 516 sold can compare, possessing extraordinary centering within lavishly large margins which are most uncharacteristic, plus it has a prooflike color and impression on white paper, extremely fine; 1976 and 1999 PF certificates. (Image)

$3,000.00

SOLD for $1,900.00
Will close during Public Auction

1023

#45, 24c Blackish violet reprint, without gum as issued, unusually well centered for this value within well balanced margins, especially deep rich color and a strong prooflike impression on bright paper, extremely fine; a wonderfully select example of this rare stamp, certainly among the finest available of the 479 that were sold; 1965 and 2002 PF certificates. (Image)

$3,250.00

SOLD for $3,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

1024

#46, 30c Yellow orange reprint, without gum as issued, a highly select example of this rare and difficult reprint, possessing about as perfect centering as is possible on this typically tightly margined stamp, intense color that is both vibrant and rich, plus its impression is much stronger than usual, extremely fine; a terribly difficult stamp to find this choice; only 480 were sold of this value; 1999 APS and 2007 PF certificates. (Image)

$3,250.00

SOLD for $2,700.00
Will close during Public Auction

1025

#47, 90c Deep blue reprint, without gum as issued, considerably better centered and margined than most existing examples, deep luxuriant color and impression on bright paper, very fine and exceedingly choice; only 454 were sold; 2009 PF certificate; ex-Golin. (Image)

$4,750.00

SOLD for $3,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

1861 "AUGUST" ISSUES

Lot

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

CV or Estimate

1026

#57, 5c Brown "August", a magnificent quality example, possessing essentially perfect centering, strikingly intense "August" color and a razor-sharp impression on bright paper, fully intact perforations, part o.g., extremely fine."August" issues, and most particularly the Five Cent value, are notoriously difficult and challenging stamps to find in premium condition. To begin with, the number of known examples limits one's choices as, to date, there are only 35 copies of this value recorded, three of which are in the New York Public Library Collection (two cancelled and one sound original gum copy) leaving only 32 available to collectors. Of this total only half still retain any portion of their original gum. Then of this small population almost every existing example has faults to some degree, several of which are quite severe (tears, creases, etc.). The number of examples that are completely sound can be counted on one hand. The stamp offered here, one of the highlights of the Minervino collection, is among this rare group of sound copies. However, it is not just sound, it is also incredibly well centered, its perforations are completely intact (an extremely rare trait, as the brittle frail nature of the "August" issue paper causes short or missing perforations on most known copies), and it still retains a portion of its original gum. There is little doubt this stamp is the finest existing Five Cent "August" issue. An exciting opportunity to acquire one of the rarest stamps in United States philately in the finest condition available. Accompanied by 1971, 1993 and 2001 PF certificates; ex-Floyd. (Image)

$25,000.00

SOLD for $37,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

1027

#60, 24c Dark violet "August", an extraordinary quality example of this very rare stamp, easily among the finest in existence, as this remarkable stamp features near perfect centering within large margins, rich distinctive color and a crisp detailed impression on bright paper, full o.g., extremely fine; a stamp that is seldom offered in any condition, let alone in this gem quality; 1988 PF certificate; ex-"Concord", Lyons. (Image)

$12,500.00

SOLD for $12,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

1861-1866 ISSUES

Lot

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

CV or Estimate

1028

#63, 1c Blue, a delightful mint example that is as fresh as the day it was purchased at the post office, exceptionally well centered, the color is a vibrant blue shade and the impression is of a prooflike nature, o.g. that has never been hinged, very fine and exceptionally choice; 1996 PSE certificate for the block of four, this being the bottom left stamp. (Image)

for hinged $350.00

SOLD for $850.00
Will close during Public Auction

1029

#65, 3c Rose, a pristine mint example in outstanding quality, being incredibly well centered within large margins, bright rich color and impression, unblemished full o.g. without a single gum bend or skip, never hinged, extremely fine; a "post office" fresh gem; 1998 PF and 2009 PSE certificates (the latter graded XF-Superb 95; SMQ $2,150.00). (Image)

$140.00

SOLD for $1,450.00
Will close during Public Auction

1030

67a

#67a, 5c Brown yellow, a lovely unused example of this very rare stamp, being one of the few certified premium quality Five Cent Brown Yellow stamps in existence, possessing exceptional centering for this notoriously poorly centered stamp, gloriously rich and vibrant Brown yellow color, strong impression on bright fresh paper, extremely fine; an important condition rarity, as this is one of the rarest classic stamps in unused condition, let alone in this exceptional quality; 2002 PF and PSE certificates, as well as a 2008 PSE certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $10,500.00); the sole graded example, mint or unused, of the 1861 Five Cent Brown Yellow shade; ex-Hansen. (Image)

$11,500.00

SOLD for $9,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

1031

#69, 12c Black, an especially pretty used example, being quite well centered amid large margins, intensely rich color and a wonderfully detailed impression on bright paper, with a vivid red town c.d.s. which complements its overall eye appeal, extremely fine; 1998 PF certificate. (Image)

$140.00

SOLD for $1,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

1032

#72, 90c Blue, a gem unused example, possessing not only superb centering amid margins which are uncharacteristically large for this, but its color and impression are equally striking, being an especially intense shade with a clarity of impression that could not be improved upon, extremely fine; a rare and desirable stamp in this outstanding quality; 1995 PF certificate; ex-Lyons. (Image)

$1,400.00

SOLD for $1,450.00
Will close during Public Auction

1033

#74, 3c Scarlet, an outstanding mint example of this trial printing rarity, being among the finest quality mint examples with original gum in existence, possessing numerous exceptional physical qualities that are seldom encountered on a single example, including gloriously intense color that does not have the usual "mottled" appearance which typifies most existing copies, plus its impression is deeply incised on fresh paper, quite well centered and margined, full clean original gum that has been lightly hinged, very fine and extremely choice; very few of the Three Cent Scarlet exist, whether mint or "used" with the characteristic pen stroke cancels, however you can probably count on less than two hands the number of examples that exist mint both with original gum and in sound condition, the number that exist in this premium condition as well is quite miniscule; 2002 PF certificate. (Image)

$7,000.00

SOLD for $20,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

1034

#76, 5c Brown, an extraordinary quality unused example, boasting absolutely perfect centering which is almost impossible to find on this stamp, plus its margins are such that no portion of the design is impinged by its perforations, rich luxuriant color and a crisp prooflike impression on bright paper, an extremely fine gem; actually a very scarce stamp so choice; 2000 PF certificate. (Image)

$650.00

SOLD for $525.00
Will close during Public Auction

1867 GRILLED ISSUES

Lot

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

CV or Estimate

1035

#83, 3c Rose, "C" grill, flawlessly centered, with extraordinarily large and perfectly balanced margins all around, outstanding color and impression on bright crisp paper, even the perforations on this remarkable stamp are exceptional, being uniformly even and intact, full clean o.g., lightly hinged, superb.This phenomenal original gum example of the 1867 Three Cent "C" grill was just recently awarded the highest grade ever assigned by the PSE (Professional Stamp Experts) - Superb 98 and is the only one to have achieved this lofty grade. Looking at every physical aspect of this stamp it is easy to understand why the graders at the P.S.E. assigned such a remarkable grade. Every characteristic of this stamp could not be improved upon. Even if this were a "common" stamp from the grilled period, like a Three Cent "F" grill, this would be an impressive condition rarity. But to find such condition on a truly rare grilled stamp is simply unheard of. We are confident in saying that one could search for a lifetime and never find another example that would compare to the superb gem offered here.Accompanied by 1989 and 2001 PF certificates, as well as a 2009 PSE certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $35,200.00 for a 95, the highest grade they price). Typically, for stamps of this period, the pricing ratio between a 95 grade and a 98 grade is approximately two and a half to three times the price for a 98. Therefore, it would not be out of the realm of possibility that an appropriate price of a 95 graded stamp would be in the neighborhood of $87,500.00 to $100,000.00; ex-Floyd. (Image)

$6,500.00

SOLD for $45,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

1036

#84, 2c Black, "D" grill, a magnificent quality unused example of not only one of the rarest of all the grilled issues, but one of the most notorious for being found poorly centered as well, with this particular copy being the antithesis of what is normally encountered, possessing outstanding centering amid extravagantly large margins (particularly when compared to the small existing population of mint or unused copies - as almost all are terribly off center), rich luxuriant color and impression contribute further to this stamp's extraordinary eye appeal, strong easily identifiable grill impression, extremely fine gem; quite likely among the finest centered and margined unused or mint Two Cent "D" grills in existence; 1993 and 2003 PF certificates, as well as a 2009 PSE certificate (VF 80; SMQ $10,200.00); the sole copy to have been awarded this grade, this highest given to any unused or o.g. Scott #84; ex-Ishikawa, Chapin. (Image)

for fine $6,500.00

SOLD for $8,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

1037

#85, 3c Rose, "D" grill, incredibly well centered within uncharacteristically large margins, brilliantly fresh and crisp, with gloriously rich color and a strong detailed impression on immaculate paper, its perforations are uniformly even and intact all around, and its reverse is equally impressive, possessing full original gum that shows a remarkably crisp detailed grill impression, lightly hinged, extremely fine in every regard.An incomparable mint example of this stamp, which knowledgeable students recognize as one of the rarest of all 19th century United States stamps to find in sound original gum condition. To underscore its rarity we have sold exactly two original gum examples of the 1867 Three Cent "D" grill in the past 15 years, despite having had the pleasure of selling many of the finest and most comprehensive collections of United States stamps to have come on the auction market in that time period. Collections like Weisman, Lyons, Floyd, Lessin and McKinney only had a used example of Scott #85 filling the space in their albums. The two which we have sold are, the copy offered here, which Mr. Minervino acquired in our April 2000 Collector's Series Sale for $25,000.00, plus the buyer's premium, against a then catalog value of $4,750.00. The other was an original gum example in our January 1996 sale of Dr. Vernon Morris' marvelous collection. While an especially handsome example, the ex-Morris copy is not quite as choice in terms of its overall condition as the exciting copy offered here. In addition, we are aware of only nine completely sound, original gum examples of the Three Cent "D" grill which have been certified as genuine by the Philatelic Foundation, with this copy being, in our opinion, the finest of this minute population.A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire a stamp that has historically been either missing, or typically found faulty and/or without gum, in the greatest collections formed in the 20th century. With all due respect to the Editor of the Scott catalog, given the true rarity of this stamp in mint condition, we consider this to be one of the most undercataloged stamps in United States philately. Accompanied by a 1999 PF certificate. (Image)

$6,750.00

SOLD for $28,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

1038

#86, 1c Blue, "E" grill, a most impressive mint example of this very scarce grilled stamp, possessing overall physical characteristics which are largely unheard of on any of the grilled issues, possessing a magnificent overall mint "bloom", retaining its original freshness and crispness, with gorgeous intense color and a deeply etched impression, marvelously well centered within extravagantly large margins, pristine full o.g. that has been very lightly hinged only once, extremely fine; a stunning gem for the collector who desires to own only the finest possible quality; 1990 PF and 1991 PSE certificates; ex-Weisman, Lyons. (Image)

$3,750.00

SOLD for $5,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

1039

#87, 2c Black, "E" grill, unused, perfectly centered amid incredibly large margins which are most uncharacteristic of this or any other "Black Jack" issue, fresh color and crisp impression on bright paper, an extremely fine large-margined gem; a truly rare stamp in this outstanding condition; 1990 PF certificate; ex-Lyons. (Image)

$725.00

SOLD for $850.00
Will close during Public Auction

1040

#88, 3c Rose, "E" grill, a remarkably choice mint single of this surprisingly difficult stamp, possessing near perfect centering within uncommonly large margins for this, rich fresh color, full o.g., lightly hinged, extremely fine; actually a very rare stamp in this stellar quality; 2001 and 2009 PSE certificates (the latter graded - a bit conservatively in our opinion - XF 90; SMQ $2,750.00). (Image)

$1,100.00

SOLD for $2,100.00
Will close during Public Auction