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 90c Carmine & Black (122). Vertical block of six, original gum, clearly-defined grills, rich colors and detailed impressions, long and full perforations all aroundEXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS BY FAR THE
FINER OF THE TWO RECORDED ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCKS OF SIX OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE, WHICH IS THE LARGEST RECORDED INTACT MULTIPLE. THIS BLOCK IS THE ONLY ONE WITH FULL ORIGINAL GUM. THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE CASPARY AND EUBANKS 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE
COLLECTIONS AND ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT CLASSIC UNITED STATES BLOCKS EXTANT. The contract for the 1869 Pictorial Issue was awarded to National Bank Note Co. in February 1869 by the outgoing Johnson administration (Grant was inaugurated March
4, 1869). Three of the ten stamps had traditional portraits: the 1c Franklin, 6c Washington and 90c Lincoln. The other values represented a radical departure from the portraiture of all previous issues, depicting scenes of fast communication and
historical events. Contemporary critical review was unexpectedly negative. While preceding issues had been current for 7 to 10 years and the 1870 Bank Note issue lasted 18 years, not even a year was given to the 1869 Pictorial Issue. For the
90c, the portrait of Lincoln was admired, but the "prison bars" behind his head were criticized. The 90c stamps were intended to be used on heavy domestic packages or on multiple-rate mail to foreign destinations. Given the high cost of the
stamp (equivalent to $14.33 in today's money), the 90c 1869's were not bought in any quantity to be stored and used later, as was the case with lower-denomination stamps. With the reduction in many foreign treaty rates, the 90c could only be used on
multiple-rate letters. The short lifespan of the 1869 Pictorial Issue closed the window of opportunity for the public to buy the 90c Lincoln stamps at the post office. Only one 90c on cover is recorded: the famous "Ice House" cover, sold by the
Siegel firm for $375,000 hammer. There are two recorded unused blocks of six, the largest recorded unused multiples: 1) full original gum, sound, the block offered here, ex Caspary, Kapiloff and Joseph, and 2) traces of original gum, slightly dry
print at right, right center stamp small thin spot, perfs strengthened and rejoined, ex Hind, Bechtel, Zoellner and Ainsworth (now in the Gross collection). There is also a reconstructed unused block of eight (ex Lafayette). Ex Caspary, Kapiloff
and Joseph. With 2010 P.F. certificate. Unpriced in Scott Catalogue as a block of six (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com |
E. 200,000-300,000
SOLD for $150,000.00
Will close during Public Auction |
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 90c Carmine & Black (122). Brilliant colors and crisp impressions, virtually face-free strike of red Leaf cancel used on New York Supplementary Mail, trace of black cancel at topVERY
FINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE CANCELLED BY A BRIGHT RED CANCEL. A review using Power Search found several examples of this issue with a red cancellation. However, the number of sound stamps with perfs clear of the
design on all sides is less than a half-dozen. With 1997 P.F. certificate. (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com |
2,950.00
SOLD for $4,000.00
Will close during Public Auction |
