The Natalee Grace Collection of Used United States Stamps, Part One continued...

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 5-CENT BRICK RED. EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES IN EXISTENCE -- THIS REMARKABLE STAMP HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E., WHICH IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE.

With 2001 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95, SMQ $13,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded to date, and only three others share this grade. This statistic has not changed in over three years. (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 5-CENT RED BROWN, WHICH APPROACHES THE BRIGHT RED BROWN AND INDIAN RED SHADES, WITH UNUSUALLY WIDE MARGINS AND A FACE-FREE CANCELLATION THAT LEAVES THE DESIGN CLEARLY VISIBLE. A TRUE CONDITION RARITY.

As the introduction to the 5c 1857-60 Issue notes, the Red Brown stamps were the first perforated 5c stamps released, and were probably made from leftover imperforate sheets of the "1856" Red Brown shade. By March 31, 1858, a second printing must have been made, resulting in a second shade of Red Brown, the Indian Red and Bright Red Brown shades. We think that the stamp offered here comes from this later printing.

Ex Dr. Morris and Dr. Puliafito. With 1987 and 1997 P.F. certificates. (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1857 ISSUE IN THE BRIGHT RED BROWN SHADE. FEW EXIST IN THIS SUPERIOR GRADE.

The Bright Red Brown shade is particularly difficult to find in such choice condition. A review using Power Search found very few rivals to this copy. Only three have graded higher than 80 thus far in the P.S.E. Population Report.

With 2002 P.F. certificate (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 5-CENT INDIAN RED, WITH STUNNING COLOR, FRESH PAPER AND LONG AND FULL PERFORATIONS ALL AROUND. A DIFFICULT STAMP TO FIND IN SUCH CHOICE CONDITION.

The deepest shade of Red Brown from the 1858 printing is known as Indian Red. It is found in a short spectrum of color, ranging from a dark purplish shade to a vivid "glowing" orange shade. To be classified as Indian Red, the stamp's impression must be strong throughout, especially in the area of the oval surrounding Jefferson's head. If a stamp possesses anything less than a very deep impression with the characteristic intense red shade, it will fall short of Indian Red, Scott 28A (and that is why Scott 28b was created as "second place.").

With 1989 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90, SMQ $7,250.00). Only one has graded higher to date and only four others share this grade. (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1859 5-CENT TYPE I BROWN. A RARE STAMP IN SUCH CHOICE CONDITION.

With 1997 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95, SMQ $3,800.00). Only two have graded higher to date. This is the highest graded example we have offered in one of our auctions. (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING USED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT TYPE II IN THE 1861 ORANGE BROWN SHADE, AND ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH THE COMPLEMENTARY RED GRID CANCEL.

5c stamps in the Orange Brown shade (Scott 30) were printed from Plate 2 in 1861. They were the last stamps of the 1857 Issue distributed before the U.S. Post Office Department demonetized all circulating stamps in August 1861. For this reason, the 5c Orange Brown is much scarcer in used condition than unused.

Ex Dr. Morris. With 1991 P.F. certificate (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION THE FINEST USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 5-CENT TYPE II. A STUNNING STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT -- LONG AND FULL PERFORATIONS, ENORMOUS MARGINS, PERFECT CENTERING AND A BEAUTIFUL COLORED CANCEL. THIS STAMP HAS BEEN GRADED GEM 100 BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE AND THE ONLY EXAMPLE TO ACHIEVE THIS GRADE. THIS IS ALSO THE ONLY STAMP OF THE ENTIRE 1857-60 ISSUE TO BE AWARDED THE GRADE OF GEM 100.

This offering of the only P.S.E.-graded Gem 100 stamp of the entire 1857-60 Issue gives us an opportunity to explain why such a stamp is so rare and extraordinary. We will begin with the historical background of perforated stamps in the United States and then delve into the specifics of 5c perforated stamp production.

The use of postage stamps in the U.S. doubled in the two years after enactment of the 1855-56 laws mandating compulsory prepayment and use of stamps. Postmaster General James Campbell anticipated that such high-volume use would render the act of cutting stamps apart with scissors inconvenient. In response to seeing examples of British stamps, which had been perforated on an Archer machine since 1854, the Post Office Department requested that Toppan Carpenter investigate and report on the means used to perforate stamps in Great Britain.

Toppan Carpenter officials solicited advice from friendly competitors, the English firm of Perkins Bacon, who printed stamps for the British government. Perkins Bacon was at odds with Henry Archer and referred Toppan Carpenter to another manufacturer, Bemrose and Sons. In October 1855 both Toppan Carpenter and Perkins Bacon placed orders for two Bemrose rouletting machines at once, benefiting from a price reduction. In March 1856 Toppan Carpenter received its Bemrose machine, but was forced to convert it from a rouletting device to a round-hole perforator, which proved to be difficult and time-consuming (Perkins Bacon never succeeded in converting its own machine).

Toppan Carpenter soon realized that the spacing between stamps in the 1851-56 sheets was not wide enough to accommodate perforations. To create more space, Toppan Carpenter trimmed the transfer reliefs to reduce the width and/or height of the printed designs. New plates were made from the modified reliefs. The 5c design required only moderate trimming at top and bottom, and the vertical rows were spaced far enough apart to leave room for the gauge-15 perforation holes. As multiples demonstrate, there is approximately twice as much space between the vertical columns of stamps as there is between the horizontal rows. The imbalance in spacing produced stamps with margins that are almost always wider at the sides than at top and bottom, even if the rows of perforations were placed at the equidistant point between stamps. Only when the horizontal perforations are unusually wide apart (with balanced margins on all sides) is it possible to achieve a numerically perfect grade of 100.

Therefore, the statistical odds against a Gem 100 example of the 5c Type II perforated issue are enormous even at the point of conception. Once that rare child is born, it must survive distribution and use, dormancy while awaiting discovery and entry into the philatelic market, and finally years of collector handling. The stamp offered here made that journey and stands alone as proof that it is indeed possible for an 1857-60 Perforated Issue stamp to achieve Gem 100 status.

Ex Dr. Morris. With 1991 and 1997 P.F. certificates and 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100, unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $8,900.00 as 98). This is the highest grade awarded to date and the only example to achieve this grade. It is also the only stamp of the entire 1857-60 Issue to be awarded the grade of Gem 100 in any condition (NH, OG or Used). (Image)

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ONE OF TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE 1860 5-CENT BROWN TYPE II PRINTED ON BOTH SIDES. THIS IS THE ONLY 5-CENT STAMP -- ACROSS ALL ISSUES -- WHICH IS KNOWN PRINTED ON BOTH SIDES. A PHENOMENAL RARITY.

Engraved stamps printed on both sides usually have a poor impression on one side and a second, complete impression on the other. They probably occurred when a sheet was printed without proper moistening, which prevented the paper from picking up the ink in the recessed lines of the engraved plate.

Our list of printed-on-both-sides stamps is included as an appendix to this catalogue. The variety is known on the three denominations issued in 1851 -- 1c, 3c and 12c -- but not on the imperforate stamps issued in 1855 (10c) and 1856 (5c). Only one other example of the 5c Jefferson 1857-61 Issue is known printed on both sides. Both stamps are Type II perforated issues, Scott 30Ab. The other was in the Ishikawa collection and also has faults (shown at our website at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/30Ab/30Ab.pdf). No other 5c stamps -- across all issues -- are known printed on both sides.

Ex Col. Edward H. R. Green and Lake Shore. With 1974 P.F. certificate (Image)

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