2015 Rarities of the World continued...

EXTREMELY FINE APPEARING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE.

With 2015 P.F. certificate (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE VERTICAL PAIR OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE.

Ex Mirsky. With 1999 P.S.E. and 2012 P.F. certificates (Image)

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VERY FINE. THIS IS A RECENTLY-DISCOVERED 5-CENT 1847 COVER WITH THE WHEELING GRID. IT IS THE EARLIEST OF THE FOUR RECORDED 5-CENT WHEELING GRID COVERS, AND, SINCE NO OTHER CANCELLATION WAS APPLIED TO THE STAMP, THIS COVER DEMONSTRATES THAT THE WHEELING GRID SERVED AS A PRECANCEL.

The red grid of Wheeling, Virginia, was applied to sheets of the 5c and 10c 1847 Issue, precisely at the center of each block of four. Some have argued that the Wheeling grid is a control mark, not a precancel, because almost all examples were additionally cancelled by the customary "Paid" or grid in blue. However, the example offered here, an early use, has no other cancel on the stamp, indicating that the Wheeling postmaster considered the stamp cancelled. This use meets every criteria for a precancel.

The Alexander census lists three 5c and four 10c covers with the Wheeling grid. This cover, held by the addressee's descendants from 1847 until 2008 when offered in our Rarities sale, is the fourth 5c cover. The earliest 10c cover is dated October 1, 1847. Only two others are cancelled solely by the Wheeling control marking.

With 2008 P.F. certificate (Image)

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VERY FINE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 "MOWER SHIFT" IN THE ORANGE BROWN SHADE ON COVER. A PHENOMENAL RARITY.

The so-called "Mower Shift" is named after its discoverer, the San Francisco dealer R. H. Mower. In an article discussing this rare position in the November 1976 Chronicle, Duane Garrett quotes a letter from Stanley B. Ashbrook, which states "this 'E' variety is quite scarce, much more than either the 'A' or 'B', probably due to the fact that the extra lines were not cut very deep on the plate and soon wore away. I believe that we can only find the 'E' among the very earliest prints from the plate."

Ex Gibson, Rust, Wagshal and Bakwin. With 1990 P.F. certificate. This shade with the Double Transfer Type E is not listed in Scott.. (Image)

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VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE IN THE SCARCE RED ORANGE SHADE.

According to Wade Saadi, the Red Orange shade was produced exclusively during the last printing, stamps from which were part of the Fifth Delivery (December 7, 1850).

With 2011 P.F. certificate (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN ABSOLUTELY SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE IN THE ELUSIVE BROWN ORANGE SHADE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.

With 2013 P.F. and P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $5,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded and only one other shares this grade. As an indication of the rarity of the 5-cent 1847 in the Brown Orange shade in gem quality, it is revealing to note that the much higher cataloguing Red Orange shade (No. 1c) has two examples recorded in the P.S.E. Population Report in the grade of 95, exactly equal the number of 95's of the Brown Orange shade. (Image)

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VERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN ATTRACTIVE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE.

The 1847 Issue is much scarcer in unused condition than other issues, because the stamps were demonetized in 1851. They could be exchanged for the new issue, but once the exchange period ended, the stamps would have no postage value. Considering the purchasing power of ten cents in 1851, it is not surprising that the stamps were either used or exchanged, rather than left for future generations of collectors.

With 1991 P.F. certificate (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE.

With 1999 and 2008 P.F. certificates (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE SET OF SHEETS OF 50 OF THE 5-CENT AND 10-CENT 1875 REPRODUCTION PLATE PROOFS ON CARD.

Clarence Brazer discussed the 1847 Issue essays and proofs in a 1947 Essay-Proof Journal article, which was reprinted as a monograph. The extensive plate scratches found on the 10c India sheet offered in our 2013 Gross sale (Siegel Sale 1041, lot 23, realized $62,500 hammer) are not found on the stamps printed in 1875 nor on the cardboard proofs produced between 1879 and 1893.

Brazer estimated in his 1947 article that "probably five or six pairs of sheets of 50 plate proofs on cardboard are known." We do not know the basis for Brazer's estimate, but we have been able to locate only one other set, offered in our 1983 and 1987 Rarities sales.

From a Nov. 20, 1978 Sotheby's sale and ex Creighton Hart. Scott Retail as blocks of four and singles. (Image)

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