Sale 1388 — The Boardwalk Collection of Outstanding United States Stamps–Part One–19th Century Issues
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 23-24 September, 2026
Category — 1857-60 Issue: 12c-90c including Imperforates (Scott 36-39)
12c Black, Plate 1 (36). Original gum, lightly hinged, crisp impression, unusually choice centering for this challenging issue
EXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1857 ISSUE. THIS IS A DIFFICULT ISSUE TO FIND WITH SUCH CHOICE CENTERING AND IN SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.
Any multiple of the 1857 12c Black from Plate 1 will demonstrate the narrow layout of this plate, which produced Scott 36. Even when the perforations are aligned between stamps, they still punch out part of the outer frameline. Plate 3, which produced Scott 36B, remedied this problem by allowing more space for perforations.
With 1985 P.F. certificate for block of four.
12c Intense Black, Plate 3 (36B var). Original gum, lightly hinged, intense shade, Very Fine, Intense Black is the only listed sub-shade for Scott 36B (Scott 36 lists Gray Black), with 2006 P.F. certificate, Scott does not assign a premium to this shade
12c Black, Plate 3 (36B). Original gum, deep shade, showing doubling of left frameline, Fine and interesting variety which comes from the 20 positions in columns 3 and 4 of the left pane, where extra framelines were engraved stamp by stamp between the two vertical columns (a similar ruled line was engraved between columns 7 and 8)
12c Black, Plate 3 (36B). Unused (traces of original gum), intense shade, wide margins, Very Fine, Scott value as no gum
12c Black, Plate 3, Major Double Transfer (36B var). Position 92R3 showing major double transfer of rosettes, "Twelve Cents" and bottom frame, original gum, lightly hinged, small covered surface scrapes at left and bottom, otherwise Very Fine, scarce variety which is unlisted in Scott, with 2003 P.F. certificate, Scott value as normal
12c Black, Plate 3, Imperforate (36BP5, formerly 36Bd). Horizontal pair, unused (no gum), large margins all around including sheet margin at left and part of adjoining stamps at bottom, intense shade, faint horizontal crease
EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. THIS IMPERFORATE PAIR OF THE 12-CENT FROM PLATE 3 IS ONE OF THE GREAT RARITIES OF THE ISSUE.
As an indication of rarity, the Scott Catalogue prices the 24c Imperforate pair at $10,000, the 30c pair at $7,750 and the 90c pair (which is unique) at $37,500. For some reason it does not price this 12c pair. We sold a set of the three 24c-90c Imperforate pairs in our 2000 Rarities sale for $50,000 hammer. We have offered only two pairs of the 12c since keeping computerized records and this is the first one we have offered since 2007. This pair is illustrated in the Neinken 12c book (p. 3).
Ex "J & J" collection. With 2005 P.F. certificate. Unpriced in Scott.
24c Gray Lilac (37). Original gum, lightly hinged, Very Fine and choice, a pretty stamp, ex Minervino, with 1996 P.F. certificate
24c Gray Lilac (37). Unused (no gum), rich color, gorgeous centering, Extremely Fine, with 1980 P.F. certificate
24c Gray (37a). Unused (regummed), rich color, wide margins, Very Fine example of this shade, with 1979 P.F. certificate
30c Orange (38). Original gum, vibrant color, well-balanced margins, single short perf at right not noted on certificate, otherwise Extremely Fine, ex Billington and Minervino, purple backstamp, with 1994 P.F. certificate
30c Orange (38). Original gum, bright shade, Fine and attractive, with 1979 P.F. certificate
90c Blue (39). Original gum, lightly hinged, beautiful shade, well-proportioned margins
EXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1860 ISSUE, GRADED VF-XF 85 BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION.
The Philatelic Foundation certificate identifies this as "Deep Blue," the only sub-shade listed in Scott. Maybe so, but there is no value difference in Scott and frankly we have trouble seeing any difference in the shade of this stamp versus numerous other examples of Scott 39 certified as the "regular" Blue shade. In our opinion, the Scott "Deep Blue" shade should be removed from the listings—and bidders should focus on the centering and margins of this beautiful original-gum stamp.
With 2005 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85).
90c Blue (39). Original gum, detailed impression, well-proportioned margins
VERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1860 ISSUE, SCOTT 39.
With 2001 P.S.E. certificate.
90c Blue (39). Disturbed original gum, rich color, well-proportioned margins, Very Fine, with 2006 P.F. certificate
24c Lilac, Imperforate (37P5; formerly 37c). Unused (no gum), large to huge margins including huge bottom sheet margin, faint diagonal crease in selvage at lower left well away from design, Extremely Fine, ex Hetherington, with 1970 and 1980 P.F. certificates
24c Lilac, Imperforate (37P5; formerly 37c). Unused (no gum), large even margins, rich color, Very Fine and choice, with 2007 P.F. certificate
30c Orange, Imperforate (38P5; formerly 38a). Part original gum which covers much of the back, h.r., large margins, rich color, Extremely Fine, only three pairs are known, with 1967, 1988 P.F. and 1989 P.S.E. certificates
90c Blue, Imperforate (39P5; formerly 39a). Unused (no gum), large to huge margins all around, rich color
EXTREMELY FINE. A RARE SOUND FOUR-MARGIN EXAMPLE OF THE 1860 90-CENT IMPERFORATE. THIS HAS THE WIDEST MARGINS OF ANY WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED.
According to Brookman, the 24c, 30c and 90c 1860 Imperforates come from a trial printing of the finished designs submitted to the Postmaster General for final opinion. The designs and colors match the regular issues (unlike essays and trial color proofs). Only one pair is known of the 90c (offered as part of a set in our 1989 and 2000 Rarities sales). For many years these were listed in the front of Scott Catalogue and in our opinion should still be.
This is the first single outside of a set that we have offered since our 2015 Hall auction. Power Search contains about a half dozen singles, and this has by far the widest margins of any.
From our 1977 and 1985 Rarities sales. With 1972 P.F. certificate.