Sale 1391 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 13-15 October, 2026
Category — 1869 Pictorial Issue (Scott 112-122)
1c Buff (112). Block of four with plate "No. 2" top selvage, original gum, few h.r., rich color, centered to right
FINE AND EXTREMELY RARE. THIS IS ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED BLOCKS OF THE ONE-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE WITH A PLATE NUMBER IN PRIVATE HANDS, AND THE ONLY ONE WITH ORIGINAL GUM.
The Chapin census lists only this single block of Scott 112 with a plate number, and illustrates it on page 31. The Gross collection contained an unused (no-gum) block of four with top "No. 1", centered to top left (Sale 1200, lot 96). There is also a block of 25 with "No. 2" in the Hirzel collection in the Swiss Museum of Communications. These are the only Scott 112 blocks with plate numbers we record.
From the Nathanael Greene collection. Ex Wunderlich. With 2024 P.F. certificate.
1c Buff (112). Original gum, barely hinged, rich color, fresh and Very Fine, with 2002 P.S.E. certificate
2c Brown (113). Original gum, lightly hinged, wonderful depth of color, Very Fine, with 1999 P.F. certificate
3c Ultramarine (114). Mint N.H., brilliant color on bright paper, beautifully centered with wide margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION.
Ex "El Dorado". With 2006 and 2013 P.F. certificates (both XF-Superb 95). With ungraded 2025 P.S.E. certificate, implying it may not reach the same grade. Regardless, this is a stunning Mint N.H.stamp. Unpriced in Scott as Mint N.H.
(Image Magnifier)3c Ultramarine, Without Grill (114a). Disturbed original gum, outstanding centering for this rare variety with wide and balanced margins
EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE WITHOUT GRILL.
A Power Search review shows that many examples of this issue have perforations touching or into the design. The centering and margin width on the example offered here is superior to nearly all others offered in our sales. P.S.E. has graded only one, at XF 90 Jumbo (2008 Rarities Sale 958, lot 577, realized $37,500). That example is one of only two listed in Power Search with comparable margin width to the stamp offered here.
With 1999 P.F. certificate.
3c Ultramarine (114). Rich color on bright paper, choice centering, blue target cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, from the Nathanael Greene collection, with 2022 P.S.A.G. certificate (XF-Superb 95), with 2023 P.S.E. certificate (ungraded)
6c Ultramarine (115). Original gum, deep rich color, nicely centered on bright paper, Very Fine, with 1994 P.F. certificate
10c Yellow (116). Original gum, well-centered, fresh and Very Fine, with 2000 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates
12c Green (117). Original gum, lightly hinged, clearly defined grill, deep rich color and proof-like impression, beautiful centering with wide and balanced margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION. AND XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE.
The iconic S.S. Adriatic engraving by James Smillie, which is depicted on the 12c 1869 Pictorial Issue, served as a symbol of improved postal communications — a theme continued from the 1869 2c (post rider) and 3c (train) denominations. This engraving was also used on a number of obsolete bank notes and financial certificates from the period.
From the Nathanael Greene collection. Ex Dr. Haikel. With 2006 P.F. certificate (Superb 98). With 2024 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF-Superb 95).
12c Green (117). Large part original gum which covers the majority of the back, rich color, Fine, with 1998 P.S.E. certificate as "part o.g.", Scott value as original gum
1c-30c 1869 Pictorial Issue Used Group. Approximately 28 used stamps, including 10c (6), 12c (5), 119 (3) and 121 (3), range of cancels, some faults, overall appear Fine
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. I (118). Unused (no gum), huge margins and choice centering, deep rich colors
EXTREMELY FINE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT TYPE I 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE. VERY RARE WITH SUCH WIDE MARGINS AND OUTSTANDING CENTERING.
With 1977 and 1992 P.F. certificates.
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. I (118). Bright colors, cork cancel, unusually wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2020 P.S.A.G. certificate (XF-Superb 95)
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. I (118). Jumbo margins and choice centering, rich colors, cork cancel, Extremely Fine, with 1990 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85 Jumbo)
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II (119). Original gum, rich colors, centered to top right but perfs clear on those sides, Fine, with 2000 P.F. certificate
24c Green & Violet (120). Original gum, hinged only at top, brilliant colors and detailed impressions
VERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
With 2001 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates.
24c Green & Violet (120). Well-centered, bright colors, bold segmented cork cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 2003 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (VF 80 Jumbo), SCV $675
30c Ultramarine & Carmine (121). Slightly disturbed original gum, deep rich colors, unusually choice centering with wide margins
EXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE, GRADED XF 90 BY P.S.E.
With 2026 P.S.E. certificate (DOG, XF 90). The P.S.E. Population Report lumps no gum and disturbed gum into the same category, despite their vast difference in value. We checked and this is the only example in this category graded higher than 80 with any original gum. For full original-gum copies, there are one each at 90 and 90J (we have never offered either) and two at 95 (one recently brought $30,000). SMQ $15,000 as original gum. SCV $3,750.
30c Ultramarine & Carmine (121). Original gum, single hinge mark, lovely colors and unusually choice centering, long and full perforations all around, most recent certificate notes reperfed at top, Extremely Fine appearance, with 2005 and 2012 P.F. and 2012 P.S.A.G. certificates (last OGph, XF 90) all as sound, with 2025 P.S.E. certificate correctly noting the reperfing.
(Image Magnifier)30c Ultramarine & Carmine, Without Grill (121a). Original gum that the P.F. called "redistributed" and P.S.E. called "trace", we would call it disturbed part original gum, fresh colors
VERY FINE AND RARE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE WITHOUT GRILL.
Ex Kuphal ("European's Large Gold"). With 1994 P.F. and 2003 P.S.E. certificates (POG, F-VF 75; unpriced in SMQ). SCV $8,000 as original gum.
90c Carmine & Black (122). Original gum, lightly hinged, clear grill, rich colors and detailed impressions, unusually choice centering with wide and balanced margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION AND XF 90 JUMBO BY P.S.E. THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES IN EXISTENCE.
The 90c 1869 Pictorial is widely admired for its beautiful engraving and dignified portrait of Abraham Lincoln. However, collectors have been frustrated in their efforts to acquire choice examples of this issue. Used 90c stamps are typically heavily cancelled, because the high denomination was cause for postal clerks to thoroughly obliterate any chance for re-use. Naturally, the significant monetary value of 90c in 1869 limited the number of unused stamps that would be saved for future collectors. Therefore, the collector ideals of "well-centered with original gum" and "lightly cancelled" are seldom obtainable in the available supply of 90c 1869s.
From the Nathanael Greene collection. Ex Dr. Haikel. With 2006 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95). With 2024 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF 90 Jumbo). This stamp compares very favorably to the examples graded by P.S.E. at XF-Superb 95 (the margins are wider than some), but grading stamps without square/rectangular borders sometimes results in measurements off by a fraction of a millimeter, regardless of appearance.
90c Carmine & Black (122). Original gum, fresh and bright colors, wide margins, centered to right but perfs well clear on that side
VERY FINE. A LOVELY SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
With 1999 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates.
90c Carmine & Black (122). Wide margins and well-centered, bold cork cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2026 P.F. certificate