Sale 1385 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 21-22 July, 2026
Category — 5c 1847 Issue: Early Impressions
5c Deep Red Brown (1). Large even margins all around, incredibly beautiful rich color and early impression on deep bluish paper, strong reddish-orange hue with lovely contrasting blue Philadelphia "5 cts" integral-rate circular datestamp,
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN EXTRAORDINARY 5-CENT 1847 WITH INTENSE DEEP RED BROWN COLOR AND A SHARP EARLY IMPRESSION SHOWING EVERY LINE OF ENGRAVING WITH PERFECT CLARITY.
Ex "European Connoisseur" and "Penguin". With 2015 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95) as an ordinary "Red Brown," which fails to capture the deep shade and early impression of this stamp. SCV $550. SMQ $1,750.
5c Deep Red Brown (1). Huge margins to full including part of adjoining stamp at left, beautiful rich color and early impression, neat strikes of red New York square grid and circular datestamp
EXTREMELY FINE. AN EXCEPTIONALLY BEAUTIFUL FIRST PRINTING 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE STAMP IN THE DEEP RED BROWN SHADE (SOMETIMES CLASSIFIED AS ORANGE BROWN).
With copy of 1975 P.F. certificate as Brown Orange; with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (VF 80) and 2024 P.F. certificate as Orange Brown (1b). The confusion lies in the fact this is a First Printing Deep Red Brown, which is totally unlike the dull Orange Brown from the worn plate or the Brown Orange of later printings. SCV $425 as ordinary Red Brown (1) and $675 as Orange Brown (1b).
5c Deep Red Brown (1). Gorgeous rich color and fiery shade, detailed early impression showing every line of the engraving in perfect clarity, huge margins to full including portion of adjoining stamp at left and right sheet margin, clear strike of red New York square grid cancel in its early state with thin bars, tiny thin in top margin noted on recent certificate, Extremely Fine appearance, a magnificent First Printing stamp, ex Hart, with 2025 P.F. certificate as "Red Brown" and noting thin spot, SCV $425
5c Deep Red Brown (1). Full to large margins including right sheet margin, early impression in rich shade, neat manuscript "X" cancel, Extremely Fine, ex Mirsky and Saadi, with 2012 P.F. certificate as Orange Brown (1b), but in our opinion this is a Deep Red Brown (First Printing), SCV $250 as No. 1 with manuscript cancel
5c Orange Brown (1b). Bright shade, early impression, large margins, well-struck red "New-York 2 Nov. (5 cts)" circular datestamp with the "2" attractively framing Franklin's eye, Extremely Fine, a beautiful example of the First Printing Orange Brown, ex Eubanks, SCV $825
5c Red Brown (1). Position 20L with interpane margin at right showing guide dots between panes, other margins large to full at top, rich color in what some call the First Printing Orange Brown shade, sharply detailed early impression, red grid cancel, Extremely Fine, SCV $425
5c Red Brown (1). Vertical pair, rich color and beautiful proof-like early impression, large margins, cancelled by bold complete strike of "STEAM" straightline handstamp
EXTREMELY FINE. A SCARCE VERTICAL PAIR OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE WITH A PERFECT FULL STRIKE OF THE "STEAM" HANDSTAMP USED ON MISSISSIPPI RIVER STEAMBOAT MAIL. A MAGNIFICENT OFF-COVER 1847 ISSUE MULTIPLE.
This "Steam" marking (or two similar markings) are found on Mississippi River steamboat covers that entered the post offices at Natchez and New Orleans.
Illustrated in Chronicle 217 (p. 24). Ex Hopkins, Saadi, Gross and Sharrer. With 1980, 1989 and 2013 P.F. certificates.
5c Red Brown (1). Enormous margins all around including right sheet margin, showing significant portion of adjoining stamp at top, red square grid cancel, intense shade approaching the Dark Brown color, detailed early impression
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A HUGE-MARGINED 5-CENT 1847 STAMP.
Ex Grace. With 1994, 1999 and 2005 P.F. certificates. SCV $425.
5c Red Brown (1). Huge margins to full including left sheet margin, detailed early impression and rich color, blue grid cancel, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2000 P.F. certificate, SCV $465
5c Red Brown (1). Large to huge margins including enormous left sheet margin, intense shade and early impression, light red square grid cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, 1980 and 1990 P.F. certificates no longer accompany, SCV $425
5c Red Brown (1). Position 91L, huge margins to ample including bottom left corner sheet margins, deep rich color and early impression, red New York square grid cancel (early state of the device), Extremely Fine, a scarce corner sheet-margin example of the 5c 1847 Issue, SCV $425
5c Red Brown (1). Huge margins including right sheet margin, intense shade and proof-like early impression (we think this qualifies as a Dark Brown), bold strike of blue grid cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a gorgeous stamp, ex Lyons, with 1999 and 2012 P.F. certificates (latter graded XF 90), SCV $535
5c Red Brown (1). Large margins, rich color and early impression—very close to Deep Red Brown (sometimes classified as Orange Brown)—bold strike of blue "PAID" in oval cancel of Philadelphia, Extremely Fine, with 2004 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85), SCV $515
(Image Magnifier)5c Brown (1). Large margins to full at lower left, deep dark shade and early impression, unobtrusive blue town cancel, Very Fine and choice, a stamp with great visual appeal, with 2010 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown, Dot in "S" (1 var). Full even margins, early impression and bright shade, red grid cancel, Very Fine, with 2010 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown (1). Three huge margins including part of adjoining stamp at right, in at left, early impression, pre-printing paper crease shows as jagged white line across design at left, Fine, desirable production variety, SCV $425
5c Dark Brown (1a). Horizontal pair, unused (no gum), large margins at sides, in at top and bottom, early impression and dark First Printing shade
FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE UNUSED MULTIPLE OF THE 5-CENT DARK BROWN FROM FIRST PRINTING WITH EARLY IMPRESSION.
With 1990 P.F. certificate. Scott value $21,000 as original-gum pair and $7,000 as two singles with no gum.
5c Grayish Brown (1a). Enormous margins at sides including part of adjoining stamp at right and sheet margin at left, full margins at top and bottom, dark shade and early impression, bold blue grid cancel
EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL 5-CENT 1847 EARLY IMPRESSION IN GRAYISH BROWN SHADE WITH WIDE SHEET MARGIN.
Ex Wunderlich, Wall and Dr. Hinrichs. With 2000 P.F. certificate. SCV $665.
5c Blackish Brown (1a var). Extremely deep and dark color from an early impression, which is closer in appearance to the 10c Black 1847 Issue than the usual Red Brown of the 5c, large margins all around, nicely complemented by red grid cancel
EXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE IN THE DISTINCTIVE BLACKISH BROWN SHADE. A BEAUTIFUL STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT.
Ex Gorham. With 2002 and 2023 P.F. certificates. SCV $1,500.
5c Dark Brown (1a). Large margins all around, early impression, rich color, light strike of red grid cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1991 and 2025 P.F. certificates (latter graded XF-Superb 95), SCV $525
5c Dark Brown (1a). Large margins, proof-like early impression, intense Dark Brown shade, red New York square grid cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2004 and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90), SCV $525. SMQ $1,250.
(Image Magnifier)5c Dark Brown (1a). Three full margins, clear at bottom, deep shade and early impression, tied by perfect strike of Philadelphia blue "2" in double-line circle handstamp on small piece, Very Fine, very scarce use of this 2c rate marking, which indicated payment of drop fee and carrier fee, with 2016 P.F. certificate, SCV $625
5c Dark Brown (1a). Full even margins, intense shade and early impression, tied by red grid cancel on small piece, Extremely Fine, with 2021 P.S.A.G. certificate
5c Dark Brown (1a). Large margins to ample at bottom, rich color (close to Blackish Brown), early impression, tied by red square grid cancel on small piece, Very Fine, with 2025 P.F. certificate (F-VF 75)
5c Dark Brown, Dot in "S" (1a). Intense shade, early impression, full margins to clear at bottom, bold central strike of red grid cancel, Fine and attractive, with 1979 P.F. certificate, Scott value without premium for the variety
5c Dark Brown (1a). Large margins to just touched at upper right, intense shade and early impression nicely complemented by blue "Paid" in oval cancel, Fine, with 2022 P.F. certificate (earlier 1982 certificate is missing)
5c Dark Brown (1a). Horizontal pair, exceptional depth of color which Ashbrook, Caspary and other older experts believed was Blackish Brown, detailed early impression, large margins to clear, nicely contrasting red New York square grid cancels
VERY FINE. AN EXCEPTIONALLY choice PAIR OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE IN A DEEP AND DARK BROWN shade.
Ex Hart and Caspary (the Jan. 16, 1956 H.R. Harmer sale description for lot 80 states "Pronounced and very rare blackish color"). Signed Ashbrook who states "Genuine Black Brown." With 2025 P.F. certificate as Dark Brown.