Sale 1384 — 2026 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Tuesday, 23 June, 2026
Category — Postmasters' Provisionals thru 1875 Reprint of 1857-60 Issue
Baltimore, Maryland, 5c Black on Bluish (3X3). Position 1, showing virtually complete frameline at bottom and most of frameline at right, also with top left corner sheet margins, cancelled by pen (possibly a signature), blue "Baltimore Md. May. 1" (1846) circular datestamp with matching "PAID" and "5" in oval handstamps, on folded letter to Messrs. Corcoran & Riggs in Washington D.C.
EXTREMELY FINE. A REMARKABLE TOP LEFT CORNER SHEET MARGIN EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT BALTIMORE POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL ON BLUISH PAPER.
No. 16 in the Hayes census. USPCS census no. 20154. From the Weill Brothers stock, John R. Hill Jr, Bakwin and "Dragonfly". With 1989 P.F. certificate. Scott value $15,000.
Providence, Rhode Island, 5c Gray Black (10X1). Full to large margins, manuscript check mark cancel, tied by red Providence R.I. circular datestamp on small piece, lifted to examine condition and hinged in place
EXTREMELY FINE AND RARE EXAMPLE OF THE PROVIDENCE POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL TIED BY THE CIRCULAR DATESTAMP.
Very few Providence provisional stamps are cancelled or tied by the town datestamp. Ex Caspary, Stollnitz, Dr. Morris and Grace. Realized $1,200 in our 500th Sale in 1976. With 1966 and 1996 P.F. certificates. Scott value for an example tied by the town marking on a full cover is $19,000 (SCV $2,250 off cover).
1c Blue, Ty. Ia (6). Position 97L4 with Curl on Shoulder plate variety, ample to large margins, intense Plate 4 shade, unobtrusive circular datestamp cancel, fresh and sound
VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A LOVELY USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1851 ONE-CENT TYPE IA IMPERFORATE, SHOWING THE CURL ON SHOULDER PLATE VARIETY.
Stamps printed from Plate 4 were issued in April, May and briefly in June 1857 before perforations were introduced. The relatively small number of imperforate Plate 4 stamps issued during this period explains the rarity and desirability of any of the imperforate stamp types produced from this plate (Ia, Ic, II, III and IIIa). The rare Type Ia, showing the full design at bottom, was furnished only by 18 of the 200 subjects on Plate 4 (the remaining two bottom-row positions were sub-type Ic). The Curl on Shoulder variety resulted from a tiny thread adhering to the relief on the transfer roll.
With 2026 P.S.E. certificate (VF 80; SMQ is $10,000 without regard to the plate variety). Scott Value $10,500.
1c Blue, Types II and IV (7, 9). The complete unused (no gum) pane of 100 from the right of Plate 1 Late, with “Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co. BANK NOTE ENGRAVERS. Phila. New York, Boston & Cincinnati” imprint and “No. 1” plate number at right and interpane margin and centerline at left, Position 4R is Type II—the only subject on the plate that was not recut—and the other 99 positions are Type IV with recut lines at top and/or bottom, the top row includes all of the former Type I (7R1E) and Ib positions (3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9R1E) that were transformed into Type IV when the plate was reworked, Position 89R is another interesting plate variety with a wide break in the bottom curved line, choice condition for such a pane with faults that are insignificant in this unique artifact (including two creases between rows, some stamps thinned where the pane was apparently stuck down, patched hole in Position 81R, small piece missing from sheet margin at upper left and stains in three stamps)
THE UNIQUE PANE OF THE ONE-CENT 1851 ISSUE — THE FIRST SCOTT-LISTED POSTAGE STAMP THAT EXISTS IN A COMPLETE SHEET. AN OUTSTANDING CLASSIC RARITY.
Complete sheets of early United States stamps are exceedingly rare, because they represent significant unredeemed value from the time they were valid for postage; and, as stamp collecting grew in popularity, surviving multiples were usually cut apart to supply the market for singles and smaller blocks.
The pane of 100 offered here is the first United States postage stamp listed in the Scott Catalogue that exists as a complete sheet. It comes from the period when stamps were imperforate. Since it was printed from Plate 1 (in the Late state), there are very few plates that could precede it. For the record, there are two panes of the 3c 1851 from plates that have slightly earlier documented dates of use (but later Scott numbers).
In its early state, before 199 of the 200 subjects were recut, there was no imprint on Plate 1. At the time of reworking the plate, the Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co. imprint with the plate number (“No. 1”) was added at the sides, which makes this the first plate number in United States stamp production.
In his 1938 two-volume work on the 1c 1851-60 stamps, Stanley B. Ashbrook showed a photograph of this pane (figure 16-Q, page 143) and made special mention of its importance (page 141): “Mr. Samuel W. Richey of Cincinnati possesses what is the finest of all Type IV pieces, a block of 100 including the 4R1L, being a sheet of 100 of the entire right pane, showing not only the whole Imprint at the right but the Center Line as well.”
The Plate 1 Late pane was later acquired by Mortimer L. Neinken, who at one point owned both this and the 1c 1851 pane from Plate 2 (ex Hind). In the early 1970s, Neinken sold a group of large multiples to Ryohei Ishikawa, who was actively building his collection of 1c 1851-60 Issues with an eye toward winning the Grand Prix National at INTERPHIL in 1976. When he lost to Louis Grunin’s 1847-1869 Classics exhibit, Ishikawa set out to form his own 1847-1869 exhibit and in 1980 sold his 1851-60 collection through Sotheby Parke Bernet’s stamp division, then managed by Andrew Levitt.
After the Plate 1 and 2 panes were offered in the June 24, 1980, Sotheby’s auction, the Plate 1 pane was acquired by Roland Cipolla for his specialized 1c 1851-60 exhibit collection, but the Plate 2 pane, containing the rare Position 99R2 Type III, was cut apart, destroying what had long been regarded as one of the most important pieces in classic philately. Its decimation left the Plate 1 pane as the last 1c 1851 Issue pane extant.
Illustrated in Ashbrook’s The United States One Cent Stamp of 1851-1857 (1938 edition, Vol. 1, p. 141 and fig. 16-Q, p. 143). Illustrated in Neinken’s The United States One Cent Stamp of 1851 to 1861(fig. 11-P, p. 128). Ex Samuel L. Richey, Mortimer L. Neinken, Ryohei Ishikawa, Roland H. Cipolla II, William H. Gross and Ambassador J. William Middendorf II.
3c Orange Brown, Ty. II (10A). Mint N.H. block of four, Positions 84-85/94-95L0, brilliant color, ample margins to clear all around, light vertical creases in both rows and a few faint toned spots in the margins
VERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN INCREDIBLY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED BLOCK OF THE 3-CENT 1851 ORANGE BROWN. THIS IS THE ONLY EXAMPLE CONTAINED IN POWER SEARCH.
Blocks of the 3c 1851 Issue in the Orange Brown shade, of either Scott 10 or 10A, are rare in any gum condition. Power Search contains fewer than 15 original-gum blocks offered in our auctions since 1993 and every block of four we offered that had a description of the gum was described as hinged. This block from Plate 0 was once part of a block of 14, offered in our 1993 Rarities sale and broken up by Jack Molesworth after the sale. There was also once a Plate 0 block of 12, ex Piller and Zoellner. That block has also been broken up.
Scott value as hinged.
3c Plum, Ty. II (11A var). Position 82L2, unused (no gum), deep rich color in the Plum shade, large margins to barely into frameline at upper right
VERY FINE. THE ONLY UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE SCARCE 3-CENT 1851 IN THE PLUM SHADE WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED.
The 3c Plum is one of the more popular color rarities of the 3c 1851 Issue, in part because it is more distinct and identifiable than some of the other elusive shades. The dispersal of the Dr. Wilbur F. Amonette estate by Siegel in Sale 1367 in 2025 certainly increased the supply of 3c Plums in used condition, but unused is another matter entirely. Power Search does not contain an unused example in any gum condition. For the collector of unused U.S. classics, this is a rare opportunity to fill a space that was likely to remain empty for a very long time (if not forever).
From the Dr. Amonette estate. Accompanied by his signed card certifying the position and shade with the comment "VF example of the rare Plum shade that matches this color in Dr. Chase's master color chart".
With 2025 P.F. certificate. Unlisted in Scott as unused. Scott value as used is $2,000.
12c Black, Part India Paper (17 var). Horizontal pair, Mint N.H. gum which is unevenly applied (a characteristic of all original-gum examples on Part India paper), enormous margins all around including left sheet margin and portions of seven adjoining stamps, distinctive Grayish Black shade and early proof-like impression on unusually bright paper with soft fibrous texture, completely sound
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A TRULY SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED PAIR OF THE 12-CENT 1851 ISSUE ON PART INDIA PAPER. THIS PAIR HAS BEEN GRADED GEM 100 JUMBO BY BOTH P.S.E. AND THE P.F. — THE HIGHEST GRADE POSSIBLE.
The 3c and 12c 1851 Issue are both found on Part India paper, which is a hand-made silky paper that varies in thickness within the same sheet. The Neinken 12c 1851-57 book (pp. 61-64) quotes from earlier publications by Ashbrook, Chase and Jaeger, which describe the look and feel of Part India stamps. Referring to a pair (ex Richey) and strip of five (ex Newbury), the 12c Part India stamps are described as "undoubtedly from the very first impressions from the Twelve Cent plate. The engravings are very sharp and resemble die proofs or plate proofs on India. The shades of both these items are of the earliest known, the distinctive grayish." It is also speculated that the Part India stamps "came from 'trial printings' i.e., proof sheets that were afterwards thrown in the regular stock, then gummed and issued to various post offices." Although the 12c Part India paper has been described as "thin" or "very thin", it is actually thicker when gauged on a micrometer. Its "thinness" is better described as "softness", a paper characteristic that enhances the impression, but appears to have been problematic in gumming.
With 2018 P.F. and 2017 P.S.E. certificates (both Gem 100 Jumbo). SMQ does not price pairs, but a Mint N.H. single graded only Gem 100 is priced at $165,000.
24c Gray Lilac (37). Vertical block of twelve, original gum, positions 5, 6, 8, 10 and 11 Mint N.H., remarkably fresh and well-centered
FINE-VERY FINE AND RARE BLOCK OF THE 24-CENT 1860 ISSUE — ONE OF THE LARGEST RECORDED MULTIPLES.
According to Linn's Stamp Facts, the largest recorded multiple is an irregular block of 22 with reinforced perf separations (ex Dupuy, last offered in our Sale 1000, lot 1021, no stamps are Mint N.H.). Two blocks of 20 are also known (one is ex Caspary, Klein, Zoellner and Dupuy, with four Mint N.H. stamps, last offered in Sale 1100, lot 5). We are also aware of three other blocks of twelve, including a left selvage block from our 1989 Rarities sale (Sale 989, lot 77) and the iconic and unique imprint and plate number block of twelve offered in our 2019 sale of the Gross collection (Sale 1200, lot 48). The block offered here, with five Mint N.H. stamps and in such choice condition, is a remarkable rarity.
Ex "Sevenoaks" and Wingate. With 1996 P.F. certificate. Scott value as two blocks of four and two pairs.
30c Orange (38). Block of 21 in 7 x 3 format, original gum, bright color and exceptionally fresh, some minor reinforcements, small tears in a few bottom-row stamps and fourth stamp at top nicked from separation
FINE. THIS IS THE LARGEST RECORDED UNUSED MULTIPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1860 ISSUE. A GREAT RARITY OF CLASSIC PHILATELY.
Official correspondence between the Post Office and Toppan Carpenter reveals that the decision to print 30c stamps in orange followed a printing in black on stamp paper. The existence of imperforate 30c Black stamps created controversy years ago, when some philatelists argued that the black stamps were a legitimate issue. A brief history of the early approval and production process is worth telling.
Toppan Carpenter submitted proofs of the 30c stamp to Third Assistant Postmaster Zevely in June 1860, suggesting printing the stamps in black to highlight the engraving. The design was approved on June 27, 1860. On July 2 Toppan Carpenter sent Zevely plate proof sheets of the 12c and 30c in black to show that the design differences were sufficient to tell the stamps apart, even if both were black, and Zevely replied with approval for the 30c to be printed in black. On July 11 Toppan Carpenter wrote again to Zevely, giving their opinion that it would be difficult to adequately cancel the 30c stamps if they were black, and suggesting that the color should be switched to "buff." Zevely approved "orange buff" color, and Toppan Carpenter promised to deliver 280,000 stamps by July 31. As with all of the stamps in circulation when the Civil War broke out, the 30c was demonetized in the fall of 1861.
Displayed at ANPHILEX 1996 Invited Exhibits (by Zoellner). Ex Alfred H. Caspary (H. R. Harmer sale, 1/16-18/1956, lot 809, to Weill), Josiah K. Lilly, Jr. (Siegel Sale 327, 2/7-8/1968, lot 18, to Weill for Bechtel), Stephen D. Bechtel, Sr. (collection sold privately in 1993; block sold privately to Zoellner), Robert Zoellner (Sale 804, 10/8-10/1998, lot 148, to Gross) and William H. Gross (Sale 1200, 5/8-9/2019, lot 50). Scott value $60,900 as three blocks, four pairs and single.
90c Blue (39). Block of four, original gum, deep rich color and proof-like impression, choice centering, the left stamps are extraordinary
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A GORGEOUS ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE SHORT-LIVED 90-CENT 1860 ISSUE IN THE FINEST CONDITION ATTAINABLE. MULTIPLES OF THIS ISSUE ARE EXTREMELY RARE.
The 90c stamp was issued in 1860, along with the 24c and 30c values, all of which were needed to prepay high international letter rates established by various postal treaties. When supplies of current postage stamps were declared invalid in the South and ultimately demonetized by the federal government, the 90c had been in use for only one year. Most unused multiples probably come from supplies recovered from Southern post offices.
Ex Anderson, Whitman and Petersen. With 1980, 1992 and 2003 P.F. certificates.
90c Deep Blue, Reprint (47). Without gum as issued, deep rich color on bright paper, superior centering with wide margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1857 REPRINT, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY THE P.F. RARE IN SUCH PERFECT CONDITION.
Only 454 were sold. A significant number of these have the design either close or touching on one side.
With 2025 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95). By way of comparison, the highest grade awarded by P.S.E. is also a 95 (two examples, we have not offered one since the 2012 Merlin sale).
90c Deep Blue, Reprint (47). Without gum as issued, deep rich color on bright paper, wide margins and choice centering
EXTREMELY FINE. AN EXCEPTIONAL EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1860 REPRINT.
The Continental Bank Note Company reprinted the 90c stamp from the original plate of 200 subjects. 10,000 were printed (50 impressions). Only 454 were sold; the remaining 9,546 were destroyed on July 23, 1884.
With 2026 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90). Only two grade higher (at 95) and five others share this grade.