Sale 1391 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 13-15 October, 2026
Category — 1857-60 Issue (Scott 18-39)
1c Blue, Ty. Ia (19). Position 93R4, F Relief, deep rich color, scissors-separated causing few clipped perfs at top and with intact perfs at bottom which help to show the type characteristics
FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 PERFORATED ONE-CENT TYPE Ia.
Type Ia was produced by only 18 of the 20 bottom-row positions on Plate 4. Although Plate 4 was designed with sufficient space to accommodate perforations, the height of the top row and bottom row positions resulted in the perforations often cutting into the design at either top or bottom.
With 2018 P.S.E. certificate.
1c Blue, Ty. Ic (19b). Position 91R4, F Relief, unused (no gum), centered to bottom, small tears at top and bottom, otherwise Fine and scarce unused example of this position, which is one of the two "best examples" of Type Ic on the plate (both are F Reliefs from the bottom row, Positions 91R4 and 96R4), with 2007 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. I (18). Plate 12, C Relief, original gum, distinct mottled impression and color, about Fine, with 1998 P.S.E. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. II (20). Plate 12, A Relief, original gum, choice centering and margins, Extremely Fine, with 2008 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85)
1c Blue, Ty. II (20). Plate 12, B Relief, original gum, lightly hinged, pretty shade, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine, ex "Vineyard", with 1982 and 1999 P.F. certificates
1c Blue, Ty. III (21). Plate 4, original gum, lightly hinged, brilliant color on crisp paper, choice centering for this difficult issue and showing clear breaks in outer lines at both top and bottom (the characteristic of the type)
EXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE PERFORATED 1857 ONE-CENT TYPE III STAMP. VERY FEW EXIST IN ANY TYPE OF ACCEPTABLE ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION. THE INCREDIBLE CENTERING AND REMARKABLY FRESH ORIGINAL GUM MAKE THIS STAMP A PHENOMENAL CONDITION RARITY.
Ex Hoffman and "El Dorado". With 1991 and 2006 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85). With 2025 P.S.E. certificate (VF 80). P.S.E. has only graded five others — one at 75, and two each at 85 and 90 (we have only ever offered the 75). We feel this deserves an 85 grade. SCV $17,500. SMQ value as the 80.
(Image Magnifier)1c Blue, Ty. III (21). Plate 4, unused (no gum), deep rich color
FINE AND SCARCE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT 1857 TYPE III PERFORATED ISSUE.
With 2002 P.F. certificate.
1c Blue, Ty. III (21). Plate 4, showing clear breaks at top and bottom, deep rich color, unusually choice centering, circular datestamp cancel
EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 ONE-CENT TYPE III, GRADED XF 90 BY P.S.E.
With 1978 and 2003 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90). SCV $1,350.
1c Blue, Ty. IIIa-III (22-21). Positions 25-26L4, horizontal pair, right stamp Ty. III, rich color, grid cancels, centered to top, about Fine, accompanied by cover from which it originated with note on back confirming Neinken plating, with 2002 A.P.S. certificate erroneously stating 24-26L4
1c Blue, Ty. IIIa (22). Plate 11, B Relief, original gum, rich color and attractive centering, Very Fine, with 1994 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates
1c Blue, Ty. IV (23). Recut once at bottom, margin in at top preventing identification of any further recuts, original gum, pulled perf at top, otherwise Very Good, with 1994 P.F. certificate, SCV $9,000
1c Blue, Ty. V (24). Mint N.H., rich color and well-centered, Very Fine and choice, Scott value as hinged
1c Blue, Ty. V (24). Positions 31-33/41-43/51-53/61-63L10, left imprint and plate no. 10 block of twelve, original gum, multiple h.r. including reinforcing some perf separations, rich color, few faults including scuffs and or thins on a few, some soiling at top, otherwise Fine and scarce plate block of twelve, SCV $5,100 as plate block of eight and two pairs
3c Rose, Ty. I (25). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich color, choice centering for this challenging issue
EXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 3-CENT TYPE I PERFORATED ISSUE.
From the Nathanael Greene collection. With 2021 (as Claret) and 2022 (as Dull Red) P.F. certificates (latter VF-XF 85). With 2025 P.S.E. certificate as Rose shade (OGph, VF-XF 85). Whatever the proper color identification, only two grade higher (at 90) and three others share this grade. SCV $3,250.
3c Rose, Ty. I (25). Original gum, accompanying certificate states Mint N.H. but we believe a few specks of disturbances or adherences may knock it out of that category on recertification, also two perf disc adherences, deep rich color, fresh and Fine, with 1998 P.F. certificate stating Mint N.H., Scott value as hinged
3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26). Mint N.H., choice centering and rich color, Extremely Fine for this tightly spaced issue, with 1988 P.F. certificate, SCV as hinged
3c Garnet Brown, Ty. IV (26A var). Position 25R10i, exceptional depth of color, large Boston "Paid" grid cancel, Extremely Fine, from the Nathanael Greene collection, with 2019 P.S.A.G. certificate stating Garnet Brown (XF 90), with 2025 P.F. certificate stating "Ridgway Garnet Brown, Plate I, Row K" (XF 90)
5c Brick Red (27). Large part original gum which covers most of the back, brilliant color in the distinctive Brick Red shade
VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 5-CENT BRICK RED SHADE -- IN OUR OPINION, THE BRICK RED IS ONE OF THE RAREST STAMPS OF THE CLASSIC PERIOD IN SOUND CONDITION WITH ORIGINAL GUM.
The 5c Jefferson stamp in the Brick Red color, Scott 27, is one of the more enigmatic issues produced by Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co. during the period from 1851 to 1861. Its color is nothing like the Red Brown or Brown shades of stamps printed from Plate 1 (the Type I design), and its odd chronological place in the order of 5c shades leads to the intriguing, but probably unprovable, idea that the Brick Red might have resulted from a mistake in mixing inks.
There are six shades associated with 5c Type I Perforated stamps. The 1856-57 Red Brown and the 1858 Red Brown are both listed under Scott 28, but they represent two different printings. The Bright Red Brown, Scott 28b, is really just an intermediate shade from the 1858 printing, with the regular Red Brown, Scott 28, at the lighter end of the spectrum, and the Indian Red, Scott 28A, at the more intense end. The Brown, Scott 29, was printed in 1859 and has much less reddish hue. Finally, the Brick Red, the outcast in the group, is given the first Scott number of the 5c Type I Perforated stamps (Scott 27), but chronologically falls at the end of the 1857 and 1858 shades. The earliest documented use of the Brick Red is October 6, 1858, after the EDUs of the Red Brown shades (Scott 28 and 28A) and well before the Brown (Scott 29).
The Brick Red color is so far removed from any of the other 5c shades, we strongly suspect it was made inadvertently while the printers tried to match the earlier 1856 Red Brown, after they put the plate to press for the printing that produced the 1858 Red Brown stamps. The Brick Red shade is actually closer to some of the 3c 1857 Red shades than it is to the 5c 1856 Red Brown.
Sheets of “experimental” Brick Red stamps would have been stacked before the subsequent Red Brown sheets were printed. However, when the sheets were removed from the top of the stack for distribution to post offices, “color corrected” sheets would be released before the Brick Red. The same “first stacked/last pulled” principle is demonstrated by date patterns for other issues.
To verify our intuition about the rarity of original-gum Brick Red stamps, we surveyed dozens of classic United States sale catalogues. We found approximately 25 stamps with original gum, allowing for duplicate offerings and excluding the one known original-gum block. Of the stamps we counted, about half had perfs touching two sides or were deeply cut into on one side. Almost two-thirds had stains or small faults. The example offered here is a condition rarity.
Ex Hoffman and Curtis. With 1980 and 2006 P.F. certificates.
5c Brick Red (27). Beautifully centered with perfs clear of the design at on all sides, vibrant Brick Red color, New Orleans circular datestamp cancels struck at top and bottom of the stamp, leaving Jefferson's face unobscured, also trace of red New York transit datestamp at bottom left
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL 1857 5-CENT BRICK RED WITH OUTSTANDING COLOR, CENTERING AND ESSENTIALLY FACE-FREE CANCELS.
We have offered 13 unduplicated used Scott 27s graded XF 90 or higher. Nearly every one has a cancel that obscures at least part of Jefferson's face from his eyes or below. This is a noteworthy and beautiful exception.
From the Nathanael Greene collection. Ex Wagshal as a strip of three on cover. With copy of 2010 P.F. certificate for the cover and with 2022 P.F. certificate as this single (XF 90 XQ). The "XQ" stands for "Extraordinary Quality". With 2026 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90). SCV $1,450.
(Image Magnifier)5c Red Brown (28). Original gum which covers most of the back, beautiful warm 1858 shade approaching Indian Red (which is how this was originally submitted for certification), in our opinion 5c Type I stamps in this shade are either Indian Red (Scott 28A) or Bright Red Brown (Scott 28b), perfs just in at bottom, small corner crease at top left
FINE APPEARING AND RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 5-CENT RED BROWN.
The 5c Red Brown Type I perforated stamps (Scott 28) come in shades that fall into two categories. The "1856" shade is the Red Brown that matches the imperforate issue, Scott 12, for the simple reason that they were made from the sheets still on hand in mid-1857 when perforations were introduced. The next printing, in early 1858, produced the brighter Red Brown shade, as well as the intense Bright Red Brown (Scott 28b) and Indian Red (Scott 28A) shades. An aberration in the ink mixing probably also produced the Brick Red (Scott 27) during this 1858 printing. The stamp offered here is an 1858 Red Brown shade with exceptional intensity, bordering on Bright Red Brown and Indian Red.
The number of original-gum Scott 28 singles falls somewhere between the numbers for the Brick Red (Scott 27) and the Indian Red (Scott 28A), which catalogue $80,000 and $160,000, respectively.
Ex Geisler and Curtis. With 1984 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates.
5c Red Brown (28). Original gum which covers nearly the entire back, gorgeous deep rich color from the 1858 printing approaching the Indian Red shade, old P.F. certificate states "slight crease" which in our opinion is, at worst, a negligible bend
FINE APPEARING AND RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 5-CENT RED BROWN.
The 5c Red Brown Type I perforated stamps (Scott 28) come in shades that fall into two categories. The "1856" shade is the Red Brown that matches the imperforate issue, Scott 12, for the simple reason that they were made from the sheets still on hand in mid-1857 when perforations were introduced. The next printing, in early 1858, produced the brighter Red Brown shade, as well as the intense Bright Red Brown (Scott 28b) and Indian Red (Scott 28A) shades. An aberration in the ink mixing probably also produced the Brick Red (Scott 27) during this 1858 printing. The stamp offered here is an 1858 Red Brown shade with exceptional intensity, bordering on Bright Red Brown and Indian Red.
The number of original-gum Scott 28 singles falls somewhere between the numbers for the Brick Red (Scott 27) and the Indian Red (Scott 28A), which catalogue $80,000 and $160,000, respectively.
Ex Simon and from our 1980 Rarities sale. With 1964 P.F. certificate.
5c Brown (29). Unused (no gum), well-centered for this difficult issue with perfs clear of outer projections on all sides, rich color and detailed impression
VERY FINE AND CHOICE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT BROWN 1857 ISSUE.
Due to the narrow spacing between subjects on the first 5c 1856 plate, many of the stamps have the outer projections touched or cut into by the perforations.
With 1994 P.F. certificate.
5c Orange Brown, Ty. II (30). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich color, well-centered for this difficult issue with nicely balanced margins, Very Fine and choice, a pretty stamp, ex Lyons, with 1999 P.F. certificate
5c Orange Brown, Ty. II (30). Unused (no gum), rich color, three balanced margins and touched at bottom, fresh and Fine
5c Brown, Ty. II (30A). Original gum, three balanced margins, touched at bottom where there is a slightly nibbed perf not mentioned on certificate, appears Fine, with clear 1998 P.F. certificate
5c Brown, Ty. II (30A). Choice centering, unobtrusive strikes of red grid cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2012 P.F. certificate
10c Green, Ty. I (31). Position 93L1, original gum, hinge marks, deep rich color and proof-like impression, virtually intact perforations at left and bottom which preserve the full shell at bottom right (the defining characteristic of Type I)
FINE AND EXTREMELY RARE SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 10-CENT TYPE I PERFORATED ISSUE.
Type I characteristics are only found on the 20 stamps that comprise the bottom row of the plate. Due to narrow spacing on the plate and difficulties in aligning the perforating machine, stamps at the bottom of the plate usually have perforations cutting into the bottom portion of the design. This is a negative, because Type I is defined as having the design complete at bottom. The population of stamps available to collectors showing the type characteristics is extremely limited, especially when other factors such as gum and soundness are taken into consideration. The example offered here, in sound condition and showing the design characteristics, is extremely desirable.
Ex Hall. With 1994 P.F. certificate.
10c Green, Ty. II (32). Original gum, outstanding centering with balanced margins, deep rich color, diagonal crease and few small tears, Extremely Fine appearance, with 2007 P.F. certificate
10c Green, Ty. II (32). Incredibly well-centered with wide margins clear of design on all four sides, rich color, light circular datestamp
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A GORGEOUS USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 PERFORATED 10-CENT TYPE II, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
A remarkable stamp which in our opinion should qualify for the grade of 98. With 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95). Only two grade higher (at 98).
10c Green, Ty. III (33). Unused (no gum), choice centering and wide margins for this difficult issue, fresh color, light corner crease at bottom right, Very Fine appearance, ex Curtis, with 1994 P.S.E. certificate
10c Green, Ty. IV (34). Position 3R1, recut at top, the misplaced relief position showing breaks in lines above each "X", unused (no gum), centered to left, small natural inclusion in Washington's hair is not a fault but is mentioned on accompanying certificate
VERY GOOD CENTERING. THE 10-CENT TYPE IV PERFORATED 1857 ISSUE IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL CLASSIC UNITED STATES STAMPS IN SOUND UNUSED CONDITION.
The 1857 10c Type IV stamps come from eight positions scattered throughout Plate 1 that have the top, bottom or both lines recut. Only 4% of all 10c Plate 1 stamps produced were Type IV's, and an even smaller percentage was issued with perforations. A review of our computerized auction records for Scott 34 in unused condition found only a few other sound examples. Position 3R1 offered here is one of the three misplaced relief positions on the plate, and is the only recut position on the entire right pane of the plate.
With 1992 P.F. certificate.
10c Green, Ty. IV (34). Position 55L1, recut at bottom, pretty shade and nicely centered, light cancel, fresh and Very Fine, with 1992 and 2026 P.F. certificates (VF 80)
10c Green, Ty. V (35). Original gum, wide margins, Very Fine, with 2000 P.F. and 2005 007 P.S.E. certificates (OGh, VF 80)
12c Black, Plate 1 (36). Original gum, lightly hinged, well-centered with balanced margins, intense shade, fresh and Very Fine, a difficult stamo to find in centered and sound original-gum condition, with 1995 P.F. certificate, with 1990 and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, VF 80), only three grade higher, SCV $1,700
12c Black, Plate 3 (36B). Original gum, choice centering, single slightly short perf at top, still Very Fine, with clear 2004 P.F. certificate
12c Black, Plate 3 (36B). Deep shade, large grid cancel, unusually wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 2008 and 2020 P.F. and 2025 P.S.E. certificates (last two XF 90)
24c Gray Lilac (37). Original gum, lightly hinged, rich color, Fine, with 1999 P.F. certificate
24c Gray Lilac, Imperforate (37P5; formerly 37c). Unused (no gum), ample to huge margins including bottom sheet margin, Very Fine and choice, ex Curtis, with 1999 P.F. certificate as No. 37c
30c Orange (38). Part original gum which covers approximately half the back, bright color and attractive centering for this tightly spaced issue, Very Fine, with 2005 P.F. certificate, Scott value as original gum
30c Orange, Imperforate (38P5; formerly 38a). Unused (no gum), large margins to clear at top, brilliant color, Very Fine, with 1987 P.F. certificate as No. 38a
90c Blue (39). Original gum, dark shade, tiny toned spot in top margin noted on certificate, couple nibbed perfs at top not mentioned on certificate, Fine appearance, with 2005 P.F. certificate
90c Blue (39). Deep rich color, unusually choice centering with wide and balanced margins, red grid cancel which is completely face-free, leaving the beautiful youthful Washington vignette unobscured
EXTREMELY FINE. An EXCEPTIONAL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1860 ISSUE, WITH GORGEOUS CENTERING, RICH COLOR AND A FACE-FREE RED GRID CANCEL, GRADED XF 90 BY BOTH P.S.E. AND THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION.
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. The basic 24c and 30c rates to England, France and Germany created a volume of mail franked with those values. However, the 90c saw much more limited use, partly due to the rates in effect, but more because of the American Civil War. 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. For this reason, genuinely cancelled copies are scarce, and covers bearing the 90c are extremely rare.
The P.S.E. Population report for Scott 39 used has a total of four in the grades of 90 (three) and 95 (one), the highest grades reported. Power Search located only three in the 90 grade between P.S.E. and the P.F., including the stamp offered here, with none higher. Suffice to say that this rare used classic issue has an extremely low population of high-grade examples.
From the Nathanael Greene collection. Ex Gorham. With 1988, 2001 and 2022 P.F. certificates (XF 90). With 2026 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90). Only two share this grade at P.S.E. and one grades higher. SCV $10,000.
(Image Magnifier)90c Blue (39). Rich color, cancelled by blue Baltimore Md. circular datestamp, repaired, reperfed and with toned spot, otherwise Very Fine, a scarce stamp in used condition, with 1989 and 2011 P.F. certificates, SCV $10,400