Sale 1391 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 13-15 October, 2026
Category — 1861-66 Issue (Scott 63-78b)
1c Blue (63). Mint N.H. block of four, bright color, centered to top right, about Fine, a scarce Mint N.H. block, Scott value as hinged
1c Blue, 3c Rose (63, 65). Mint N.H., both with rich color, Fine, 1c with copy of 1990 P.F. certificate for a large block, Scott value as hinged
3c Pink (64). Original gum, bright color, short perf at left and right, Fine appearing and scarce original-gum example of the 3c Pink, with 1986 P.F. certificate, SCV $14,000
3c Rose Pink (64b). Original gum, lightly hinged, excellent centering with balanced margins, Extremely Fine, scarce with original gum in such choice condition, ex Clifford Cole (Sale 689), with 1988 P.F. certificate
3c Rose (65). With bottom right corner sheet selvage, original gum, Very Fine, with 2005 P.F. certificate
3c Dull Red Brown (65 var). Mint N.H., rich color in this shade which differs significantly from the primary Scott-listed Rose, wide margins, Very Fine, with 2001 P.F. certificate, Scott value as hinged
3c Lake, Imperforate (66TC6a; formerly 66a). Horizontal pair with top sheet margin, original gum, large margins other sides, Extremely Fine, with 1987 P.F. certificate as Scott 66a
5c Buff (67). Part original gum which covers a bit less than half the back, also h.r. at middle and top so perhaps some more gum underneath, deep rich color, centered to upper right
FINE AND RARE SOUND UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1861 BUFF.
The 5c Brown Yellow and Buff shades are among the rarest of 1861-66 Issue stamps in original-gum condition. Perhaps the only shade varieties rarer are the 3c Pigeon Blood Pink and 24c Blackish Violet (Scott 64a and 78c), but Scott 67 is a major catalogue listing and is, therefore, more significant to completion of the series.
1969 and 1984 P.F. certificates no longer accompany. With 2005 P.F. certificate. Scott value $30,000 as original gum and $12,500 as no gum.
5c Brown Yellow (67a). Unused (no gum), vivid color trending toward the Olive Yellow and actually certified that way on older P.S.E. certificate, tiny inclusion between letters "US" not mentioned on certificate
FINE AND RARE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1861 BROWN YELLOW, WHICH APPROACHES THE OLIVE YELLOW SHADE.
With 1991 P.S.E. certificate as No. 67b and also stating regummed (gum has since been removed).
10c Dark Green (68a). Unused (regummed), intense dark color, well-centered, Very Fine and choice, with 2006 P.F. certificate as regummed, Scott value as no gum
12c Black (69). Large part original gum which covers about two-thirds of the back, well-centered with nicely balanced margins, intense shade
VERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1861 ISSUE.
With 1985 and 2005 P.F. certificates.
24c Red Lilac (70). Original gum, small h.r., deep rich color, centered to bottom right, Fine, with 2002 P.S.E. certificate
24c Brown Lilac (70a). Unused (regummed), radiant color on bright paper, Very Fine
24c Steel Blue (70b). Unused (no gum), bright color in the unmistakable Steel Blue, well-centered but reperfed at bottom, Very Fine appearance, with 1995 P.F. certificate
30c Orange (71). Disturbed original gum called "hinged" on accompanying certificate, also h.r., bright color, slightly nibbed perf at bottom not mentioned on certificate, still Very Fine, with clear 2004 P.S.E. certificate (OGh, VF 80), SCV $2,750
30c Orange (71). Precise centering, vivid color, face-free strike of grid cancel
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT USED EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1861 ISSUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
From the Nathanael Greene collection. Ex Myerson and Dr. Grassi. With 1994 P.F. and 2015 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95). Only four grade higher and five share this grade.
90c Blue (72). Block of four, original gum, lightly hinged, remarkably choice centering, beautiful bright shade on fresh paper, well-formed perforations all around, some reinforced vertical perf separations
extremely fine. The finest known original-gum block of the 90-cent 1861 Issue.
There are approximately ten blocks of the 90c 1861 with original gum that are centered strongly to upper left, have similar dark color, and have malformed perforation holes, the result of the pins failing to fully punch through the thick paper on which these stamps are printed. These 90c blocks undoubtedly came from the same sheet.
This block is unlike that group of off-center blocks. Its distinctive bright shade, precise centering and fully formed perforations are desirable characteristics not found among the other known multiples, except for one that no longer exists as a block. It is found in the Henry B. Close sale (Eugene Costales, 6/23-26/1952, lot 185), and was offered later in the 1969 Rarities of the World sale (Sale 350, lot 76). It has identical centering and color, and we are confident it joined the block offered here in the original sheet. It was divided into singles after its 1969 Rarities sale appearance.
From the Nathanael Greene collection. Ex Zoellner, Gross and "Dragonfly". With 1977 and 2019 P.F. certificates.
90c Blue (72). Original gum, lightly hinged, rich color and detailed impression on bright paper, unusually choice centering, one short perf at right, still Extremely Fine, with 2011 P.S.A.G. certificate (XF 90) not showing the short perf
90c Blue (72). Slightly disturbed original gum, dark shade, three wide margins and well clear at left, fresh and Fine, with 2004 P.F. certificate stating "slightly disturbed o.g.", SCV $3,250
ADDENDA: THE CERTIFICATE IS 2004 P.F. (UNGRADED) AND STATES "SLIGHTLY DISTURBED O.G."
90c Blue (72). Original gum, deep rich color, Fine, with 1999 and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, F 70), Scott value $3,250
ADDENDA: THE CERTIFICATES THAT ACCOMPANY ARE 1999 AND 2005 P.S.E. AND DO NOT STATE DISTURBED GUM (F 70; SMQ $1,600)
90c Blue (72). Deep rich color, two strikes of target cancel, unusually choice centering with wide and balanced margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 90-CENT BLUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
With 1989 and 1999 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95).
90c Blue (72). Beautifully balanced margins, brilliant color, blue Cincinnati O. circular datestamp cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful used example of the 1861 issue top value with a blue cancel, ex "Penguin", with 2006 and 2011 P.F. certificates
2c Black (73). Mint N.H., natural diagonal gum bend not mentioned on certificate, intense shade, Very Fine, with 2016 P.F. certificate, Scott value as hinged
3c Scarlet (74). Original gum, brilliant color, centered to bottom right
FINE AND SCARCE EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 3-CENT SCARLET TRIAL PRINTING WITHOUT PEN MARKS AND WITH ORIGINAL GUM.
The story of the 3c Scarlet was documented by the late Jerome S. Wagshal in a series of articles appearing in the Chronicle (Nos. 56, 60, 61 and 62). Wagshal quotes statements made in 1893 and 1910 by a Washington D.C. stamp dealer, Carl F. Rothfuchs, to the effect that Rothfuchs obtained a supply of the 3c Scarlet in 1893 — probably from the Post Office Department in exchange for his assistance with the Columbian Exposition — and sold them with pen marks and original gum. The Rothfuchs lot is not from the same supply acquired by John W. Scott in the late 1870s, from which stamps exist uncancelled and cancelled with a New York City Station D oval.
Signed Costales. With 2014 P.F. certificate.
5c Red Brown (75). Original gum, lightly hinged, remarkably vibrant color and clear impression, choice centering on bright paper
VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1862 ISSUE IN THE RED BROWN SHADE. A STAMP OF PHENOMENAL BEAUTY.
The 5c Red Brown — issued in early 1862 after the Buff printing — is one of the 1861-66 stamps that challenges collectors who demand choice original-gum examples. Multiples of the Red Brown are extremely rare, with only one recorded original-gum block; therefore, there has never been a supply of blocks from which singles could be removed. The vast majority of original-gum singles are off-center or faulty. The example offered here is remarkable for its color — in the distinctive Red Brown shade — its lightly hinged gum, choice centering and a provenance to match its importance.
Ex Caspary, Hetherington, Klein and Drucker. With 1988 P.F. certificate.
5c Brown (76). Original gum, lightly hinged, well-centered and crisp impression, Very Fine, with 1990 P.F. certificate
5c Brown (76). Deep dark color, choice centering, essentially face-free circular cancel, fresh and Extremely Fine, from the Nathanael Greene collection, with 2003 and 2015 P.F. certificates (latter XF 90), with 2026 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90)
15c Black (77). Original gum, intense shade, attractive centering with three wide margins
VERY FINE AND SCARCE SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1866 15-CENT LINCOLN ISSUE.
With 1995 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates.
24c Lilac (78). Original gum, fresh color and paper, Fine, with 2003 P.S.E. certificate
24c Grayish Lilac (78a). Original gum, lovely warm shade on bright paper, far better centering than normally seen on this difficult issue
EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1863 ISSUE IN THE GRAYISH LILAC SHADE.
This shade is particularly difficult to obtain in sound, centered and original-gum condition. A Power Search of our sale records and a review of P.S.E. Population Report numbers will confirm this statement.
With 2006 P.F. certificate.
24c Gray (78b). Unused (no gum), beautifully balanced margins, tiny purple ink mark at top left, appears Extremely Fine, with 2020 P.F. certificate