Sale 1388 — The Boardwalk Collection of Outstanding United States Stamps–Part One–19th Century Issues
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 23-24 September, 2026
Category — 1857-60 Issue: 3c-10c (Scott 25-35)
3c Claret, Ty. I (25). Original gum, deep rich color, choice centering for this challenging issue
EXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 3-CENT TYPE I PERFORATED ISSUE IN THE CLARET SHADE.
With 1998 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (OG, VF-XF 85). Only two grade higher (at 90) and three others share this grade. We checked with P.S.E. and none of the others graded 85 or 90 are in the Claret shade. SCV $3,250.
3c Rose, Ty. I (25). Original gum, single hinge mark, rich color, unusually precise centering with perfs mostly clear of framelines
VERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 3-CENT TYPE I PERFORATED ISSUE.
With 1980 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates.
3c Rose, Ty. II (25A). Position 31R2L, unused (no gum), scissors-separated leaving both vertical rows of perfs intact and with portions of adjoining stamps at sides, Fine, a rare unused perforated example from Plate 2 Late, Ty. II perforated stamps from Plates 2L and 3 are scarcer than from Plate 5L, ex Wagshal
3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26). Original gum, h.r., radiant color, unusually choice centering with Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1997 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo), only three grade higher (at 98)
3c Dull Red, Ty. III, Imperforate Vertically (26b). Horizontal pair, right stamp the "pendant under button" variety, large part original gum, warm color, separated a bit roughly at left, not surprising given the lack of perforations
FINE. THE ONLY RECORDED UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THIS MAJOR 3-CENT 1857 ISSUE RARITY.
Our review of The Philatelic Foundation records and a survey of auction catalogs failed to locate another unused example.
Ex Beals, Piller and Wagshal. With 1977 P.F. certificate.
Certificate
1977 PF No. 59751 View Cert
3c Dull Red, Ty. IV (26A). Original gum, rich color on bright paper, Very Fine, with 1990 P.F. certificate for block
Certificate
1990 PF No. 0235224 View Cert
3c Dull Red, Ty. IV (26A). Positions 2-3/12-13L10L, top selvage block of four with double transfer, original gum, h.r. mostly confined to selvage, color slightly oxidized, about Fine, a very rare original-gum block of the Type IV, ex Wagshal, with 1983 P.F. certificate
Certificate
1983 PF No. 0121511 View Cert
3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26). 19 singles, original gum, couple Mint N.H., several varieties incl. Mint N.H. triple frameline at left, two double rows of perfs, full corner selvage, flaw on shoulder (Position 34R20), another with part imprint, range of shades, couple small faults, overall Fine-Very Fine, interesting group, Scott value as all hinged and with no premium for the varieties
5c Brick Red (27). Unused (regummed), brilliant color, typical centering for this challenging issue, short perfs at bottom left
FINE. A SCARCE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 5-CENT BRICK RED, SCOTT 27.
Many collectors know this issue by type and shade, but fewer are aware of the order of production (or release). This state of confusion is partly due to the Scott Catalogue. The distinctive Brick Red shade of the 5c 1857 Issue comes first in the series of Scott-listed perforated 5c issues, but its true release date comes later in the sequence. The distinctive Brick Red shade might have been the result of an aberration in mixing ink to achieve the darker Red Brown color, resulting in stamps that look more like the 3c value (Scott 26 and related types). The earliest documented use of October 6, 1858, points to a late release of sheets from the early 1858 printing, which produced the Bright Red Brown and Indian Red shades.
With 1982 A.P.S. certificate.
Certificate
1982 A.P.S. No. 49483 View Cert
5c Red Brown (28). Unused (no gum), deep rich color on bright paper, tiny corner perf creases not noted on certificate
FINE APPEARANCE. A SCARCE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 5-CENT RED BROWN, SCOTT 28.
With 1980 A.P.S. certificate.
Certificate
1980 A.P.S. No. 39341 View Cert
5c Indian Red (28A). Original gum which by today's standards would be called redistributed, lovely warm Indian Red color, reperfed at bottom
VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 5-CENT INDIAN RED ISSUE. THIS IS ONE OF THE RAREST ORIGINAL-GUM STAMPS IN UNITED STATES PHILATELY — ONLY SEVEN INDIAN RED STAMPS WITH ANY AMOUNT OF GUM ARE CONTAINED IN OUR RECORDS.
Our search of old auction catalogues and the records of The Philatelic Foundation and P.S.E. yielded only 15 unused examples of Scott 28A including this stamp. Of these, only seven have been described as having any gum whatsoever. These are:
1) The stamp offered in the Whitman sale (Sale 968, lot 37), previously in the 1941 C. A. Brown sale by Harmer, Rooke & Co. where described as "full original gum", also ex 1968 Rarities sale and A. T. Seymour Collection (Sale 373, lot 35) where described as "large part original gum" and 2005 Rarities sale (lot 102)
2) Ex "Ambassador" (Sale 300, lot 45A), described as part original gum, also ex "Argentum" (Sale 807, lot 76) where described as "unused (traces of gum)"
3) Ex Caspary and Lilly, described in both catalogues as full original gum and with light horizontal crease, offered in our auction of the Hoffman collection (Sale 956, lot 35)
4) Ex Geisler and "Laila" (Sale 972, lot 3039), part original gum, light diagonal crease and two small corner creases
5) Large part original gum, small corner creases, surfaced in an estate in 2009 (Sale 976, lot 1224), graded POG Fine 70 by PSE, last offered by us in our 2019 Rarities sale
6) Disturbed original gum, sound, graded VF 80 by P.S.E.
7) The example offered here, offered in Sale 430, lot 103, again in 1982 (Sale 605, lot 93), and in Ivy, Shreve & Mader 1992 World Columbian Expo auction (lot 224) where acquired by the current owner
With 1973 and 1992 P.F. certificates. Scott value $160,000.
5c Brown (29). Original gum, small h.r., bright color, tiny natural inclusion to the left of Jefferson's right ear
VERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1859 5-CENT BROWN TYPE I, SCOTT 29. A RARE STAMP IN THIS CONDITION.
Most original-gum examples of this issue are either off center or have small faults.
With 1987 P.F. certificate.
Certificate
1987 PF No. 0171959 View Cert
5c Brown (29). Unused (no gum), deep rich color, thin spot and sealed tears at top, Very Fine appearance
5c Orange Brown, Ty. II (30). Unused (no gum), intense shade and impression, unusually choice centering with well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 1979 P.F. certificate
Certificate
1979 PF No. 79313 View Cert
5c Brown, Ty. II (30A). Original gum, lightly hinged, rich color and detailed impression, wide and balanced margins
EXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 5-CENT BROWN TYPE II, SCOTT 30A.
With 1998 P.F. and P.S.E. certificates.
10c Green, Type I (31). Unused (no gum), deep rich color, choice centering, tiny pinhole
VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 10-CENT TYPE I, SCOTT 31.
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. The example offered here is a notable exception to that rule.
Ex Dr. Test ("Concord", 1994 Rarities of the World sale). With 1961 P.F. certificate.
Certificate
1961 PF No. 14387 View Cert
10c Green, Ty. II (32). Original gum, lightly hinged, rich color on bright paper, perfs scissors-separated at bottom but intact, unusually choice centering
EXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE FINEST KNOWN ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THE 1857 PERFORATED 10-CENT TYPE II, SCOTT 32.
The first perforated 10c stamps produced by Toppan Carpenter from sheets printed from Plate 1 are notorious among collectors for their poor centering. They are also very scarce in original-gum condition because, unlike 10c Plate 2 stamps (Scott 35), there were no supplies on hand in 1861 when the issue was demonetized due to the outbreak of the Civil War.
With 1980 P.F. certificate for block of four.
Certificate
1980 PF No. 89055 View Cert
10c Green, Ty. III (33). Original gum, lightly hinged, wonderful centering with wide margins, rich color on bright fresh paper, intact perfs at bottom
EXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE FINEST KNOWN ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THE 1857 PERFORATED 10-CENT TYPE III. A SPECTACULAR STAMP IN TERMS OF CENTERING, COLOR, IMPRESSION AND GUM.
The first perforated 10c stamps produced by Toppan Carpenter from sheets printed from Plate 1 are notorious among collectors for their poor centering. They are also very scarce in original-gum condition because, unlike 10c Plate 2 stamps (Scott 35), there were no supplies on hand in 1861 when the issue was demonetized due to the outbreak of the Civil War.
Ex "Scarsdale" and "Hanover". With 1992 and 2002 P.F. certificates.
10c Green, Ty. IV (34). Position 55L1, recut at bottom, unused (no gum), deep rich color on bright paper, well-balanced margins with perforations well clear of the design on all sides
EXTREMELY FINE. THE 10-CENT TYPE IV PERFORATED 1857 ISSUE IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL CLASSIC UNITED STATES STAMPS IN SOUND UNUSED CONDITION. THIS SUPERB STAMP POSSESSES REMARKABLE FRESHNESS AND SUPERB CENTERING.
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 two other sound examples.
With 2004 P.F. certificate.
Addenda: There is a dark spot to the left of the upper left "X" that appears to be long-term change in the paper caused by a repair or stain removal made prior to the issuance of the 2004 P.F. certificate.
Certificate
2004 PF No. 0408690 View Cert
10c Green, Ty. IV (34). Position 76L1, recut at bottom, unused (no gum), rich color, few faults such as thin, short perf at upper left and perf crease at upper right
FINE APPEARANCE. A SCARCE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 10-CENT TYPE IV, SCOTT 34.
With 1973 A.P.S. certificate. Scott value $27,500.
Certificate
1973 A.P.S. No. 13631 View Cert
10c Green, Ty. V (35). Original gum, bright color, unusual area of dry printing at bottom, beautiful centering, Extremely Fine, with 1983 P.F. certificate
Certificate
1983 PF No. 0124281 View Cert