Lot
3206 
1869, 15¢ brown & blue, type II, strong colors, tied by blue cork cancel duplexed with "Paris Ky. Jul 4" cds on 1870 Phantom Rate cover to Paris, France, indistinct red "New York, Paid All, Br. Transit" exchange backstamp and matching "6" credit handstamp, red London Paid (7.19) transit and matching "PD" oval, Calais (7.20) entry cds and Paris (7.21) arrival backstamp; reduced at left, Very Fine and attractive, ex-Hubbard, Coulter, Eubanks, Gilbart; with 2006 P.F. certificate. Scott No. 119 Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
A COLORFUL EXAMPLE OF THE THE PHANTOM RATE TO FRANCE SHOWING AN EARLY APPLICATION OF THE 6¢ CREDIT TO ENGLAND EFFECTIVE FROM JULY 1, 1870.
New York postmaster was aware that letters prepaid 10¢ could be sent fully paid to France in the British open mails. The public was unaware of the rate. This unannounced rate (sometimes referred to as a "phantom" rate) paid the letter to destination in France even though there was no treaty between the U.S. and France. New York credited 6¢ to G.B. and London marked the red circle PD to indicate the letter was properly paid from England to destination in France. This unannounced rate existed from July 1st 1870 to October 28th 1871, at which time the rate was published by the Postmaster General.
Realized: $850
Lot
3207
1869, 15¢ brown & blue, type II, deep rich colors, tied by segmented cork foreign mail cancel, purple "Philadelphia '12 Paid' Dec 10" credit exchange cds on small 1869 cover to Paris, France and forwarded to Alexandria, Egypt, addressed in care of Drexel, Harjes & Co. in Paris, blue "Forwarded by Drexel Harjes & Co., Paris" oval handstamp, blue Cherbourg (1.9) transit also ties stamp, red boxed "PD" handstamp, red manuscript "Alexandria" at upper left; some slight edgewear, Very Fine and scarce 15¢ 1869 use forwarded to Egypt, ex-Dr. Heimburger; with 2020 P.F. certificate. Scott No. 119 Estimate $750 - 1,000.
ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED 15¢ 1869 ISSUE USES FORWARDED TO EGYPT.
The 1869 PRA census lists only two covers with denominations higher than 12¢ to Egypt, the other is also from the same correspondence with a 15c Type II (ex-Coulter).
Realized: $1,050
Lot
3208
1869, 15¢ brown & blue, type II, rich colors, tied by cork cancel, matching bold "Marblehead, Mass., Jan. 5" double-circle datestamp on 1870 orange buff cover to Berlin, Prussia, red "New York, Paid All, Br. Transit, Jan 6" exchange cds, carried by Cunard Line Nemesis from New York Jan. 6th to Queenstown arriving Jan. 17th, Jan. 19th arrival backstamps; minor edgewear, Very Fine, ex-Heimburger. Scott No. 119 Estimate $400 - 600.
Beginning in 1870, the "Verviers-Coeln" exchange office marking was used less frequently and does not appear on all closed mail covers.
Lot
3209
1869, 15¢ brown & blue, type II, deep rich colors, tied by bold red circle of wedges foreign mail cancel duplexed with matching oily "Baltimore Md., Jan 28" cds on 1870 blue tissue-paper cover to Rome, Italy, red "New York, Paid All, Direct, Jan 29" exchange backstamp and matching red "4" credit handstamp, carried on the NGL Wesser II from New York Jan. 29th to Bremerhaven arriving Feb. 10th, red boxed "Bremen Franco" (2.10) framed transit and matching framed "Weiterfr. 1-1/2 Sgr." handstamp for credit beyond North German Union to Papal States, large purple framed "P.D." paid direct handstamp, Rome (2.15) arrival backstamp; some mended cover flaws, Very Fine appearance, 1¢ overpayment of the 14¢ rate by NGU Direct Mail to Rome, ex-Dr. Heimburger, Field. Scott No. 119 Estimate $400 - 600.
Lot 3210 o
1869, 24¢ green & violet, extraordinarily well centered within wide even margins, rich colors on bright paper, neat segmented cork cancel, a fresh Extremely Fine gem, ex-Morton; with 1996 P.F., and 2005, 2014, 2020 P.S.E. certificates, all P.S.E. Graded (XF-S 95, SMQ $4,250).Scott No. 120 $650.
A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 24¢ 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE WITH WONDERFUL COLOR, FRESHNESS AND CENTERING.
Realized: $2,300
Lot 3211 o
1869, 30¢ ultramarine & carmine, exceptionally well centered within stunning jumbo margins, deep radiant colors with detailed impressions, unobtrusive circle of wedges cancel, a Superb gem, ex-Price, Morton; with 1997 P.F. and 2016 P.S.E. certificates, latter Graded (XF-S 95, SMQ $3,700 as 95, $6,000 as 95J).Scott No. 121 $375.
A SPECTACULAR USED EXAMPLE OF THE 30¢ 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE, UNQUESTIONABLY ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE.
Three others have 95 Jumbo grades (with none higher), but this stamp is a rival to each and every one of them and we cannot understand the lack of a jumbo designation on this one.
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Realized: $4,000
Lot 3212 o
1869, 30¢ ultramarine & carmine, exceptionally well centered with wide balanced margins, bright color, red NYFM circle of wedges cancel, Extremely Fine and choice, ex-Myerson; with 2009 and 2021 P.S.E. certificates, both Graded (XF-S 95, SMQ $3,700 without red cancel premium).Scott No. 121 $625.
A GEM USED EXAMPLE OF THE 30¢ 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE BEAUTIFULLY CANCELED IN RED.
Realized: $3,250
Lot 3213 o
1869, 90¢ carmine & black, exceptionally well centered within huge margins, deep rich colors and proof-like impressions on brilliant white paper, an Extremely Fine jumbo, ex-Merlin; with 2011 P.S.E. certificate Graded (XF-S 95 Jumbo, SMQ S13,500).Scott No. 122 $2,000.
A EXTRAORDINARY USED EXAMPLE OF THE 90¢ 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE WITH OUTSTANDING CENTERING, JUMBO MARGINS, COLOR AND FRESHNESS, CERTAINLY ONE OF THE FINEST EXISTING.
Only one has graded higher (at 98J) and one other shares this grade.
Realized: $13,000
Lot 3214 o
1869, 90¢ carmine & black, wide margins and choice centering, bold "prison bar" roller cancel, well centered with wide margins, strong color with detailed impressions, bold "Prison Bar" roller cancel, Very Fine to Extremely Fine; with 1980 Friedl, 1982 A.P.S. and 2021 P.S.E. certificates, latter Graded (VF-XF 85, SMQ $3,150).Scott No. 122 $2,000.
This example looks much better than an "85" grade designation quite frankly.
Realized: $1,300