Lot
266 
1857, 1¢ blue, type III, position 45L4, showing wide break in line at top and clear break showing at bottom, o.g., lightly hinged, rich vivid color enhancing a remarkably detailed impression, exceptionally bright and fresh, Extremely Fine, ex-Moody (as part of a vertical block of six) & Petersen; with 1991 & 2021 P.F. certificates.Scott No. 21 $17,500.
A MAGNIFICENT MINT ORIGINAL GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 1¢ TYPE III PERFORATED ISSUE. ONLY A SMALL HANDFUL EXIST IN SOUND, ORIGINAL GUM CONDITION. THE INCREDIBLE CENTERING AND REMARKABLY FRESH ORIGINAL GUM MAKE THIS STAMP AN EXTRAORDINARY CONDITION RARITY.
This outstanding gem sold for $67,500 hammer price when sold in 2021 as part of the "The Gary Petersen Collection of Important United States Stamps" (Siegel Sale 1234)
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Realized: $23,000
Lot 459 P
The Earl of Crawford 1870-1876 30¢ Banknote Essay and Proof Collection, a large selection of 255 items on pages in a leather binder with a brass lock; with a plethora of rare and colorful essay and proofs from the development of the Hamilton head in a variety of stages of engraving to its use on the Departmental Officials; included are an Official notice dated April, 1879 with all denomination from the 1¢ to the 90¢ affixed, a spectacular hand painted artist sketch in yellow ocher unquestionably unique, other Essays include 30c vignette by the National Banknote Co. (2), 30¢ vignette with 30¢ tablet, two different from the Continental Banknote Company, American die with shading around the vignette removed, five different (Goodalls), American die with shading removed around vignette in four different colors on glazed card, a very significant range of large die proofs, including National Banknote company full size large die proof signed by the engraver, American Banknote Co. trial color die proof reduced in size, Interior, Justice State and War large die proofs, a beautiful range of Goodall Die Proofs in five different colors, excellent range of proofs on India paper in blocks of 14 and 12, a complete run of the Atlanta Color trials, also included are trial colors on stamp paper, four different color, five in all and much more, Very Fine and choice.Estimate $25,000 - 35,000.
WITH MANY RARITIES SOME UNIQUE, AN INCREDIBLE HOLDING WHICH HAS NOT BEEN ON THE MARKET SINCE 1916 - THE FINEST 30¢ BANKNOTE ESSAY AND PROOF COLLECTION EXTANT.
James Ludovic Lindsay, the 26th Earl of Crawford (1847-1913) is considered by many to be one of the greatest philatelist of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, he built formidable collections of Great Britain and colonies, Egypt, United States and Italian States. He was the first collector to undertake the study of essays, proofs and artist's drawings, a very significant amount of the U.S. essays and proofs available to the market today were once housed in his collection. He was also a very noteworthy bibliophile, he purchased the Tiffany Philatelic library in 1897 for the exorbitant sum of $10,000 (£2000) and expanded on it with other purchases, at the time of his death he had amassed the largest philatelic library in the world. subsequently the library was donated to the British Museum and is now known as "The Crawford Library". Since 1921, the Royal Philatelic Society of London gives a highly coveted annual award named the "Crawford Medal" in his honor for excellence in published philatelic research.
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Realized: $20,000
Lot
166 
Monterey Barracks, May 27th, 1847 (Kearny's Overland Mail), dateline on lengthy three page letter written by Pvt. J.S. Vincent (Col. Steven's 1st Regiment New York Volunteers) to his brother in Alfred, N.Y., carried on the first overland mail from California and entered the mails with red "St. Louis, Mo., Aug 26" cds and matching "Steam 10" straight line handstamp, with letter giving a detailed account of the ongoing war in California and mentions Kearny's overland departure in part…Thee are now staying at the Barracks. A party of men who are to be Gen. Kearney's escort across the mountains and I must not miss the opportunity to send you a line. Every thing is dull in California. There is no chance for a fight and here we are sucking our thumbs in Monterey the Capitol California…The sloop of Mr. Dale arrived on the 23 inst from the South but she brings no news of Mexican affairs. The slop of War Portsmouth arrived here from the south and she brings Mexican papers which gives a detailed account of an engagement between Gen. Taylor and Santa Ana. As near as I can learn it would seem That Gen. Taylor had but 7,000 men and Santa Ana 18,000. Gen. Taylor not deeming himself strong enough to meet Santa in the open field planted a battery of 26 guns in a pass between San Luis Potosi and Saltillo and retreated upon it and when the Mexican army got into the pass Gen. Taylor ordered his men to fall flat upon the ground and fired the battery over them into the crowded Mexican files. The result of the battle was 5000 Mexican killed and 2000 American killed and Gen Santa Ana had retreat to the city of Mexico. The Portsmouth also brought news that Gen. Scott had taken the town of Vera Cruz and was laying before the Castle to starve it to surrender. If this news be true it in all probability end the war very soon. In that case we shall be disbanded this fall. It has been decided by our commanding officers that we cannot be kept out of our traveling fees when we are disbanded except by a special act of Congress and there has been no such special act so that each man will receive 20 cents a day in lieu of rations 50cts for every 20 miles travel and his wages from the time he is disbanded to the time he gets to his place of enlistment (allowing 20 miles for a days travel) So you see each man will received a smart sum to carry him home. I cannot tell yet which way I shall go home whether across the mountains or take a vessel and go down to Panama cross the Isthmus to the gulf of Mexico from thence to New Orleans…The 7th Regt. legal-size pretty well scattered over California. 1 Company at Sonoma - 3 Companies at San Francisco - 1 Company at Monterey - 3 companies at Santa Barbara, and 2 Companies at Pueblo de los Angeles. Col Stevenson and Staff are at the latter place. Col. R. B. Mason, I st Dragoons Successor Gen. Kearny in Command in California is to be Governor when Kearney leaves. I do not think he will be as well liked as Kearney is. He is a Stem harsh man - but little calculated to win the confidence of volunteers. Gen. Kearney (who went to Pueblo with Col. Stevens) arrived here this afternoon in the U. S. ship store Lexington and I have just heard that he has ordered 150 men to Acapulco is to be attached by troops landed above the town and by bombardment form the Vessels of War simultaneously. I at first thought that our company would be ordered down but I have heard since that Lt. Col. Burton's command at Santa Barbara are to be sent down…I have heard since I commenced this letter that Gen. Kearney is to start Monday and it is now Saturday afternoon and I have to get ready for Saturday afternoon drill and Sunday morning parade and inspection so I must close.; cover with some edge toning, still Very Fine.Estimate $10,000 - 15,000.
A REMARKABLE USE CARRIED OVERLAND BY BRIG. GENERAL KEARNY FROM CALIFORNIA TO FORT LEAVENWORTH.
This letter was carried by military express to Monterey and then overland May 31, 1847 by Brig. General Stephen Watts Kearny to Fort Leavenworth arriving on August 22. At Fort Leavenworth, Kearny, on his way to Washington D.C., boarded the steamboat "Amelia" August 23rd to St Louis and deposited his mail. They were postmarked upon arrival in St. Louis August 26th with 10¢ due. Kearny was returning from the campaign that conquered California during the Mexican War. He brought Lt. Col. John C. Fremont with him, under arrest, for attempting to usurp Kearny's authority there. The trip over the California-Oregon trail took 66 days. Putnam had apparently been in charge of the ships mentioned in the letter that were carrying supplies to the Army in California.
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Lot
299 ()
1861, 5¢ brown, First Design, no gum, outstanding centering for this rare issue, sharp impression, exceptionally fresh color, Extremely Fine and choice, with Scott catalog value for examples bearing small faults, ex-Seymour, Lutwak & Zoellner; with 1961, 1976 & 1998 P.F. certificates.Scott No. 57 $30,000.
AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF THIS CLASSIC RARITY IN SOUND CONDITION - ONE OF ONLY FIVE.
According to the Siegel Census, there are five examples in sound condition with another six stamps (one of which is in the New York Public Library collection) where the condition is unknown, leaving this as one of the finest known.
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Realized: $18,000
Lot
245
1855, 10¢ green, type II, o.g., lightly hinged once at top, huge margins even margins framing the entire stamp designs and showing small portion of adjacent stamp at right, wonderful rich vibrant color, detailed impression and Post Office freshness, Extremely Fine to Superb; with 2000 P.F. & 2008 P.S.E. certificates, the latter Graded (XF-Superb 95, SMQ $17,500).Scott No. 14 $5,000.
A STUNNING GEM LIGHTLY HINGED MINT EXAMPLE OF THE 1855 10¢ TYPE II IMPERFORATE ISSUE.
One of only two examples to receive this grade with only four examples grading higher
Certificate(s):
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Lot
518
1917, $1 deep brown, perf. 11, o.g., never hinged, beautifully centered with huge margins, lovely fresh color of this distinctive shade, an Extremely Fine gem; with 1978 & 2023 P.F. certificates, latter (Graded XF 90 Jumbo).Scott No. 518b $4,000.
THIS IS UNDOUBTEDLY THE FINEST MINT NEVER HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1917 $1 DEEP BROWN SHADE.
By way of comparison, the P.S.E. Value for XF 90 is $9500 and unpriced for any grade above XF 90. Additionally the P.S.E. has graded only one sole example in never hinged condition (90).
Realized: $7,250
Lot
26
Belgium, 1851, 40c carmine rose, tied on spectacular 1862 advertising cover from Brussels to London with stunning blue Illustrated advertising of J.B Moens Timbre - Poste Pour Collection Galerie Routier. (P.de la Madeleine) in scroll, design shows Mercury at left and a central image of Shaking Hands and Dove Above, Flanked with a Train and a Ship, adhesive tied by two strikes of barred numeral "24" in circular grid with "Brussels 12-9,62" cds neatly "cancelling Mercury stamp" at left, boxed "PD" and red "Paid London 13 SP 62" receiving cds below, backstamped "Angleterre Par Ouest 8-11 " transit cds, tiny cover tear at right, Very Fine; with 2013 Kaiser certificate. Michel No. 5By.Scott No. 8 Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.
A BEAUTIFUL EARLY J.B. MOENS STAMP ADVERTISING COVER AND PERHAPS THE FINEST EUROPEAN ADVERTISING COVER OF THE CLASSIC PERIOD.
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Realized: $9,500
Lot
60
Bremen, 1856, 5gr black on rose, four large even margins, tied on 1856 folded letter sheet from Bremen to Hamburg with " St.P.A. Bremen 31- 5" cds, a second strike at right, backstamped "St.P.HA 1 Jun, 56", the 5gr payed the single letter rate to Hamburg, Extremely Fine and choice, ex-Erivan Haub; with 1977 Engel and 2020 Neumann certificates. Michel No. 2.Scott No. 2 Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.
THE EARLIEST RECORDED USAGE OF THIS STAMP, AN EXTREMELY SIGNIFICANT 1855 5GR COVER.
The cover was sold by H. Köhler in the fifth sale of the legendary Erivan Haub collection (Lot 55, April 24, 2021) for €9000 hammer price.
Realized: $7,500
Lot
495
1873, 90¢ rose carmine, C.B.N.C. printing, o.g., lightly hinged, perfect centering with large even margins, vibrant color, sharp impression and Post Office freshness, a Superb gem; with 1982, 1998 P.F. & 2009 P.S.E. certificates, last Graded (XF-Superb 95, SMQ $7,500).Scott No. 166 $2,100.
THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST MINT ORIGINAL GUM EXAMPLES OF THE 1873 90¢ CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE IN EXISTENCE - A STAMP OF UNMATCHED BEAUTY.
We do not understand why this gem with perfect centering, gum, color and impression did not receive the grade of Superb 98. We have reviewed the four stamps which are graded higher, one graded 95J, two graded 98 and one 98J. The 98J example has disturbed gum and this example is on a par with the two graded 98 examples. Images of the two others, Graded 98 can be found here.
Certificate(s):
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Realized: $5,250
Lot
74
Saxony, 1850, 3pf light red, Plate 5, Position 10, four large even margins, wonderful fresh Post Office color, tied on printed circular with "Leipzig 6-6½ 1851" cds paying the district printed matter rate, address wrapper has been added, Extremely Fine, ex-Tomasini; with 1985 Prõschold and 2007 Eichele certificates. Michel No. 1a.Scott No. 1 var. Estimate $4,000 - 6,000.
A BEAUTIFUL 1850 3PF FIRST ISSUE SAXONY TIED ON A PRINTED CIRCULAR.
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Realized: $4,750