Lot
557 (
)
1857, 1¢ blue, type III, Position 73L4, no gum, precision centering amid uncommonly wide and beautifully balanced margins with design clear around and only just touching one of the scrolls at bottom, bold vibrant shade on fresh bright paper, Extremely Fine and choice, this is one of three to grade as such with no examples higher; with 1986, 2003 P.F. & 2021 P.S.E. certificates, the latter Graded (XF 90, SMQ $10,500).Scott No. 21 $6,000.
A STUNNING GEM UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1¢ TYPE III 1857 ISSUE, GRADED XF 90 BY THE P.S.E. - THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED AND BELIEVED TO BE THE FINEST UNUSED EXAMPLE EXTANT.
Vertical spacing on plate 4 normally yields stamps with perforations cutting into the design. This stamp has such extraordinarily wide margins and exceptional centering that type characteristic breaks at both top and bottom are clearly visible.
Realized: $4,500
Lot 558 o
1857, 1¢ blue, type III, Plate 4, town cancel, precision centering amid uncommonly wide margins and design completely clear perforation all around, beautiful rich deep color and proof-like impression on pristine and bright paper, Superb, one of nine examples to receive this graded with none higher, we believe this one is truly a bit undergraded; with 2018 P.S.E. certificate Graded (XF-Sup 95, SMQ $7,300).Scott No. 21 $1,350.
A STUNNING GEM USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1¢ TYPE III 1857 ISSUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY THE P.S.E. - THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
Vertical spacing on plate 4 normally yields stamps with perforations cutting into the design. This stamp has such extraordinarily wide margins that not only the type characteristic breaks at both top and bottom are clearly visible, that the perforations are not into the design. Virtually all other examples we have seen with this grade from plate four have the perforations cutting into the design.
Realized: $3,750
Lot
559 
1857, 1¢ blue, type III, position 67R4, C relief, well centered single just barely in at bottom with margins around, tied by neat "Hartford, Ct., Mar 1858" cds on printed merchant circular notice to Suffield, Conn., Very Fine and choice; with 2004 P.S.E. and 2012 P.F. certificates.Scott No. 21 $1,750.
A GEM 1857 1¢ TYPE III CIRCULAR RATE USE IN SUCH EXCEPTIONAL CONDITION.
Realized: $525
Lot
560
1857, 1¢ blue, type III, the right-most stamp in a franking of six plate 4 stamps, the first five are 1857, 1¢ blue, type IIIA (22), tied by pen cancels and very faint cds's on a narrow cover to Hyde Park, Pa.; the Ashbrook-plated positions are, left to right, 11-12 (pair), 63, 58, 52 & 62; there is some perf toning, especially on the type III, and other minor flaws, Also includes original 8-page letter and an Ashbrook note on the cover, "Date Lined Chemung, May 29, 1859 (N.Y.)", though we can find no dateline on the included eight pages., otherwise Fine and rare; with 1946 note & photos from Ashbrook identifying the positions.Scott No. 21 Estimate $750 - 1,000.
Lot
561
1857, 1¢ blue, type III, deep color, well centered with wide breaks at both top and bottom, tied by blue "Balto, Paid" circular handstamp on 1857 circular to Providence, R.I., Extremely Fine, a choice solo usage, ex-Provera; with 1980 P.F. certificate.Scott No. 21 Estimate $500 - 750.
Realized: $425
Lot
562
1857, 1¢ blue, types III, IIIa, horizontal pair, Plate 4, in combination with 1857, 12¢ black, plate 1, horizontal pair and single (36), perfs scissors-separated causing some straight edges, on blue 1858 cover to Genoa, Sardinia, tied by "New Orleans La. Dec. 23, 1858" cds, sender's railroad route instructions "Via Jackson & G.N.R.R. & Co." at top (Jackson & Great Northern Railroad), red "New-York, Br. Pkt., Jan 5" exchange backstamp and magenta "15" cent credit rating, carried by Cunard Line Asia from New York Jan. 5th to Liverpool arriving Jan. 16th, red "Aachen, Franco 18/1" framed handstamp ties left two 12¢ stamps and magenta "f 3¼" sgr credit to Italy, Genoa (1.21) arrival backstamp, red "Franca", "P.D." and "Via Di Svizzera" handstamps; 1¢ stamps with pre-printing paperfolds, a Very Fine and attractive use, ex-Neinken & Wagshal.Scott No. 21, 22 Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
A WONDERFUL 1857 ISSUE FRANKING ON 1859 COVER TO ITALY AT THE 38¢ PRUSSIAN CLOSED MAIL RATE.
Realized: $4,250
Lot
563
1857, 1¢ blue, types III-IIIa, III, vertical pair and single, positions 62/72R4, 63R4, canceled by segmented grid handstamps on cover to Hartford, Ct., matching "Milford, Ms., Jan 10, 1859" cds tying pair; couple small cover tears at left, Very Fine; signed Ashbrook, with 1971 R.P.S.L. & 2008 R. Doporto certificates.Scott No. 21, 22 Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.