Lot 39 o
1851, 1¢ blue, type Ib, position 6R1E, top margin single with large margins around encompassing the complete design, rich distinctive bright plate one early color enhancing a sharp detailed impression, complimented by a neat blue "Philadelphia, Pa." town cancellation, Extremely Fine and choice, ex Zoellner and Grace; with 1987 P.F. certificate for pair and 2009 P.F. certificate.Scott No. 5A $15,000.
A WONDERFUL GEM EXAMPLE OF THE 1851 1¢ TYPE 1B. WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES IN EXISTENCE.
The type 1b issues where only produced from the early state of plate one. Six positions at the top of the right plate, positions 3R-6R and 8R-9R, furnished all of these issues. Out of the six positions, positions 6R & 8R are known as the best examples as the scrolls are nearly complete at the bottom while the lesser examples the scrolls at bottom are not as complete. Due to near complete scrolls at the bottom, many examples of type 1b are cut into at the bottom. This example offered here not only comes from one of the two best examples of this type but has large margins and shows the entire design.
Realized: $21,000
Lot 497 o
1917, 9¢ salmon red, perf 10 at top, Parsons, Kansas precancel, well centered for this typically off centered issue, rich bright color, Very Fine, a very rare stamp in sound condition as most known examples are faulty and poorly centered; with 2013 P.S.A.G. certificate.Scott No. 509a $11,000.
ONE OF THE FINEST KNOWN EXAMPLES OF THE RARE 1917 9¢ FRANKLIN PERFORATED 10 AT TOP.
Realized: $5,000
Lot
1121 
Great Britain, 1840, 1d black, Second Day of Issue, May 7, 1840, singles on two folded letter sheets from correspondence to William Ball in Hampstead:The First: plate 2, letters MB, full well balanced margins, tied by red Maltese cross cancel on folded letter sheet to Hampstead, faint "Broad St. Bd." straight line handstamp and reverse with two different red London boxed "My 7, 1840" Second Day date stamps; sealed central vertical cover tear under stamp and stamp with small corner crease at bottom right
The Second: plate 2, letters QH, ample to large margins, tied by red Maltese cross cancel on folded letter sheet to Hampstead, reverse with red London cross & box "My 7, 1840" Second Day date stamps; light horizontal cover file fold at bottom
Accompanied by a Third Folded Letter sent by William Ball, the day after receiving the above covers, to the Chancellor of the Exchequer in London enclosing the two letters, with letter which reads in full…
Hampton, May 8th, 1840 -
Sir,
Enclosed I have taken the liberty of forwarding the covers of two letters I have just received with the adhesive wafers attached to them. To a person fraudulently inclined the wafers appear to be easily transferred from one or more letters thus defeat[ing] the object wished & considerably injures the Government.
I am Sir -
Your Most Obet Hble Srt
W. Ball
Cover with "T.P., Hamstead NO" straight line postmark and "2" pence rate handstamp (since the franking had been withdrawn as a part of the Rowland Hill reforms, the Chancellor's office had to pay the unpaid collect penalty rate), red "My 8, 1840" receiving boxed handstamp on backflap, overall Very Fine, May 7th Usage of the 1d Penny Black Catalogs £20,000 Each in the Stanley Gibbons Specialized Catalog. Scott No. 1.
SG No. 2 Estimate $7,500 - 10,000.
A MAGNIFICENT TRIO OF TWO 1D BLACK SECOND DAY OF USAGE COVERS AND LETTER SHOWING INITIAL CONFUSION REGARDING THE FIRST POSTAGE STAMP EVER ISSUED.
The bank note companies that produced the first postage stamp for both England and the United States at first did not understand the problems associated with gumming newly made paper to be used in stamp production. If the paper and the sizing was not allowed to age before applying the gum, the gum soaked into the paper's fiber, reducing the adhesiveness of the stamps, causing many of them to fall of the covers which they were attached. Ignoring the fact that these stamps had been cancelled, Ball complains of the two enclosures of which the stamps are still only partially attached to their covers.
Realized: $12,500
Lot
434 
1909, 5¢ blue, bluish paper, top left corner margin single with siderographer's initials at left and manuscript "X" control in corner selvage, o.g., only the barest trace of hinge on lower right corner, precision centering amid well balanced margins, bold color on deeply blued paper, Extremely Fine and choice, a magnificent and likely unique corner margin example of the 5¢ bluish paper issue, quite certainly One of the Finest Known Examples in Existence; with 1978 P.F. certificate for block and 2002 P.F. certificate. Scott No. 361 $5,750.
Realized: $7,000
Lot 722 o
Revenue, 1862-71 First Issue, $1.30 Foreign Exchange, imperf, neat oval "Probate Court, Worcester, Mass., Jul 3, 1866" date stamp cancel, full evenly balanced margin all around, bright vibrant color, Very Fine and choice; with 2011 P.S.A.G. certificate.Scott No. R77a $8,750.
A WONDERFUL SOUND HANDSTAMPED EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 1863, $1.30 FOREIGN EXCHANGE IMPERFORATE. CERTAINLY ONE OF THE FINEST KNOWN EXAMPLES OF THIS OUTSTANDING REVENUE RARITY.
Realized: $17,000
Lot
796
Hawaii, Hilo, Hawaii, Sept 14, 1843, dateline on lengthy 3½ page letter from D.B. Lyman to Newton Falls, Ohio, entered the U.S. mails after almost 7 months with red "Fairhaven, Mass.Apr 5" entry cds, partial matching "Ship" handstamp and "27" rate, letter with important political content regarding British control and independence of the islands in part…In July or Aug 1842 commissioners were sent by the Hawaiian government to meet with the governments of the U.S. & of the principle powers of Europe with a view to secure the independence of the Islands. Soon after, the British Consul left secretly for England, leaving his deputy, a sworn enemy to this Govt…about the middle of Feby 1843 H.B.M. Ship Carysfort R't Hon. Lord George Paulet arrived & after some strange movements, quite in the style of the British Consul who had left, made such demands & enforced them in such a manner that the King & his executive consul thought it best to surrender all provisionally…The 6th of July, the U.S. Frigate Constellation arrived. The commander Commodore Kearny protested against the cession of the Islands to the British crown, announcing his determination to hold Kamehameha III & Lord George Paulet responsible for all that American interests might suffer in consequence of it. He also raised the Hawaiian flag & saluted the native authorities under it when they visited him on board his ship; some splitting along folds, otherwise Very Fine, a wonderful letter Detailing the Events of Provisional Cession and the Occupational Government Formed By Lord George Paulet While Attempting To Annex Hawaii To the United Kingdom. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
Realized: $2,700
Lot
1709
Vatican, 1934, 1.30l on 1.25l Provisional Surcharge, "30" in small figures, o.g., lightly hinged, rich color, slight paper crease at lower left which is only visible from reverse, otherwise Very Fine, an attractive example of this extremely rare essay that where mistakenly release at the Vatican Post Office, the illustrated example in the 2012 Scott catalog; with 1976 A. Diena certificate and signed. Sassone No. 36A. Scott No. 36a $22,500.
When it was decided there would have to be a postal rate increase and new stamps would require months to prepare, it was suggested that some of the current stamps be overprinted. Two sheets of 100 were prepared of each value, with a thin essay surcharge. These essays were rejected by the postal authorities because the surcharge was not sufficiently visible. The printers were told to use a larger, bolder type which they did. One sheet of the 1.30 on 1.25 essay was mistakenly included among those intended for sale and was release to the public at postal station No. 1 of the Vatican City Post Office on June 18, 1934. This essay offered here is one of the few mint examples that exist, as most were used to send mail of the first day of issue.
Realized: $6,750
Lot
1694
Serbia, 1869, 1pa pale olive, imperforate, third printing, showing plate flaw in value tablet, o.g., wide margins all around, bright and fresh, Very Fine, a magnificent example of this classic rarity, with normal shade single with same plate flaw for comparison, ex Kardosch; with 2002 Velickovic certificate. Michel No. 9Bc Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.
REGARDED AS THE RAREST STAMP OF SERBIA, ONE OF THE FINEST OF THE 10 KNOWN UNUSED EXAMPLES.
Realized: $4,000
Lot
215
1875 Re-issue of 1861-67 issue, 2¢ black, o.g., lightly hinged, exceptionally well centered amid large margins, gorgeous deep rich color, remarkably bright and fresh, Extremely Fine and choice, a magnificent gem example of the 2¢ Blackjack Re-issue, with only 979 examples issued; with 1976 P.F. certificate. Scott No. 103 $3,750.
Realized: $3,250
Lot 846 o
Hawaii, 1857, 5¢ manuscript surcharge on 13¢ dark red, type I manuscript surcharge, light corner town cancel, ample margins to in at bottom and just touching at left, rich color, Fine, an attractive example of this rare provisional surcharge issue; with 2007 P.F. certificate.Scott No. 7 $10,000.
Realized: $3,500