Sale 71: The Sescal Sale

Lot 1981    

California State Telegraph Co., 1870, black & blue, complete sheet of 12 comprising two panes of six with horizontal interpane gutter, original gum, handstamped serial no. 104 on all stamps (some double strikes incl. top two stamps); slightly toned, light horizontal crease and central crimping at center as usual since these were folded and stapled into booklets, top right corner rounded, Fine.
Scott No. 5T1    $9,500 as two panes.

ONE OF THREE RECORDED COMPLETE SHEETS OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE TELEGRAPH COMPANY 1870 "BUSINESS" FRANK STAMP. THIS IS THE LARGEST POSSIBLE MULTIPLE, A GREAT TELEGRAPH STAMP RARITY.

The California Telegraph Company was the product of the 1861 consolidation of four companies responsible for the first transcontinental telegraph line. The 1870 Blue & Black typeset "Business" frank was the first issue. The black type was printed from a setting of six subjects repeated twice in a sheet of 12, with a blue background of ornaments also arranged in six subjects repeated twice in a sheet. Position 1 (top left in each pane of six) has an inverted ornament in the blue background at lower left (bottom row, second ornament), which breaks the pattern of diamond shapes. Position 3 has a repeating flaw in the "F" of "Free".

Booklets of 100 stamps were made by inserting 16 panes of 6 (96 stamps total) plus four additional stamps. The Kramer book speculates that stamps with red crayon serial numbers were added to the the booklets to make up the 100 count.

Realized: $2,100

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Lot 1982    

California State Telegraph Co., 1870, black & blue, block of four with interpane selvage at bottom, never hinged o.g. (brownish as usual), Fine and scarce multiple.
Scott No. 5T1    $2,600.

Realized: $475

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Lot 1983 ()   

Colusa, Lake and Mendocino Telegraph Co., 1876, 5¢ black, from the top row, blue handstamp ("P.L.W."), well centered, unused, Very Fine.
Scott No. 7T1    $1,100.

Realized: $325

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Lot 1984    

North American Telegraph Co., 1907, green, serial no. 1799, nicely centered, bottom left position, o.g., tiny bottom left corner crease, Very Fine appearance, one of the rarest regularly issued Telegraph stamps.
Scott No. 10T8    $2,250.

Realized: $500

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Lot 1985    

Postal Telegraph Co., 1911, yellow, "S.W." official, well centered from the bottom row, bright color on fresh paper, o.g., Extremely Fine.
Scott No. 15TO27    $500.

Realized: $100

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