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Sale 95: Gems of Philately

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Revenue Issues

Lots 4256-4265 Lots 4266-4275

Lot 4256 o   

Revenue, 1862, First Issue, 1¢ Telegraph, imperf, horizontal pair, neat 1863 manuscript cancels, large beautifully balanced margins, strong bright color, an Extremely Fine gem; with 2020 P.S.E. certificate Graded (XF 90).
Scott No. R4a    $2,750.

CERTAINLY ONE, IF NOT THE FINEST KNOWN PAIR OF THE 1862 1¢ TELEGRAPH IMPERFORATE ISSUE.

Realized: $2,100

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Lot 4257 o   

Revenue, 1862, First Issue, 2¢ Express, orange, part perf, neat manuscript cancel, choice centering amid nicely balanced margins, strong brilliant color, Very Fine and choice; with 2020 P.S.E. certificate.
Scott No. R10b    $3,250.

ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF THE 1862 2¢ ORANGE EXPRESS PART PERF ISSUE - ONE OF THE RAREST PART-PERF ISSUES WITH ONLY A HANDFUL THAT EXIST.

Realized: $2,900

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Lot 4258 o   

Revenue, 1862, First Issue, 10¢ Certificate, imperf, left margin single, neat manuscript cancel, large to huge margins, deep rich color on bright paper, Extremely Fine to Superb, an exceptional gem; with 2020 P.S.E. certificate Graded (XF-Sup 95).
Scott No. R33a    $400.

Realized: $400

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Lot 4259 o   

Revenue, 1862, First Issue, 10¢ Contract, ultramarine, perf'd, tied by "Albert Speyers, New York, Sep 24, 1869" cds on broker memo datelined "New York, Sept 24, 1869" reading "Bought of A.G. Craine & Co., By Albert Speyers, For a/c of James Fisk Jr. and his Associates, $100M ($100,000) Gold at 160 Reg" and signed by broker, reverse with 1862, 10¢ Certificate Revenue (R24c) and notation "For value received we hereby assign all our sight, title and interest in the claim to Mess. Farmer Hatch & Co." signed and dated "A.G. Crane & Co., New York Oct 21, 1869"; couple vertical file folds, Very Fine.
Scott No. R34ce    Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.

A REMARKABLE AND HISTORIC BROKER MEMO FROM THE SEPTEMBER 24TH 1869 GOULD & FISK "BLACK FRIDAY" GOLD SCANDAL.

Two stock manipulators, Jay Gould and Jim Fisk, tried to corner the gold market. They attempted to convince President Grant that the Treasury should not sell gold on the gold exchange. Gould and Fisk spread a rumor to the effect that President Grant agreed. As a result, gold rose from $132 to $163 per ounce. When the price collapsed, many legitimate brokers went under.

Jay Gould and Jim Fisk made their fortunes speculating on railroad stocks. In September 1869, they began buying up all of the available gold on the market with the hope of cornering the market in gold. In order to succeed, they needed the cooperation of the U.S. government. Gould and Fisk, therefore, had to convince some government officials not to sell gold on the market. They met with Grant and tried to convince him that it was in the U.S. interest not to sell gold, he listened and said nothing. Thus they were able to spread a rumor that President Grant also agreed that the government should stop selling gold.

By September 24, 1869, The day that would become known as "Black Friday", the hubbub over gold had reached a fever pitch. Mobs of spectators and reporters gathered near Wall Street, and many of the Gold Room's indebted speculators walked to work like men on their way to the gallows. Gold had closed the previous day at $144 ½, but shortly after trading resumed, it took a tremendous leap to $160. Unaware that the game might soon be up, Fisk continued buying like a madman and bragged that gold would soon top $200.

In Washington, D.C., Ulysses S. Grant resolved to bust Gould and Fisk's corner on the gold market. Shortly before noon, he met with Treasury Secretary George Boutwell, who had been following the chaos via telegraph. After a brief conversation, Grant ordered Boutwell to open his vaults and flood the market. A few minutes later, Boutwell wired New York and announced the Treasury would sell a whopping $4 million in gold the following day. The price of gold collapsed, and so did the Gould-Fisk scheme. However, all of the legitimate brokers collapsed as well.

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Lot 4260 o   

Revenue, 1862, First Issue, 10¢ Power of Attorney, imperf, neat manuscript cancel, large to huge margins, rich deep color, Extremely Fine to Superb, a stunning gem; with 2019 P.F. 2020 P.S.E. certificates, the latter Graded (XF-Sup 95).
Scott No. R37a    $1,000.

Realized: $850

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Lot 4261 o   

Revenue, 1863, First Issue, $25 Mortgage, imperf, neat manuscript cancel, large margins all around, rich vivid color, Extremely Fine and choice; with 2020 P.S.E. certificate Graded (XF 90).
Scott No. R100a    $3,250.

A EXTRAORDINARY EXAMPLE OF THE IMPERFORATE $25.00 MORTGAGE FIRST ISSUE REVENUE STAMP.

Realized: $2,400

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Lot 4262 o   

Revenue, 1864, First Issue, $200 U.S. Internal Revenue, imperf, large even margins, deep, fresh colors, neat manuscript cancel, an Extremely Fine gem; with 2014 & 2020 P.F. certificates.
Scott No. R102a    $2,500.

ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF THIS STAMP WE HAVE EVER OFFERED. THIS STAMP IS RARELY FOUND IN THIS CHOICE CONDITION.

Realized: $4,250

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Lot 4263 ()   

Documentary, 1871, Second Issue, 50¢ blue & black, center inverted, without gum, marvelously centered amid large beautifully balanced margins, rich colors on bright fresh paper, an Extremely Fine gem; with 2008 P.S.E. certificate.
Scott No. R115b    $1,050 for used.

WITHOUT QUESTION - ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF THE 1871, 50¢ U.S. INTERNAL REVENUE ISSUE IN EXISTENCE - IN EITHER MINT OR USED CONDITION.

Realized: $1,600

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Lot 4264 o   

Documentary, 1871, Second Issue, $200 red, blue & black, neat light manuscript cancel, choice centering, rich colors, thin and a couple corner creases, otherwise Extremely Fine; with 2020 P.S.E. certificate.
Scott No. R132    $8,500.

A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE $200.00 "SMALL PERSIAN RUG" ISSUE.

Both the Small and Large "Persian Rug" stamps were printed in sheets of one. Because of their size and the fact that they were used on documents, they are frequently found with faults.

Realized: $2,900

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Lot 4265 o   

Documentary, 1871, Second Issue, $500 "Persian Rug", neat 1872 manuscript cancel, well centered with full perforation teeth around, colors rich and vibrant, Very Fine, an extremely rare sound example, Scott catalog value for small faults or light circular cut cancel; with 1995 and 2002 P.F. certificates.
Scott No. R133    $16,500.

A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF THE $500 LARGE PERSIAN RUG ISSUE, ONE OF THE FEW COMPLETELY SOUND EXAMPLES IN EXISTENCE.

Only 210 were issued, and it is safe to say that most examples are faulty to some degree with only a small handful in completely sound condition. The Kingsley census records only 76 surviving copies, and a handful are known outside of the census.

Realized: $19,000

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Lots 4256-4265 Lots 4266-4275

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