Sale 117: The Dr. Armando Grassi Collection

Lot 3120    

1861, 12¢ black, First Design, large part o.g. (which covers virtually the entire reverse of the stamp), exceptionally centered with large beautifully balanced margins and perforations clear of the design all round, tiny thin spot at top, Extremely Fine appearance, ex-Weill & T. Cullen Davis; with 1962 & 2019 P.F. certificates.
Scott No. 59    $90,000.

THE 12¢ BLACK IS THE RAREST OF THE 1861 FIRST DESIGNS AND COLORS, WITH A TOTAL OF 16 EXAMPLES RECORDED, ONE OF WHICH RESIDES IN THE MILLER COLLECTION AT THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY.

This stamp was sold in a 1964 Siegel Auction (Sale #276) for a whopping $13,000, the highest price of the entire sale. By way of comparison, in the same sale, a sound copy of the Inverted Jenny (Scott C3a) sold for $10,500.

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Realized: $30,000

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Lot 3121    

1861, 24¢ dark violet, First Design, o.g., lightly hinged, well centered, rich "August" issue color, fine proof like impression, fresh & Very Fine; with 1995 P.F. certificate.
Scott No. 60    $15,000.

A CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE 24¢ FIRST COLOR PRINTING IN SOUND CONDITION AND ORIGINAL GUM. ONE OF THE RAREST OF THE 1861-63 24¢ ISSUE SHADES.



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Realized: $8,500

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Lot 3122 E   

1861, 30¢ Franklin, N.B.N.C. "Premiere Gravure" essay, in black (formerly 61TC1), trial color large die proof on India paper (79 x 88mm), die sunk on card with die No. "446" and "National Bank Note Co. N.Y." imprint at bottom, Extremely Fine and rare.
Scott No. 71-E2a    $1,750.

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Lot 3123    

1861, 30¢ red orange, First Design, o.g., previously hinged, wonderful centering with perfs well clear all around, deep color, trace of light corner crease at top right, still Extremely Fine, with Scott catalog value for the grade of fine, ex-Lilly, Seymour, Cole, "Concord" & Floyd; with 1949, 1988 & 2001 P.F. certificates.
Scott No. 61    $40,000.

A LOVELY EXAMPLE OF THIS CLASSIC RARITY WHICH HAS GRACED SEVERAL IMPORTANT COLLECTIONS.

A common trait found in the majority of 1861 First Color 30¢ stamps is slight creasing, varying from severe in some instances to barely discernible in others.

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Realized: $13,000

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Lot 3124 P   

1861, 90¢ Black, First Design, Trial Color Large Die Proof on India Paper (formerly 62TC1) (94 x 121mm), with die No. "447" and "National Bank Note Co. N.Y." imprint at bottom, wonderfully fresh, Extremely Fine and rare, ex-DuPuy.
Scott No. 72-E7b    $1,750.

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Lot 3125 ()   

1861, 90¢ dull blue, First Design, no gum, precision centering and rich vivid color, sharp impression on bright fresh paper, Extremely Fine and choice, ex-Cole & Drucker; with 1958, 1988 & 2002 P.F. certificates.
Scott No. 62    $50,000.

A STUNNING GEM WHICH IS EASILY ON THE FINEST KNOWN EXAMPLES OF THE 1861 90¢ FIRST DESIGN.

According the Siegel Census, there are at total of 22 known examples of the 90¢ First Design, including one copy in the New York Public Library collection. There are a mere six examples which are in sound condition and only two of these still retain their original gum.

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Realized: $27,000

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Lot 3126 o   

1861, 10¢ dark green, First Design, well centered amid nicely balanced margins, incredibly rich color even for the First Design issue, light boxed "Paid" and red town cancels, Extremely Fine; with 2005 P.F. certificate.
Scott No. 62B    $1,750.

A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF THE 10¢ DARK GREEN, FIRST DESIGN WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT STAMPS OF THE 19TH CENTURY TO FIND IN CHOICE CONDITION.



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Realized: $750

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