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Sale 121: Gems of Philately

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10 Select Items

Lot 48    

(New Mexico) San Fernando De Taos, August 29th, 1853, type 1 manuscript postmark with matching "Paid 5" rating on cover to Francis Preston Blair (member of Jackson's "Kitchen Cabinet" and father of Postmaster General Montgomery Blair) in Silver Springs, Washington City, D.C., with original enclosure datelined "Taos, New Mexico, July 9th, 1853" written by Elisha Riggs Sr. on troubles of the E.F. Beale survey journey to the Pacific, with interesting content in part…I have concluded a long letter to Mary recounting the difficulties and dangers that our party encounter on the way Rio Grande when distant not more then twenty days journey from San Francisco - difficulties that to men equipped as we were proved insurmountable and dangers that threatened the entire party…you will perceive that we did all in the power of men to proceed on our going and to yield to the elements when we had lost the majority of our arms and ammunition & clothing. Beal's persistence amounted in my opinion to obstinacy and temerity he was did to leave no effort throughout the apprehension he entertains endangering his commission from the delay in his journey caused these misfortunes. When I parted with him at his camp on the Rio Quartos in the midst of the Utah country he was laboring under great depression of spirits from this apprehension and his other troubles and I promised him I would write to you soliciting your kind services in his behalf. That if necessary you might inform the President of the true causes of the delay in his arrival in Cal'.; small erosion spots in docketing, Very Fine, ex-Longfellow & Erivan; with 2023 P.F. certificate.
Estimate    $15,000 - 20,000.

THE EARLIEST RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE MANUSCRIPT SAN FERNANDO DE TAOS POSTMARK AND UNIQUE OF THIS TYPE.

Letter written by Elisha Riggs, a member of the Beale survey journey from Missouri to the Pacific. Francis P. Blair served under President Andrew Jackson and later under President Buchanan.

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Lot 236    

1912, $1 violet brown, D.L. watermark, perf. 12, o.g., never hinged, large evenly balanced margins and precise centering, striking intensely rich color and pristine Post Office freshness, a Superb gem, the only examples to obtain this lofty grade with with other grading higher (a 98J); with 2024 P.S.E. certificate Graded (Superb 98, SMQ $17,500).
Scott No. 423    $1,000.

A PHENOMENAL NEVER HINGED GEM EXAMPLE OF THE 1912 $1 WASHINGTON HIGH VALUE - WITHOUT QUESTION ONE THE FINEST EXAMPLES IN EXISTENCE.

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Lot 186    

1901, Pan-Americans complete, First Day Cover, set of 6, tied by oval "Madison Square Branch" oval handstamp on registered cover to St Gallen, Switzerland, reverse with clear purple boxed "Registered, Madison Square Brach, New York P.O., May 1, 1901" first day of issue date stamp, with registry division ovals and receiving backstamps, front with N.Y. registry exchange etiquette; some light cover wrinkling and 1¢ & 10¢ with faint wrinkling, otherwise Very Fine; with 1970 A.F.D.C. Society certificate.
Scott No. 294-299    $30,000.

ONE OF ONLY SIXTEEN RECORDED FIRST DAY COVERS A COMPLETE SET OF THE PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE.

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Lot 3    

David Crockett (1786-1836), Representative from Tennessee 1827-31 & 1833-35, Killed at the Battle of the Alamo, free frank "Free, D. Crockett" on folded cover addressed fully in his hand (with different pen) to George Williamson in Cincinnati, Ohio, postmarked red "City of Washington Jan. 24" cds and matching "Free" handstamp, small "1834" docketing at top left, Very Fine, one of the finest known Crockett free franks, as they often are defective or fronts.
Estimate    $10,000 - 15,000.

A RARE CONGRESSIONAL FREE FRANK BY DAVY CROCKETT, THE LEGENDARY AMERICAN FRONTIERSMAN AND TEXAS WAR HERO WHO WAS KILLED IN THE BATTLE OF THE ALAMO.

David "Davy" Crockett served as a U.S. Representative for Tennessee, participated in the Texas Revolution, and met his end at the Battle of the Alamo. This iconic figure's signature is exceptionally rare in any format, especially as a free frank.

Inside of folded letter sheet is pencil notation, "Autograph Frank of David Crockett, Purchased from Dr. A.H. Holl (?), Feb. 24, 1912".

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Lot 102 ()   

1861, 90¢ dull blue, First Design, no gum, rich vivid color and sharp impression on bright paper, small flaws and reperforated ar right, Very Fine appearance (currently listed by Scott as no. 72-E7h); with 1998 A.P.S. & 2005 P.F. certificates.
Scott No. 62    $50,000.

AN ATTRACTIVE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE EXTREMELY RARE 1861 90¢ FIRST DESIGN ISSUE.

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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Lot 183    

1898, $2 Trans-Miss., top margin plate no. "613" single, o.g., never hinged, choice centering amid nicely balanced margins, rich intense color and exceptional freshness, Extremely Fine and choice, a magnificent gem plate number single in never hinged condition, ex-Morton; with 1991 & 2021 P.F. certificates, the latter Graded (XF 90, SSV $15,500 without plate number premium).
Scott No. 293    $6,000.

CONSIDERED TO BE THE FINEST MINT NEVER HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $2 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE WITH PLATE NUMBER.

For comparison, the P.S.E. population report has only four examples grading 90 and three higher at 95.

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Lot 366    

Great Britain, 1913, King George V "Seahorse", Waterlow printing, £1 dull blue green, left margin block of 4, o.g., never hinged, well centered throughout amid wide margins, rich distinctive dull blue green color enhancing a crisp detailed impression, remarkably bright and fresh, Very Fine and choice. Scott No. 176a.
SG No. 404    £15,200 for n.h. singles ($18,450).

A MARVELOUS MINT NEVER HINGED MULTIPLE OF THE 1913 £1 "SEAHORSE" WATERLOW PRINTING IN THE SCARCER DULL BLUE GREEN SHADE.

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Lot 204    

1908, 1¢ blue green, experimental coil, perf. 12 vertically, pair, o.g., lightly hinged, perfectly centered, deep green shade, an Extremely Fine gem, about 100 pairs of this 1908 experimental coil are known, this pair is among the finest known; with 1998 P.S.E. & 2023 P.F. certificates, the latter Graded (XF 90, $14,000).
Scott No. 318    $11,000.

AN OUTSTANDING PAIR OF THE 1908 1¢ FRANKLIN EXPERIMENTAL COIL ISSUE.

For comparison, the P.S.E. population report records only three original gum pairs at 85 with no other examples grading higher.

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Lot 90    

1851, 1¢ blue, type IIIa, position 15R1e, showing wide breaking on top outerline, margins clear to unobtrusively touching at bottom, tied by clear full strike of red "Valentine's Day, February 14, Fremont, Ohio." three-line slogan postmark on small locally addressed ladies drop cover, with illustrated Bible forget-me-not label entitled "A Friend" on backflap, stamp additional pen canceled; some trivial faint cover toning, Very Fine and choice, illustrated and written up in February 1997 edition of Linn's Stamp News, the February 2014 edition of the American Philatelist, and the February 2017 edition of the Chronicle; with 1996 A.P.S. certificate.
Scott No. 8A    Estimate $7,500 - 10,000.

A UNIQUE EXAMPLE OF THE FREMONT, OHIO "VALENTINE'S DAY" SLOGAN POSTMARK - THE EARLIEST AMERICAN SLOGAN CANCELLATION KNOWN AND ONE OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR VALENTINE COVERS IN EXISTENCE.

According to Dr. Milgram, while there are a few cancellations on the 1851-57 series that contain wording, the words usually pertain to postal matters (i.e. the "Used And Done For" cancel from Fairhaven, Ct.). This unique townmark is the first slogan cancellation used in the United States. According to the A.S.C.C., Fremont used a straightline postmark in blue in 1850. Accompanying this cover is an unlisted example of the Fremont straight line on 1850 folded letter in red that closely matched the red ink on the Valentine cover posted several years later.

According to David Zlowe, who had examined the stamp and cover, positively identified the stamp as a type IIIa from position 15R1e which also has a double transfer, particularly in the "O" and "S" of "POSTAGE".

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