Lot 1084 o
(Plate Reconstruction) 1851-52, 3¢ orange brown and dull red, complete plating reconstruction comprising the five plates used to produce the 1851 orange brown shades (Scott #10, 10A) namely plates 1E, 1I, 2E, 0 and 5E, and all eight plates that yielded the myriad of 1852-57 shades (Scott #11, 11A): plates 1L, 2L, 3, 4, 5L, 6, 7 and 8; some mixed condition but also some sound four margin examples present, generally F.-V.F.Scott No. 10, 10A, 11, 11A; $184,000 ++ Estimate $30,000 - 40,000.
A REMARKABLE COMPLETE 1851-57 3¢ IMPERFORATE PLATING RECONSTRUCTION.
There are a total of the 1,000 3¢ orange brown (10, 10A) stamps present and 1,600 3¢ dull red (11, 11A) stamps present. We cataloged all the orange brown stamps as the cheaper 10A stamp. The Scott value given does not take into account the many premium positions or possible better shades present. All-in-all, this monumental achievement by the owner represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the current or would-be student of the 3¢ 1851-57 imperforates.
Lot
1858 
1861, 30¢ red orange, First Design, part o.g. (light natural gum bend), intense and radiantly rich color, very well centered for this notoriously off-centered issue, faintest trace of a diagonal crease at lower right, not noted on certificate, which is a normal characteristic of the first designs, Very Fine and choice, extremely rare with less than 35 examples known, ex-Zoellner; with 1958 and 2016 P.F. certificates. Scott No. 61 $45,000 for the grade of fine.
ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF THE 1861 30¢ FIRST DESIGN ISSUE.
Lot 8
1937-D Buffalo Nickel. Three Legs. NGC graded MS-65. Lovely reddish gold hue.Estimate $15,000 - 20,000.
Realized: $14,500
Lot
2023
1893, $5 Columbian, bottom right corner margin single, o.g., very lightly hinged, a truly remarkable position single possessing perfect centering with large evenly balanced margin encompassing, bold fresh color enhancing a sharp detailed impression, noting a small selvage thin spot at edge of right selvage, slight perf reinforcement between stamp and selvage at right and a small natural wood fiber inclusion, none of which has any bearing on the grade and are not mentioned on certificates, a Superb gem, one of three examples to obtain this ultimate grade as no other $5 Columbian has been award a grade higher in any condition; with 1993 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates, the later Graded (Superb 98, SMQ $16,500). Scott No. 245 $2,500.
ONE OF THE FINEST MINT EXAMPLES OF THE 1893 $5 COLUMBIAN HIGH VALUE BEARING A FULL CORNER MARGIN.
This unique ultimate corner margin mint example may stand the test of time as one of the finest, as the three mint "Superb 98" graded stamp have not been surpassed in well over five years. Only one other example has has received this superb grade which is a used example. The highest awarded never hinged $5 Columbian has only received a "XF-Sup 95", several steps away from a true superb grading.
Realized: $16,000
Lot
2049 
1898, 10¢ Trans-Miss., complete left sheet of 50 with plate no. "604" and imprints at top and bottom, o.g., stamps never hinged with sliver hinged reinforcements at extreme edge of selvage, well centered overall with exceptional centering in positions 16-24, intact with full selvage, strong color and fresh, Very Fine and choice, a great rarity, the finest of three recorded sheets, illustrated in Neil The Trans-Mississippi Issue of 1898 (page 93, color plate section reserved for "Some of the Most Important Pieces in Trans-Mississippi Issue Philately"), ex-Rosenthal. Scott No. 290 $25,650.
THE FINEST EXAMPLE OF THE 10¢ TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE IN COMPLETE SHEET FORMAT.
Realized: $16,000
Lot
2863 
Confederacy, Mesilla N.M. Dec 21, clear strike of cds and manuscript "Due 10c" rating at left on cover with soldier's endorsement at upper left from "A.N. Alford, Co. A. T.M.R. (Texas Mounted Rifles), C.S.A." and addressed to H.M. Alford, Austin, Texas, endorsed "Via San Antonio", pencil "Received Jany 6 1862" receipt docketing; reduced slightly at right, Very Fine. Estimate $15,000 - 20,000.
A CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE "MESILLA N.M." DATESTAMP FROM THE CONFEDERATE OCCUPATION OF NEW MEXICO IN THE NEWLY-FORMED TERRITORY OF ARIZONA.
In July 1861, Lt. Col. John Baylor raised the Confederate flag at Fort Bliss, later occupying Fort Fillmore and the town of Mesilla. On August 1st he issued a proclamation establishing the Confederate Territory of Arizona, naming Mesilla as its capital. In January 1862, the Confederate Congress passed a bill establishing the Territory of Arizona. President Davis signed the bill in January and issued his presidential proclamation shortly thereafter.
Albert Nelson Alford enlisted as a private in Company A, Texas Mounted Rifles, which was organized in May 1861, but reorganized in April 1862 as the 2nd Cavalry Regiment. The regiment was active in various conflicts in New Mexico Territory. In late 1861 and early 1862, it was actually known as the Army of New Mexico, but later well known as part of the Trans-Mississippi Department.
According to specialists in Arizona and New Mexico postal history, there are fewer than ten examples known of the Mesilla, N.M. occupation marking.
Realized: $16,000
Lot
2388
Offices in China, 1919, $2 on $1 violet brown, double surcharge, o.g., lightly hinged, well centered, strong bold color, Very Fine to Extremely Fine; with 2015 P.F. Graded certificate (VF-XF 85). Scott No. K16a $10,500.
A CHOICE MINT EXAMPLE OF THE OFFICES IN CHINA 1919 $2 ON $1 WITH DOUBLE SURCHARGE.
Realized: $12,000
Lot
2122
1909, 10¢ yellow coil, horizontal pair, full o.g., remarkably well centered within wide margins, radiantly rich color on bright fresh paper, Extremely Fine to Superb, certainly one of the finest examples in existence with very few that can even compare; with 1991, 2003 P.F. and 2015 P.S.E. certificates, the later Graded (XF-Sup 95, SMQ $14,500). Scott No. 356 $7,000.
A MAGNIFICENT MINT PAIR OF THE 1909, 10¢ WASHINGTON HORIZONTAL COIL RECEIVING THE REMARKABLE GRADE OF XF-SUP 95 BY THE P.S.E.
Realized: $10,000
Lot
2526 ()
City and Suburban Telegraph Co., 1855, 1¢ black, se-tenant block, block of 12 with two rows of 2¢-1¢-1¢-1¢-2¢-3¢ denominations, representing the bottom two rows and sheet margin from the sheet of 60, without gum as issued, full to large margins all around, light pencil in margin indicating this block was found and presented on May 26, 1876; some creasing and faults including small holes with one affecting position 4, Fine appearance, ex-Stephen Rich. Scott No. 6T1-6T3 Estimate $10,000 - 15,000.
A TRULY EXCEPTIONAL TELEGRAPH STAMP RARITY, A HIGHLIGHT OF THE COOPERMAN COLLECTION. THIS IS THE LARGEST KNOWN MULTIPLE OF THE CITY AND SUBURBAN TELEGRAPH CO., WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN BROKEN UP.
The New York City & Suburban Printing Telegraph Co., organized in 1855, was the first private telegraph company in the world to issue stamps. According to the Kramer book, it was not profitable and its line was leased to Henry Bentley (of Bentley's Dispatch). Bentley experimented with a system of message depositories, for which these stamps were intended. The concept quickly failed and the stamps went unused for the most part.
This block originates from a complete sheet of 60 stamps that the Economist Stamp Company acquired in 1935 and divided it into strips and singles, including the block of the bottom two rows that is offered here. It had been reported as having been broken up as it has never been offered at public auction.
Realized: $15,000
Lot
859
Mexico, 1866, 7c lilac gray, San Luis Potosi, horizontal pair, in combination with 1866, 13c blue + 25c buff, cons 58-1866, all with ample to large margins, on 1866 folded letter to Celaya tied by San Luis Potosi cds's, Extremely Fine, a most remarkable rarity as probably no more than 5 tricolor covers are known; with 1998 Jaretzky and 2016 MEPSI certificates. Scott No. 26-28 Estimate $7,500 - 10,000.
A UNIQUE THREE-COLOR COMBINATION OF THE 1866 MAXIMILIAN ISSUE.