US Stamps Prices Scott Cat. 119: 1869 15c Pictorial Landing of Columbus. Page 15

15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II (Scott 119). Choice centering with wide margins, deep rich colors, vignette shifted noticeably to the right, faintly cancelled leaving entire design clearly visible, reperfed at right (not noted on certificate), otherwise Extremely Fine, with 1988 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2009, Sale 976, Lot 1461

15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II (Scott 119). Vertical block of six, part disturbed original gum, fresh, rich colors FINE-VERY FINE. A VERY RARE BLOCK OF THE 15-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE TYPE II WITH MARVELOUS RICH COLORS AND IMPRESSIONS. With 1981 P.F. certificate which states “unused, original gum”

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2009, Sale 976, Lot 1460

15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II (Scott 119). Unusually wide margins and almost perfectly centered, circle of wedges cancel, Extremely Fine, with 1998 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90, SMQ price $680.00)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2009, Sale 975, Lot 1359

15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II (Scott 119). Pretty shades, wide and balanced margins, unobtrusive cancel leaves entire design clearly visible, Extremely Fine, an attractive stamp, P.S.E. encapsulated (XF 90, SMQ $680.00)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2009, Sale 975, Lot 1358

15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II (Scott 119). Original gum, bright colors and crisp impressions on fresh paper, three wide margins VERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT TYPE II 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE. With 1999 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2009, Sale 975, Lot 1360

15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II, Center Inverted (Scott 119b). Rich color, neat strike of “Highland” circular datestamp, repaired at top left, corner perfs added at bottom left, creases, reperfed at right VERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN AFFORDABLE AND PRESENTABLE EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE WITH CENTER INVERTED. Our census of 1869 Inverts, published in the February 1999 Chronicle and updated with three new stamps, contains 93 examples of the 15c Invert, including three unused and 90 used (one in the British Library’s Tapling collection). Census No. 119b-CAN-CE-02. With 1956 and 2009 P.F. certificates

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2009, Sale 973, Lot 104

15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II (Scott 119). Intense shades and impressions, couple trivial pulled perfs at bottom, cancelled by grid at origin and by ms. “X” in transit (as later explained), “Haverhill Mass. Feb. 9” (1870) circular datestamp on small cover to Aleppo, Syria (Turkey), red “5” in circle credit handstamp and matching “New York Paid All Direct Feb. 12” backstamp, red “Bremen Franco” transit and matching “Weiterfr. 2 Sgr.” German rate handstamp, sequential transits on front and back are Vienna (Mar. 2), Constantinople (Mar. 10), Beirut (Mar. 31) and Alexandretta (Apr. 3), bluish-black “TAXE” handstamp and matching boxed cancels tying Turkey 1869 20pa and 1pi, Red Brown Border, Postage Dues (J16, J17) on back, ms. “6” decimes due marking and pen lines applied by French postal clerk thru all prior transits and rate notations (and 15c stamp), ms. “Trouve a la boite” notation, blue crayon “12” due on front, other blue crayon arithmetic notations on back, opened up for display, a few minor faults VERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN INCOMPARABLE 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE COVER, PASSING THROUGH FIVE DIFFERENT POSTAL SYSTEMS ON ITS JOURNEY FROM MASSACHUSETTS TO A MISSIONARY IN ALEPPO, SYRIA, ONE OF THE OLDEST INHABITED CITIES IN THE WORLD. This cover is pictured and described in Jeffrey M. Forster’s 1982 Register article on 1869 mixed frankings (pp. 104-106), where he states “This cover is remarkable inasmuch as it passed through the United States, German, Austrian, Turkish and French postal systems. This writer knows of no other cover which demonstrates this outstanding accomplishment.” To summarize the cover’s journey, it was stamped 15c for the North German Union Direct rate to Syria (Turkey). The U.S. retained 10c and credited the North German Union with 5c for postage beyond NGU boundaries. From Bremen the cover was sent to Vienna (Mar. 2) to enter the Austrian postal system, which maintained offices in Turkey. It was postmarked at the Austrian P.O. in Constantinople on Mar. 10. However, without an office in Aleppo to receive the letter, the Austrians turned it over to the Turkish P.O., which determined that it should be sent by French Mail. Two Turkish postage due stamps amounting to 1 piastre and 20 paras (approximately 7-1/2 cents) were affixed on back and tied by Turkish cancels (the “TAXE” handstamp is in identical ink). From Constantinople the cover was carried by French Mail to Beirut (Mar. 31), then to Alexandretta (Apr. 3) for the final leg of the journey inland to Aleppo. Evidently the French P.O. assessed postage due at 6 decimes (12c). Ex Coulter. With 2006 P.F. certificate.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2009, Sale 973, Lot 124

15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II (Scott 119). Deep rich colors, tied by blue “Paris Ky. Jul. 4” (1870) circular datestamp and duplex cork cancel on Phantom Rate cover to Paris, France, indistinct red “New York Paid All Br. Transit” backstamp and matching “6” credit handstamp on front, red London (Jul. 19) transit and “PD” oval, Calais transit and Paris receiving backstamp, reduced approx. -2/3 in. at left FINE AND COLORFUL EXAMPLE OF THE PHANTOM RATE TO FRANCE SHOWING A VERY EARLY APPLICATION OF THE 6-CENT CREDIT TO ENGLAND. Effective July 1, 1870, the new Anglo-French postal convention reduced the rate between Great Britain and France to 3p per 10 grams, which in turn reduced the Phantom Rate from 12c to 10c (with a corresponding reduction in credit to GB from 8c to 6c). The 15c stamp is a typical overpayment of the 10c Phantom Rate. The cover was carried on the Cunarder Aleppo on its first voyage, departing New York on July 7, 1870. Ex Hubbard and Coulter. With 2006 P.F. certificate.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2009, Sale 973, Lot 125

15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II (Scott 119). Deep rich colors, few lightly toned perfs, used with 1c Buff, 3c Ultramarine (112, 114), tied by segmented circular cork cancels, “Dunkirk N.Y. Feb. 16” (1870) circular datestamp on small cover addressed in blue to Rome, Italy, red “New York Paid All Br. Transit Feb. 19” transit datestamp on back and “4” credit handstamp on front, red Verviers-Cologne transit, purple “P.D.” handstamp ties 1c, blue “fr 1-1/2” rate, Rome receiving backstamp, vertical fold clear of stamps, long sealed opening tear passes beneath stamps (between 1c and 3c) but does not affect them, cover refolded at top where 3c stamp overlaps edge (slightly creased), 1c has small faults at left VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A REMARKABLY COLORFUL COVER AND VERY RARE 1869 PICTORIAL COMBINATION FOR THE 19-CENT NORTH GERMAN UNION CLOSED MAIL RATE TO ROME. Illustrated in color in the 1869 PRA Census (p. 124). Ex Coulter. With 2006 P.F. certificate.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2009, Sale 973, Lot 126

3c Ultramarine, 15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II (Scott 119). Rich colors, tied by dotted grid cancel, red “Providence R.I. Jan. 5” (1870) double-circle datestamp with matching “Paid” in circle on small cover to Athens, Greece, routing instructions “via North German Union Direct”, “New York Paid All Direct Jan. 8” transit backstamp, red crayon “8” credit, “P.D.” (Paid to Destination) handstamp, red “Bremen Franco” transit, red “Wf 3-1/2” (silbergroschen) German rate notation, Athens receiving backstamp (Gregorian calendar), backflap removed, one-inch edge tear at right not affecting stamps or appearance VERY FINE. ONE OF TWO RECORDED 1869 15-CENT TYPE II COVERS TO GREECE. A COLORFUL AND EXTRAORDINARY FOREIGN-MAIL USAGE. The 18c rate to Greece applied to North German Union Direct Mail (the NGU Closed Mail rate was 23c). In July 1870 the rate was reduced to 15c (with a corresponding reduction of the 23c NGU Closed Mail rate to 18c). Ex Coulter. With 2006 P.F. certificate.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2009, Sale 973, Lot 127

United States 1869 Pictorials 1869 15c brown and blue, type II, unused (regummed), well centered with wide margins, beautiful color, fresh and v.f., with 2005 PFC

Cherrystone Auctions, Jun 2009, Sale 200906, Lot 63

15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II (Scott 119). Original gum, choice centering, deep rich colors and sharp impressions, remarkably fresh EXTREMELY FINE. THE 15-CENT TYPE II 1869 ISSUE IS EXCEEDINGLY DIFFICULT TO FIND IN SUCH SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION. With 2000 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2009, Sale 972, Lot 3120

UNITED STATES 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE 1869 15c brown and blue, type II, original gum, centered to top, bright color, fine, with 2003 PFC

Cherrystone Auctions, Mar 2009, Sale 200903, Lot 114

U.S.; General Issues, 1869, 15¢ Brown & Blue, Type II, #119. Dist. o.g., appears reperfed at bottom, Fine to Very Fine appearance. Scott $3,750. Estimate $500-600.

Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries, Feb 2009, Sale 80, Lot 1144

o U.S.; General Issues, 1869, 15¢ Brown & Blue, Type II, #119. Used, rich color, Fine to Very Fine. Scott $275. Estimate price $100-120.

Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries, Feb 2009, Sale 80, Lot 1145