US Stamp Prices Scott 39: 1860 90c George Washington. Page 4

90c Blue (Scott 39). Deep rich color, bold strike of large Boston “Paid” grid cancel, reperfed at right, few faults incl. pulled perfs at top and bottom VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A SCARCE USED EXAMPLE OF THE SHORT-LIVED 90-CENT 1860 ISSUE. The 90c stamp was issued in 1860, along with the 24c and 30c values, all of which were needed to prepay high international letter rates established by various postal treaties. The basic 24c and 30c rates to England, France and Germany created a volume of mail franked with those values. However, the 90c saw much more limited use, partly due to the rates in effect, but more because of the American Civil War. When supplies of current postage stamps were declared invalid in the South and ultimately demonetized by the Federal government, the 90c had been in use for only one year. For this reason, genuinely cancelled copies are scarce, and covers bearing the 90c are extremely rare. Approximately 180 used examples have been certified by The Philatelic Foundation, of which one-quarter are sound. With 1970 and 1977 P.F. certificates, the former stating “defective” and the latter stating reperfed.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2014, Sale 1078, Lot 136

1860, 90¢ blue (Scott 39), disturbed o.g., premium quality stamp with prooflike color and razor sharp impression, this well margined stamp is completely sound in all respects, Very Fine, 2014 P.S.E. certificate. Scott $3,000. Estimate value $2,000 – 3,000.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Sep 2014, Sale 655, Lot 193

1860, 90¢ blue, imperf (Scott 39P5), unused without gum, attractive example of this major rarity, with the deepest and richest color imaginable, missing from even the most advanced collections; small thin spot, otherwise Fine, 1983 P.F. certificate. Scott $4,500. Estimate $1,000 – 1,500.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Sep 2014, Sale 655, Lot 194

1860, 90¢ blue (Scott 39), o.g., barest trace of hinge (appears never hinged), an extraordinary example of this scarce stamp, featuring bold rich color and immense margins, among the freshest and choicest 90c high values imaginable, just a great stamp, Very Fine, 1978 and 2011 P.F. certificates. Scott $3,000. Estimate value $2,500 – 3,500.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Sep 2014, Sale 655, Lot 192

U.S. General Issues, 1860, 90¢ Blue, #39, o.g. “reperfed at bottom and a short perf at right”, Fine to Very Fine appearance, PSAG (2014) cert. Scott $3,000. Estimate $400-500.

Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries, Aug 2014, Sale 102, Lot 1682

() U.S. General Issues, 1860, 90¢ Blue, #39, regummed, fresh and Fine. Scott $1,100. Estimate price $300-350.

Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries, Aug 2014, Sale 102, Lot 1683

90c Blue (Scott 39). Unused (no gum), extraordinarily wide margins and beautifully centered, intense color and proof-like impression, Extremely Fine Gem, a magnificent unused example of the 90c 1860 Issue, the ideal stamp for a collector who wants superb centering and margins, but does not care about gum

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jul 2014, Sale 1077, Lot 76

1860, 90¢ blue (Scott 39), regummed, fresh and affordable example of this popular stamp, with awesome rich color; reperforated at top, otherwise Fine. Scott $1,100. Estimate price $400 – 600.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, May 2014, Sale 653, Lot 2085

Scott #39, 90c Blue, unused, well centered within large margins, strong rich color and a crisp impression, choice very fine; 1991 PF certificate.

Spink Shreves Galleries, May 2014, Sale 148, Lot 60

39, 1860 90c Blue, detailed impression and lovely balanced margins, unused, tiny thin in center and light tone spot lower right, Very Fine appearance (Scott price $1,100)

H.R. Harmer, May 2014, Sale 3005, Lot 1079

39, 1860 90c Blue, Double transfer at top, brilliant color, unused, light horizontal bend, Very Fine centering, 1974 PF certificate (Scott value $3,250 for o.g. double transfer) 

H.R. Harmer, May 2014, Sale 3005, Lot 1078

39, 1860 90c Blue,lovely matching blue cancel, left and right margins added and reperforated at bottom, Fine appearance, used examples are quite rare in any condition due to their short period of use and the nature of the pieces of mail they franked, 2014 PSE certificate (Scott price $11,400)

H.R. Harmer, May 2014, Sale 3005, Lot 1077

1860, 90¢ blue (Scott 39), o.g., very lightly hinged, an extraordinary 90¢ Washington, with near perfect centering, bold rich color, and beautifully balanced margins; a fabulous example both front and back, that would enhance any great collection, a super GEM featuring the finest attributes obtainable; tiny tear at top, otherwise Extremely Fine, 2013 P.F. certificate & clean 1989 P.F. certificate. Scott $3,000. Estimate $1,000 – 1,500.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, May 2014, Sale 652, Lot 130

1860, 90¢ blue (Scott 39), neat red grid and partial red town cancels, rich color; small thin and tear at top, small repair at upper right and weak upper right corner perf; exceptionally fresh, Fine to Very Fine appearance. Scott $11,000. Estimate price $1,500 – 2,000.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, May 2014, Sale 652, Lot 131

*    90¢ blue (Scott 39), perfectly centered, fresh intense color, original gum (Certificate states, perhaps a bit harshly, “redistributed original gum”), Extremely Fine, pretty stamp. SMQ $6800 (photo). $3,000 Expertization: 2010 P.S.E. Certificate graded XF 90.

Matthew Bennett International, May 2014, Sale 350, Lot 87