Price of US Stamps Scott 39: 1860 90c George Washington. Page 5

*    90¢ blue (Scott 39), outstanding centering, deep color, small part original gum, Extremely Fine, a most attractive mint example of this high value. SSV $4,500 (photo). $3,000 Expertization: 2005 P.F. Certificate graded VF-XF 85.

Matthew Bennett International, May 2014, Sale 350, Lot 88

*    90¢ blue (Scott 39), extraordinary centering within unusually large margins for this closely spaced issue, prooflike color and impression, original gum, lightly hinged, Extremely Fine. SMQ value $14,600 (photo). $3,000 A SUPERB MINT EXAMPLE OF THIS SCARCE HIGH VALUE, BEING THE HIGHEST GRADED TO DATE, WITH ONLY TWO OTHERS AT THIS GRADE. Expertization: P.S.E. Certificate encapsulated XF-Sup 95.

Matthew Bennett International, May 2014, Sale 350, Lot 86

90c Blue (Scott 39). Unused (no gum), rich color, fresh and Very Fine

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2014, Sale 1068, Lot 58

90c Blue (Scott 39). Rich color, neat strikes of red grid cancel and black cancel at bottom, tiny perf flaw at bottom left not mentioned on accompanying certificate, insignificant tiny tear at top center 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 1995 P.S.E. and 2013 P.F. certificates

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2014, Sale 1068, Lot 59

United States 1857-61 Issue 1857 90c blue, black cancel, well centered for this difficult issue, design clear of the perforations on all sides, small faults as often encountered in this high value, very rare genuinely used, with 2004 PFC (“with a tear at left center and small faults”), v.f. appearance

Cherrystone Auctions, Apr 2014, Sale 201404, Lot 23

1860, 90¢ blue (Scott 39), unused without gum, pristine unused example with prooflike color and razor sharp impression, a beautiful example of this popular stamp, Fine to Very Fine, 2014 P.S.E. certificate. Scott $1,100. Estimate value $750 – 1,000.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Mar 2014, Sale 648, Lot 2031

1860, 90¢ blue (Scott 39), unused without gum, beautiful well margined example with an incredible depth of color, splendid in every way, Very Fine, 2014 P.S.E. certificate. Scott $1,100. Estimate $750 – 1,000.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Mar 2014, Sale 650, Lot 2516

90c Blue (Scott 39). Original gum, deep rich color, wide margins, Very Fine

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2014, Sale 1067, Lot 993

90c Blue (Scott 39). Original gum, rich color and detailed impression, choice centering with wide margins VERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1860 ISSUE. With 2013 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, VF-XF 85; SMQ $4,100.00)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2014, Sale 1067, Lot 992

90c Blue (Scott 39). Unused (no gum), deeply rich color, Fine, with 2002 A.P.S. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2014, Sale 1067, Lot 994

Scott #39, 90c Blue, rare genuinely used example, bearing an 1860 year dated town cancel, repaired as so many examples are, with several perforations added at bottom, reperforated at right, very fine appearance; 2013 PF certificate.

Spink Shreves Galleries, Jan 2014, Sale 146, Lot 192

90c Blue (Scott 39). Unusually choice centering, deep rich color and detailed impression, face-free red grid cancel at lower left leaves entire design clearly visible EXTREMELY FINE USED EXAMPLE OF THE SHORT-LIVED 90-CENT 1860 — THE FIRST UNITED STATES 90-CENT ISSUE — OF WHICH ONLY FIVE SOUND COPIES CANCELLED IN RED HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION. 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. Of these sound examples, only five are cancelled in red. With 1999 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2013, Sale 1062, Lot 163

1860, 90¢ blue (39), fake, non contemporary blue cancellation, impressive appearance, handsome appearing example with radiant rich color; tear at bottom right neatly hidden by small expert repair, otherwise Fine. Scott $1,100 for unused. Estimate $500 – 750.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Dec 2013, Sale 640, Lot 84

1860, 90¢ blue (39), fake (non-contemporary) cancellation, nicely centered with brilliant color, nice looking from the face, but it isn’t a genuinely used example that would catalog for $11,000 if it were postmarked during correct period of usage; small thin spots, and a piece added at top left corner obscured by the cancellation, otherwise Very Fine. Scott $1,100 for an unused example. Estimate price $500 – 750.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Dec 2013, Sale 640, Lot 83

90c Blue (Scott 39). Original gum, rich color, choice centering with well-balanced margins EXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1860 ISSUE. With 1992, 2003 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (OGh, VF-XF 85; SMQ value $4,100.00)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Nov 2013, Sale 1061, Lot 3452