US Stamp Value Scott #112: 1869 1c Pictorial Benjamin Franklin. Page 8

1c Buff (Scott 112). Wide margins, bold strike of 6-Point Hollow Star fancy cancel with trace of magenta cancel at bottom, small faults, Very Fine appearance, with 2009 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1007, Lot 2263

1c Buff (Scott 112). Fine centering, clearly struck Evansville Ind. “Shoo Fly” fancy cancel, excellent strike and very rare, especially on the 1c value

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1007, Lot 2262

1c Buff (Scott 112). Vibrant color, well-proportioned margins, cancelled by clear strike of “Chicago to Dunleath R.P.O. Dec. 17” circular datestamp, fresh and Extremely Fine, scarce and desirable with the railroad cancel, with 2008 P.F. certificate (XF 90)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1007, Lot 2261

1c Buff (Scott 112). Brilliant color on bright paper, crisp impression, canceled by neat strike of quartered cork, unusually wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95, SMQ value $1,300.00)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1007, Lot 2260

1c Buff (Scott 112). Bright color and choice centering, tied by “MOB” in circle handstamp on front of “Brown’s Guide-Book for the City and Vicinity of Boston” published in 1869, the guidebook with trivial edgewear, Very Fine, scarce use, the “MOB” stands for Money Order Business, this marking was used to validate money orders and receipts handed back to the customer, in this case it was used as a cancelling device on this guide book which was sent at the 1c rate for printed matter under four ounces, we have never seen a Money Order Business marking struck on another 1869 stamp, with 1998 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1004, Lot 14

1c Buff (Scott 112). Horizontal strip of three, choice centering, tied by well-struck quartered corks, “Versailles Ky. Nov. 17” circular datestamp on cover to Fort Smith Ark., barely reduced at left, fresh and Very Fine, a beautiful strip used on a Southern cover, signed Bloch, with 2004 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1004, Lot 15

1c Buff (112). Horizontal block of twelve, bright color, each stamp cancelled by neat strike of circle of V’s cork cancel, natural s.e. at right, faint vertical crease affects third column, bottom left stamp small toned spot (neither of these negligible flaws is mentioned on accompanying certificate) VERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS THE LARGEST RECORDED USED MULTIPLE OF THE ONE-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE. ONE OF THE GREAT RARITIES OF THE ISSUE. Used 1c 1869 blocks are very rare, partly due to the ready availability of higher denominations to pay different rates. Our Power Search produced only one used block of six with pen cancels and two blocks of four among all of our Rarities lots plus the last 17 years of Siegel auctions. With 1988 P.F. certificate as sound. Scott Retail as three blocks of four does not adequately convey the rarity of this multiple.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1004, Lot 12

1c Buff (Scott 112). Bright color, few small perf flaws at bottom (not mentioned on accompanying certificate), tied by bold strike of Negative “US” in circle fancy cancel, “Spartanburg C.H. S.C. May 20” circular datestamp on buff cover to local addressee, some slight overall wear, still Extremely Fine strike of this fancy cancel, the use of a “U.S.” patriotic cancel at a Southern post office during the Reconstruction era was clearly politically motivated, with 2000 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1004, Lot 13

1c Buff (Scott 112). Fresh color, clear strike of “Hiogo, Japan” double-circle handstamp, Very Fine and choice example of this cancel which is scarce on the 1c 1869 Pictorial Issue, the U.S. Post Office opened in Hiogo in 1868, one year after those in Yokohama and Nagasaki, and was in operation until December 1874, the rate was 10c to the U.S., 3c or 6c between Treaty Ports and additional rates to Europe, we have sold only two other 1c 1869’s with Hiogo cancels since keeping computerized records, ex Koppersmith and Saadi, with 1991 and 2002 P.F. certificates

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1004, Lot 10

1c Buff (112). Horizontal pair, each stamp with gorgeous centering and wide balanced margins, bright color, each with neat strike of Circle of Hearts fancy cancel EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED PAIR OF THE ONE-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE WITH CIRCLE OF HEARTS FANCY CANCELLATIONS. With 1998 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as pair with no premium for the cancel $290.00.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1004, Lot 11

1c Buff (Scott 112). Tied by target cancel, used with 2c Black, F Grill (93), similarly tied on cover locally addressed to Grinnell Iowa and forwarded to North Danville Vt., light strike of “Grinnell Ioa. Jul. ?” circular datestamp, minor edge soiling, slightly reduced at left, Very Fine, this was mailed with the 1c stamp for local delivery in Grinnell and then the 2c was added to make up the 3c domestic rate for forwarding to North Danville, ex Krug, with 1960, 1980 and 2003 P.F. certificates

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1004, Lot 16

1c Buff (Scott 112). S.e. at left, stamp defective, cancelled by Running Chicken fancy cancel of Waterbury Conn., also marked by blue German handstamp from Institute of Kirchenmusik in Erlangen VERY FINE STRIKE OF THE RARE AND DESIRABLE RUNNING CHICKEN FANCY CANCELLATION OF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT. The Running Chicken is the most iconic of all designs produced by postmaster John W. Hill. The most famous item bearing this cancel is the cover with three 1c stamps, ex Ishikawa, which realized $230,000 hammer in 1995. The stamp offered here was probably used on a cover to Germany. One can only dream of what the full cover looked like, but this complete Running Chicken is a great rarity and highly exhibitable. With 2007 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1004, Lot 3

1c Buff (Scott 112). Bright color, cancelled by bold full-face strike of “Woman in Snood” Facing Right fancy cancellation of Waterbury Conn. (Rohloff E-12), insignificant corner crease at top of stamp not mentioned on accompanying certificate EXTREMELY FINE STRIKE OF THIS DESIRABLE AND ELABORATE WATERBURY FANCY CANCEL. A PHENOMENAL RARITY AS VERY FEW ARE KNOWN. Three examples of this cancel are known, only on piece or off-cover stamps (1c 1867 Grill and 1c 1869 Pictorial). No strikes on full covers are known. None was offered in the famed Houser sale, and we have not sold one since keeping computerized records. With 2003 P.F. certificate.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1004, Lot 4

1c Buff (Scott 112). Mint N.H., radiant color as fresh as the day it was printed, choice centering with well-balanced margins VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE. With 1983 P.F. certificate for block of four.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1004, Lot 1

1c Buff (112). Block of twelve with selvage and guide arrow at right, original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich color, few minor perf separations, some slight toning at right VERY FINE. ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCKS OF THE ONE-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE ARE VERY RARE, AND THE BLOCK OFFERED HERE IS ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH THE PART ARROW AND SELVAGE AT RIGHT. A HIGHLY EXHIBITABLE MULTIPLE. The 1c 1869 was printed in sheets of 300 consisting of two panes of 150. The largest recorded multiple is a left sheet-margin block of 48, and we also record five other multiples larger than a block of twelve, which is a very small number given the low denomination and size of the original sheets. Scott Retail as two blocks of four and two pairs.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1004, Lot 2