Values of US Stamp Scott Cat. #7: 1c 1851 Benjamin Franklin. Page 38

1c Blue, Ty. II, Plate 3, New York Unofficial Roulette (7 var). Positions 4/14/24L3, vertical strip of three, bottom stamp (24L) shows the top of the major “Forked Lightning” plate crack, clear roulettes at left, right and between stamps (sheet margin at top is imperforate), rouletted approximately 17, tied by “New-York Jul. 16, 1857” circular datestamp on folded cover to Philadelphia, receipt docketing “1857, New York July 16th, R. E. Jenks”, pressed file crease thru top stamp VERY FINE. A REMARKABLE COVER, BEARING A STRIP OF THE 1851 ONE-CENT FROM PLATE 3, WHICH NOT ONLY CONTAINS A RARE AND DESIRABLE CRACKED PLATE POSITION (24L3) BUT WAS PRIVATELY ROULETTED JUST AS THE FIRST REGULAR SUPPLY OF THE NEWLY-PERFORATED 1857 ISSUE REACHED NEW YORK CITY. Little is known about this unofficial roulette. In the 1851 Issue Sesquicentennial book, Wilson Hulme postulated that the 3c stamps with this roulette were done by hand and not by a machine. New York received its supply of perforated stamps (under the new contract) in the third week of July 1857. Therefore, the window for use of these roulettes would have been extremely narrow — all are known used in July of that year. He also mentions the possibility that one may exist on a 1c stamp, which was probably based on the cover offered here. This cover is specifically cited by Ashbrook (see Neinken book, page 232), who acquired it in the 1917 Morgenthau sale of the George H. Worthington collection. Ex Worthington, Ashbrook and Oakley.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2010, Sale 994, Lot 1007

1c Blue, Ty. II, Plate 3 (Scott 7). Positions 24-26L3, horizontal strip of three, left stamp (24L) shows the top of the major “Forked Lightning” plate crack, large margins to just touched, incredibly intense Prussian Blue shade, creased between stamps before use, tied by blue “Elmira N.Y. Apr. 1, 1857” circular datestamp on cover to Newark N.J., crease and small tear at bottom of cover, Very Fine appearing strip and attractive cover, the “Forked Lightning” crack is one of the most striking varieties of Plate 3

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2010, Sale 994, Lot 1009

1c Blue, Ty. II, Plate 3 (Scott 7). Position 61R3, left straddle-pane margin, other sides large to slightly in, grid cancel, tiny corner crease at top left in margin only (easily trimmed), Fine, ex Neinken

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2010, Sale 994, Lot 1004

1c Blue, Ty. II, Plate 3 (Scott 7). Position 41R3, left straddle-pane margin and centerline, tied by well-struck “New-York Apr. 15, 1857 Paid” circular datestamp on front only of printed notice to Hartford Conn., Very Fine

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2010, Sale 994, Lot 1003

1c Blue, Ty. II, Plate 3 (Scott 7). Positions 24L3, 33L3 and 34L3, three singles, each showing “Forked Lightning” plate crack, large margins to just in, each with circular datestamp, few small flaws, Fine-Very Fine, a wonderful group reconstructing this significant plate crack

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2010, Sale 994, Lot 1006

1c Blue, Ty. II, Plate 3 (Scott 7). Positions 24L, 33L and 34L3 mounted on cards from the Neinken collection, showing the major “Forked Lightning” plate crack, 24L cancelled by bold New York town datestamp (Oct. 5, 1857), full to large margins, 33L and 34L are unused (no gum), ample margins to just touched, 33L small thin spot, 34L sound, gorgeous intense shades VERY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING RECONSTRUCTION OF THE “FORKED LIGHTNING” CRACK OF PLATE 3, ASSEMBLED BY MORTIMER L. NEINKEN USING CHOICE EXAMPLES, INCLUDING TWO RARE UNUSED COPIES. The exceptional nature of the “Forked Lightning” crack is discussed in the Neinken book (pages 228-229), and the great rarity of examples is underscored in that passage (as observed by Ashbrook and updated by Neinken). Ex Neinken

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2010, Sale 994, Lot 1005

1c Blue, Ty. II, Plate 3 (Scott 7). Position 11R3, left straddle-pane margin and centerline, other sides ample to barely in, bold strike of circular datestamp, Very Fine, ex Neinken

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2010, Sale 994, Lot 1000

1c Blue, Ty. II, Plate 3 (Scott 7). Positions 31-32R3, horizontal pair with left straddle-pane margin and centerline, other sides large to in at top, bold town datestamp, thinned at lower left, still Fine-Very Fine appearance and an exceedingly rare example of the Plate 3 centerline, ex Neinken

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2010, Sale 994, Lot 1002

1c Blue, Ty. II, Plate 3 (Scott 7). Position 21R3, large side margins including part of left straddle-pane margin, clear at top and bottom, bright shade, town datestamp, Very Fine, ex Chase and Neinken

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2010, Sale 994, Lot 1001

1c Blue, Ty. II, Plate 3 (7). Positions 74/84/94R3, vertical strip of three, bottom two stamps with plate cracks, large margins to in, radiant color, neat circular datestamps, tiny tear at top left, still Fine, ex Neinken, signed Ashbrook, Scott Retail as pair and a single

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2010, Sale 994, Lot 1019

1c Blue, Ty. II, Plate 3 (7). Position 31R3 with small plate surface crack, full margins to just in, rich color, neat circular datestamp, light corner crease at bottom left, Fine appearance, Scott Retail with no premium for the plate crack

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2010, Sale 994, Lot 1018

1c Blue, Ty. II, Plate 3 (Scott 7). Positions 7-8R3, horizontal pair, right stamp (8R) with major plate crack across Franklin’s head, large margins to clear at bottom right, intense shade and impression, town datestamp clear of crack, corner creases, otherwise Very Fine, a rare example of the Plate 3 crack, ex Neinken

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2010, Sale 994, Lot 1015

1c Blue, Ty. II, Plate 3 (Scott 7). Position 98L3 showing plate cracks at bottom, huge margins to just in including part of sheet margin at bottom, tied by “New-York Apr. 1” circular datestamp on folded printed prices current to Rochester N.H., vertical file fold well away from stamp, some uniform soiling at left, still Fine

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2010, Sale 994, Lot 1014

1c Blue, Ty. II, Plate 3 (Scott 7). Positions 8-9R3, horizontal pair with major plate crack across both stamps and double transfer in 9R, three large to huge margins, slightly in at top, dark shade, lightly cancelled, Fine, rare, ex Neinken, with his album write-up describing this impression as “a very early and undeveloped state of the crack (A Most Unusual and Desirable Item)”

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2010, Sale 994, Lot 1017

1c Blue, Ty. II, Plate 3 (Scott 7). Position 8R3 with major plate crack, large margins to just in at top, bright shade nicely complemented by red Carrier cancel, Very Fine, scarce stamp from Plate 3 with this cancel

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2010, Sale 994, Lot 1016