Price of US Stamps Scott #21 – 1c 1857 Benjamin Franklin. Page 7

1c Blue, Ty. III (Scott 21). Plate 4, beautifully balanced margins and proof-like impression on fresh paper, nicely complemented by red New York City carrier datestamp EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 ONE-CENT TYPE III, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. — PARTICULARLY DESIRABLE WITH THE RED CARRIER DATESTAMP. Due to the narrow vertical spacing on this plate, stamps are most typically found with the perforations impinging on a portion of the design. The example offered here is centered so that the type characteristics are clearly visible. P.S.E. encapsulated (XF-Superb 95, SMQ value $11,000.00). None have graded higher to date.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2011, Sale 1014, Lot 1086

o 1857, 1¢ blue, type III (21), position 48L4, exceedingly well centered, beautiful rich color with a detailed impression, neatly canceled by squared grid cancel, wonderfully fresh and Extremely Fine SMQ price $4,850. Scott $2,750 AN EXCEPTIONAL USED EXAMPLE OF THE SCARCE PERFORATED TYPE III. Expertization: 2002 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. Certificates, latter graded XF 90.

Matthew Bennett International, Sep 2011, Sale 338, Lot 1700

o 1857, 1¢ blue, type III (21), virtually perfectly centered with distinctive deep color and a light town cancel; tiny, insignificant corner perf crease at lower left otherwise Extremely Fine and choice. Scott price $2,750 Expertization: 1997 PSE (clear) and 2007 PF Certificates.

Matthew Bennett International, Sep 2011, Sale 338, Lot 1701

o U.S.; General Issues, 1857, 1¢ Blue, Type III, #21. Used, pos. 59L4, Fine to Very Fine, PSE (2001) cert. Scott $2,750. Estimate value $550-650.

Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries, Aug 2011, Sale 90, Lot 1131

o U.S.; General Issues, 1857, 1¢ Blue, Type III, #21. “Cleaned/removed cancel and multiple small faults”, Fine to Very Fine appearance, Weiss (2011) cert. Scott $2,750. Estimate value $525-575.

Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries, Aug 2011, Sale 90, Lot 1132

o U.S.; General Issues, 1857, 1¢ Blue, Type III, #21. Blue cancel, pos. 54L4, “short perf at lower left”, fresh and Fine, PSAG (2011) cert. Scott $2,750. Estimate $550-650.

Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries, Aug 2011, Sale 90, Lot 1133

1c Blue, Ty. III (21). Positions 53-54/63-64L4, block of four, three stamps Type III (21), bottom left stamp Type IIIa (Scott 22), large part original gum, deep rich color and proof-like impression, top left and bottom right stamps small toned spots of little consequence VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE COMBINATION BLOCK OF FOUR FROM PLATE FOUR, CONTAINING THREE EXAMPLES OF TYPE III AND ONE EXAMPLE OF TYPE IIIa. THIS IS ONE OF THE RAREST COMBINATION BLOCKS OF THE 1857 ONE-CENT ISSUE. A Power Search review and our records revealed that blocks of any size containing more than two examples of the rare Type III are very difficult to find. The block of six, ex Moody, containing five examples of Type III (offered in our 1975 Rarities sale), has since broken into singles. Most perforated multiples contain two each of Types III and IIIa, or three copies of Type IIIa. Although one would expect more Type III perforated stamps from positions that wore as the plate was used, the reality is they are very rare, which suggests that the sheets were stacked with the earlier impressions at the bottom. The top of the pile was released without perforations, and the bottom sheets in the pile (earlier impressions) were subsequently perforated and issued. Ex Lilly. With 2011 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as pair of Type III and pair of Types III and IIIa.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2011, Sale 1010, Lot 26

1c Blue, Ty. III, Position 99R2 (21). Positions 98-100R2, horizontal strip of three, center stamp Position 99R2, the finest example of Type III on any plate, Position 98R at left is Type II (20), Position 100R at right has break in bottom line which qualifies it as Type IIIa (22), rich color, neat strike of New York circular datestamp, stamps at left and right have slight creases (ending in tiny tear in left stamp), center stamp (Position 99R2) tiny pinhole at the back of Franklin’s head VERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF POSITION 99R2 IN A STRIP WITH TYPES II AND IIIA. THIS IS ONE OF TWO USED MULTIPLES CONTAINING THE PERFORATED ONE-CENT 1857 ISSUE FROM POSITION 99R2. THIS POSITION FURNISHED THE WIDEST BREAKS OF ANY TYPE III ENTRY, AND THIS STRIP CONTAINS ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF THE PERFORATED 99R2 IN USED CONDITION. On Plate 2, 198 of the 200 positions were Type II. Position 100R was Type II in the early stage of the plate, but as wear began to weaken the bottom line, it became Type IIIa with a small break at bottom. Positions 89R and 99R on Plate 2 have been the focus of special attention, because of their unusual nature. Ashbrook states: “A study of the double transfers of 89R2 and 99R2 is most interesting, because here in a vertical pair of positions we have two distinct varieties… The 99R2 stamp is a fresh entry that was short transferred both at top and bottom over an original entry that had been erased… The stamp, 89R2, is a re-entry, but not in the proper sense of this term, because the re-entry on the lower part of this position was an error, as it was not made to correct an existent fault of the original 89R transfer.” Plate 2 stamps were issued imperforate from December 1855 through June 1857. Beginning in July 1857 stamps from Plates 1 Late, 2 and 4 were issued with perforations, and Plates 2 and 4 continued to produce stamps through late 1857. Plate 2 stamps are rarer perforated than in imperforate form, conversely, Plate 4 stamps are rarer imperforate than in perforated form. Our unpublished census of perforated Position 99R2 stamps contains one unused in a block of nine, three on covers, two in strips of three and 18 used singles. Most have faults or are poorly centered. Ex Newbury and Neinken (illustrated in his book on p. 194). With 2011 P.F. certificate (returned from the Wagshal sale and reoffered). Listed but unpriced in Scott as strip. Scott Retail for a 99R2 used single is $20,000.00

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2011, Sale 1010, Lot 27

o 1857, 1¢ blue, type III (21), nicely centered showing clear break of both top and bottom lines, bright fresh color, “few tiny margin defects” as per the accompanying certificate, F.-V.F. appearance. Scott $2,750 Expertization: 1976 PF Certificate.

Matthew Bennett International, Mar 2011, Sale 337, Lot 2476

1c Blue, Ty. III (Scott 21). Position 26R4, intense Plate 4 shade, wide margins to just in at top, unobtrusive strike of town cancel, few incompletely punched perfs at right, Fine, an attractive sound example of this scarce stamp, with 2010 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1007, Lot 2143

1c Blue, Ty. III (Scott 21). Plate 4, wide breaks at top and bottom, deep rich color and sharp impression, choice margins and cancelled by nearly complete strike of red New York City carrier datestamp, Very Fine, a beautiful example of this scarce perforated Type III

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1007, Lot 2142

1c Blue, Ty. III (Scott 21). Position 53L4, rich color, light strike of blue circular datestamp, tiny corner perf crease at bottom left, short perfs, otherwise Very Fine, ex Neinken

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1006, Lot 1159

1c Blue, Ty. III (Scott 21). Plate 4, D Relief, pretty shade nicely complemented by blue grid cancel, single pulled perf at top, otherwise Fine

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1006, Lot 1158

1c Blue, Ty. III (Scott 21). Plate 4, C Relief, bright color, neat strike of circular datestamp, Fine

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1006, Lot 1157

1c Blue, Ty. III (Scott 21). Plate 4, E Relief, bright color on crisp paper, neat strike of circular datestamp, well-balanced margins, a few blunted perfs at upper left from scissors separation, otherwise Very Fine

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1006, Lot 1156