Cost of US Stamp Scott 1: 1847 5c Benjamin Franklin. Page 54

United States 1847 Issue 1847 5c brown orange, horizontal pair, margins all around, with sheet margin at right, red grid and faint manuscript cancels, fine example of this scarcer shade, with 2002 PFC

Cherrystone Auctions, Oct 2012, Sale 201210, Lot 4

United States Scott 1847 Issue 1847 5c red brown, red cancel, margins all around, v.f., with 1999 PFC

Cherrystone Auctions, Oct 2012, Sale 201210, Lot 3

5c Red Brown (Scott 1). Large margins including part of adjoining stamp at top, pretty shade, light strike of magenta grid cancel, Extremely Fine

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2012, Sale 1033, Lot 4002

5c Brown Orange (Scott 1d). Rich color in this scarce shade, large to huge margins including parts of adjoining stamps at top and bottom, bold blue grid cancel EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE IN THE ELUSIVE BROWN ORANGE SHADE. The P.F. and P.S.E. disagree on the identification of the shade for this stamp. Both have issued two certificates each, the P.F. as Brown Orange in both cases and P.S.E. as Orange Brown in both cases. We agree with the P.F.’s assessment of the shade. With 2002 and 2005 P.F. certificates as No. 1d (XF-Superb 95). With 2005 and 2007 P.S.E. certificates as No. 1b (XF-Superb 95, SMQ value $3,500.00 as Orange Brown and $4,500.00 as Brown Orange). For either shade, this is the highest grade awarded in the P.S.E. Population Report

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2012, Sale 1032, Lot 3007

5c Dark Brown (Scott 1a). Large margins, beautiful intense color and proof-like impression, light and mostly face-free strike of blue town cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2005 P.F. (XF 90) and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95, SMQ price $1,950.00), only three used examples of the Dark Brown shade have graded higher (at 98)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2012, Sale 1032, Lot 3005

5c Orange Brown (Scott 1b). Large to huge margins including parts or traces of four adjoining stamps, beautiful warm rich color on deeply blued paper, vivid red grid cancel (probably St. Louis or Mobile) EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE IN THE ORANGE BROWN SHADE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. — THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED. With 1982, 2005 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95, SMQ price $3,500.00). This is the highest grade awarded. While seven others share this grade, we doubt that any of the others possess the same combination of extra wide margin width, rich color and vivid red cancel.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2012, Sale 1032, Lot 3006

5c Red Brown, Dot in “S” (1 var). Large to huge margins all around including parts of adjoining stamps at top and bottom, deep rich color, full clear strike of red grid cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a lovely example of this plate variety which is present in the ninth vertical row of the left pane and varies in intensity from top to bottom (the upper positions are more pronounced, as in this example), with 1999 and 2006 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95), with 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95, SMQ $1,300.00 for normal position)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2012, Sale 1032, Lot 3003

5c Brown (Scott 1). Large even margins all around, dark shade and clear impression, light strike of red grid cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful stamp, with 2001 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95, SMQ price $1,300.00)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2012, Sale 1032, Lot 3004

5c Red Brown (Scott 1). Position 10R1 with enormous top right corner sheet margins, huge margins at left and bottom including part of adjoining stamp at bottom, rich color (P.F. classified shade as Orange Brown), neat strikes of blue grid and part of circular datestamp cancels EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS SPECTACULAR USED CORNER-MARGIN COPY OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE HAS BEEN GRADED GEM 100 JUMBO BY P.S.E. WITHOUT QUESTION THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST USED EXAMPLES OF THE FIRST UNITED STATES POSTAGE STAMP. The Act of March 3, 1847, signed by President Polk, specified that Postmaster General Cave Johnson “be authorized to prepare postage stamps, which when attached to any letter or packet, shall be evidence of the payment of the postage…” The law’s effective date was July 1, and the Post Office acted immediately to secure a contract with Rawdon, Wright, Hatch and (the new partner) Edson, so that stamps could be distributed by that date. The Franklin vignette is reported to have been based on a portrait by John B. Longacre, and it also closely resembles a painting by Joseph S. Duplessis. With 1992 P.F. certificate as Orange Brown. With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100 Jumbo, unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, $3,500.00 SMQ value for a 98 grade has little relevance to this stamp). This is the only example to achieve this ultimate grade in the P.S.E. Population Report. The next highest grade for a used 5c 1847 in any shade is 98J.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2012, Sale 1032, Lot 3002

o U.S.; General Issues, 1847, 5¢ red brown, #1. 3 margins, red grid cancel, pinhole, Fine. Scott $500. Estimate $100.

Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries, Oct 2012, Sale 95, Lot 159

U.S.; General Issues, 1847, 5¢ red brown on cover, #1. Pen cancel, 4 margin copy on cover (not tied) to Poughkeepsie, NY with Hudson River Mail N.Y. and red 5 cancels, questionable usage, stamp may not belong, Fine. Scott $250. Estimate value $100.

Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries, Oct 2012, Sale 95, Lot 160

1847, 5¢ orange brown (Scott 1b), wonderfully fresh example of this desirable color variety, choice well margined stamp with a very elusive cancellation, scarce black Virginia town cancellation, Very Fine to Extremely Fine, 2012 P.F. certificate. Scott $1,350. Estimate price $750 – 1,000.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Oct 2012, Sale 632, Lot 920

1847, 5¢ red brown (Scott 1), impressive example with extremely large margins and bold rich color, a wonderful appearing stamp, gorgeous red grid cancellation; small thin at bottom, Extremely Fine. Scott $475. Estimate $200 – 300.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Oct 2012, Sale 632, Lot 918

1847, 5¢ red brown (Scott 1), extraordinary quality right sheet margin pair tied on small piece, paying the 10c over 300 maile rate, outstanding color and impression, pair, tied to piece by light blue “Philadelphia, Pa., May 9, 10cts” cancellation, Extremely Fine, 2006 P.F. certificate. Scott $1,100. Estimate value $1,000 – 1,500.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Oct 2012, Sale 632, Lot 919

1847, 5¢ red brown (Scott 1), an attractive high quality 5c 1847, with brilliant fresh color and generous margins all around, pretty red grid cancellation, Extremely Fine. Scott $475. Estimate $350 – 500.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Oct 2012, Sale 632, Lot 916