Value of US Stamps Scott Cat. #117: 12c 1869 Pictorial S.S. Adriatic. Page 10

12c Green (Scott 117). Seven used singles, nice range of cancels incl. double oval normally found on the Re-Issue (late use), “British Packet” handstamp, Baltimore foreign mail red dot, magenta target, one with split grill, small flaws incl. some with small thins or reperfed, appear Fine-Very Fine, two P.F. certificate accompany

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2011, Sale 1011, Lot 509

12c Green (Scott 117). Uncharacteristically wide margins and exceptionally well-centered, quartered cork cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2004 P.F., 1990 and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90, SMQ $450.00)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2011, Sale 1011, Lot 508

12c Green (Scott 117). Wide margins, fresh color, bold strike of checkerboard fancy cancel and trace of red transit at left, faint pre-use paper fold, Extremely Fine appearance, with 2006 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1007, Lot 2287

12c Green (Scott 117). Wide margins, attractive circle of wedges cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 1995 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1007, Lot 2286

12c Green (Scott 117). Wide nicely balanced margins, bold strike of target cancel and part of double-circle datestamp, Very Fine and choice, with 2003 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1007, Lot 2285

12c Green (Scott 117). Wide margins, rich color and proof-like impression, unobtrusive cancel, Very Fine and choice

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1007, Lot 2284

12c Green (117). Part original gum described on accompanying certificate as “somewhat redistributed,” choice wide margins with beautiful centering, Extremely Fine, with 1987 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as original gum

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1007, Lot 2283

12c Green (Scott 117). Deep rich color and sharp proof-like impression, used with 6c Carmine (148) and tied by crossroads cancel, magenta “San Francisco Cal. Paid Dec. 24” circular datestamp on 1872 folded cover to London, England, red London receiving datestamp, light vertical file fold well away from stamps, 12c light scoring mark at lower right, still Fine and attractive triple-rate use, less than a dozen examples of the 12c are known used from San Francisco

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1004, Lot 150

12c Green (Scott 117). Rich color, used with 2c Brown (113), bright shade, tied by circle of wedges on 1869 cover to Rome, Italy, red “New York Paid All Direct Dec. 21” and receiving backstamps, red “Hamburg Franco” boxed handstamp also ties 2c, purple “PD” handstamp, also with red “4” and “1-1/2Wf.” credit handstamps, barely reduced at top, 12c single toned perf tip, still Very Fine, a pretty cover paying the 14c rate by North German Union Direct Mail, carried on the HAPAG Cimbria, which departed New York Dec. 21, 1869, and arrived in Hamburg on Jan. 3

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1004, Lot 152

12c Green (Scott 117). Bright shade, tied by light strike of target cancel, “Milford Pa. Sep. 28″ circular datestamp on 1869 cover to Paris, France, stamp also tied by well-struck ” Insufficiently Paid” straightline handstamp, “New York 9 Sep. 29” debit datestamp, French transits, also with partial strike of “Poste Restante” handstamp indicating letter would be held at the post office for pickup, missing part of top flap, Very Fine, carried aboard the Cunarder Scotia, which departed New York on Sep. 29, the letter was marked insufficiently paid because it underpays the 15c rate to France by 3c, with 1988 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1004, Lot 151

12c Green (Scott 117). Deep rich color and sharp proof-like impression, choice centering, used with two horizontal pairs and two singles of 15c Black, F Grill (98), tied by circular cork cancels and light strikes of “Portchester N.Y. Nov. 10” circular datestamp on 1869 cover to Lima, Peru, blue “3” crayon and also red “72” crayon credit crossed out, second 15c from right is a replacement for missing stamp, some edge repairs and sealed tears in other stamps VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A BEAUTIFUL AND SCARCE COMBINATION FRANKING PAYING THREE-TIMES THE 34-CENT RATE TO PERU. The story of the Portsmouth Find was first told by Elliott Coutler in the 1982 Register and summarized by Michael Laurence in his recently published book on the 10c. Probably the most plausible explanation is that two workmen found the cache of covers in a building that was about to be demolished, and they split them equally. This theory is supported by the fact that the covers made their way to market in two batches. The first group, consisting of 45 covers, was purchased by a dealer in Connecticut and sold by Harmer, Rooke in 1961. The sale resulted in a lawsuit by the owners who claimed the dealer did not pay them enough. The second group, consisting of approximately 40 covers, filtered their way into the market through dealers, they were probably sold this way as a result of the lawsuit over the other group. The use of a single 12c stamp with six 15c stamps is exceedingly rare. Only two others are known to us, one of which realized $6,750 hammer in our recent sale of the Vogel collection.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1004, Lot 154

12c Green (Scott 117). Two singles, used with 2c Brown (113). and tied by cork cancels on cover 1869 to Copenhagen, Denmark, red “New York Paid All Direct Sep. ?”, transit and receiving backstamps, red “Hamburg Franco” boxed datestamp, red “5” in circle double credit, blue crayon “2” indicating double rate, red crayon German credit marking, light vertical file fold barely affects 2c, right 12c tiny corner crease at lower right VERY FINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS THE ONLY REPORTED USE OF THE 12-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE ON COVER TO DENMARK. IT IS ALSO BELIEVED TO BE THE ONLY RECORDED 1869 FRANKING PAYING DOUBLE 13-CENT RATE TO DENMARK VIA NORTH GERMAN UNION DIRECT MAIL. Between June 1868 and July 1870, the North German Union Direct rate to Denmark (via Bremen or Hamburg) was 13c (16c unpaid). During the same period, the NGU Closed Mail rate (via England, Belgium and Germany) was 18c (21c unpaid). Effective July 1, 1870, these rates were lowered to 10c and 13c, respectively (prepaid only). This cover was sent at double the earlier 13c NGU Direct rate. It is the only example of this franking/rate we have encountered.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1004, Lot 153

12c Green (Scott 117). Deep rich color and proof-like impression, well-proportioned margins, cancelled by bold strike of crossroads cancel, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2004 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1004, Lot 138

12c Green (117). Horizontal block of six, original gum, deep rich color and proof-like impression, clearly-defined grills, choice centering for this difficult multiple VERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF SIX AND THE FINEST 12-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE BLOCK EXTANT. The Rose book notes eight unused blocks, including an off-center block of twelve, two blocks of nine and three blocks of six. One of the blocks of nine, with perfs touching on two sides, was offered in our 2009 Rarities sale. The other, with perf separations, is ex Wunderlich and Ishikawa. This is the finest-quality block. Scott Retail as block of four and pair.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1004, Lot 137

12c Green (Scott 117). Unusually choice centering with Jumbo margins, intense shade, bold strike of rosette cancel, Extremely Fine, with 1984 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1004, Lot 139