Price of US Stamps Scott Catalogue 17: 12c 1851 George Washington. Page 19

12c Black, Diagonal Half Used as 6c (17a). Large margins, bright shade, tied across the cut by “San Francisco Cal. 16 Aug.” circular datestamp on 1853 folded letter to Boston, sender’s ship-name designation “Winfield Scott” at lower left, light vertical file fold well clear of bisect EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL BISECT OF THE 12-CENT 1851 ISSUE ON A COVER FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO BOSTON. Ex Hessel and Kapiloff. With 1992 and 2006 P.F. certificates

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2010, Sale 989, Lot 64

12c Black, Diagonal Half Used as 6c (Scott 17a). Top right diagonal half, large margins, tied across the cut by “San Francisco Cal. Aug. 1” circular datestamp on buff cover to Philadelphia, some edgewear VERY FINE. A CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1851 ISSUE BISECT ON COVER. With 1981 P.F. certificate. Last offered to the market in our 1984 Rarities sale.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2010, Sale 989, Lot 65

12c Grayish Black, Part India Paper (17 var). Positions 61-63/71-73/81-83L1, block of nine with part of left sheet margin, original gum unevenly applied (a characteristic of original-gum examples on Part India paper and described on accompanying certificate as “original gum previously hinged”), lightly hinged, two stamps (Positions 71-72L1) appear Mint N.H. but not described as such on accompanying certificate, large margins to barely touched at bottom right, distinctive Grayish Black shade and early proof-like impression on unusually bright paper with soft fibrous texture, Positions 63L and 73L are “double recuts” (only four such double-recut positions exist on Plate 1), light vertical crease affects right stamps (Positions 63/73/83L), faint corner crease (really just a wrinkle) at bottom left (Position 81L), Positions 61-62/71-72L and 82L are completely sound VERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE. A REMARKABLE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF NINE OF THE 12-CENT 1851 ISSUE ON PART INDIA PAPER. THIS IS ONE OF THE LARGEST AND FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCKS OF THIS ISSUE. A BEAUTIFUL EXHIBITION-WORTHY MULTIPLE. The 3c and 12c 1851 Issue are both found on Part India paper, which is a hand-made silky paper that varies in thickness within the same sheet. The Neinken 12c 1851-57 book (pp. 61-64) quotes from earlier publications by Ashbrook, Chase and Jaeger, which describe the look and feel of Part India stamps. Referring to a pair (ex Richey) and strip of five (ex Newbury), the 12c Part India stamps are described as “undoubtedly from the very first impressions from the Twelve Cent plate. The engravings are very sharp and resemble die proofs or plate proofs on India. The shades of both these items are of the earliest known, the distinctive grayish.” It is also speculated that the Part India stamps “came from ‘trial printings’ i.e., proof sheets that were afterwards thrown in the regular stock, then gummed and issued to various post offices.” Although the 12c Part India paper has been described as “thin” or “very thin”, it is actually thicker when gauged on a micrometer. Its “thinness” is better described as “softness”, a paper characteristic that enhances the impression, but appears to have been problematic in gumming. This is probably the block of nine offered in the 1917 Worthington sale (J. C. Morganthau & Co., 131st Sale, Aug. 21-23, 1917, lot 109), where described as “lighter shade, block of 9, o.g., the right hand stamps gum crease.” We know of two other 12c Part India blocks, both of four stamps. There are also original-gum blocks of nine, ten and fifteen in the normal Black shade on regular paper. Ex “J & J Collection. With 2005 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2010, Sale 989, Lot 61

United States 1851-57 Issue 1851 12c black, unused without gum, margins all around, just touching frameline at bottom, rare unused, with 2000 PFC

Cherrystone Auctions, Apr 2010, Sale 201004, Lot 49

United States 1851-57 Issue 1851 12c black, full margins incl. sheet margin at right, part black Philadelphia cds, rich color, v.f., with 1990 PFC

Cherrystone Auctions, Apr 2010, Sale 201004, Lot 50

United States 1851-57 Issue 1851 12c black, neat town cancel, margins all around, v.f., with 1991 PFC

Cherrystone Auctions, Apr 2010, Sale 201004, Lot 51

12c Black (Scott 17). Huge margins all around, intense shade on bright paper, neat blue circular datestamp, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb large-margined example further enhanced by the blue cancel, with 1990 P.F. and 2010 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95, SMQ $1,450.00)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2010, Sale 984, Lot 106

12c Black (Scott 17). Large to huge margins incl. part of adjoining stamps on three sides, bright shade, unobtrusive strikes of circular datestamp, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful stamp, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95, SMQ $1,450.00)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2010, Sale 984, Lot 107

12c Gray Black (Scott 17). Full even margins all around, bold strike of grid cancel, Very Fine

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2010, Sale 984, Lot 108

United States 1851-57 Issue 1851 12c black, pos. 27R, unused without gum, margins all around including parts of adjoining stamps at right and bottom, rich color, sharp impression, v.f., rare unused, with 2000 PSE cert.

Cherrystone Auctions, Mar 2010, Sale 201003, Lot 36

United States 1851-57 Issue 1851 12c black, face free cancel and faint red arrival pmk at bottom left, full margins all around, fresh and v.f., with 1983 PFC for a horizontal pair from which it originated

Cherrystone Auctions, Mar 2010, Sale 201003, Lot 37

12c Black (Scott 17). Disturbed original gum, large margins to clear, pretty shade, Very Fine, an attractive original-gum example, with 2000 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Feb 2010, Sale 983, Lot 12

United States 1851-57 Issue 1851 12c black, unused without gum, full to clear margins all around, fine, with 1982 Buhler cert., rare unused

Cherrystone Auctions, Jan 2010, Sale 201001, Lot 34

12c Black (Scott 17). Original gum, lightly hinged, large margins to just barely in incl. sheet margin at top, intense shade and impression, light vertical crease, Fine appearance, with 1980 and 2007 P.F. certificates

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2009, Sale 982, Lot 5092

12c Black (Scott 17). Large to huge margins showing parts of three adjoining frame lines and tiny bit of adjacent stamp’s frame line corner at top left, clear impression, neat circular datestamps, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95, SMQ price $1,450.00)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2009, Sale 982, Lot 5093