US Stamp Value Scott 21: 1857 1c Benjamin Franklin. Page 6

Scott #21, 1c Blue, Ty. III, uncharacteristically well centered and margined for this notoriously difficult stamp, rich luxuriant color and a deeply etched impression on bright paper, very light town cancel, choice very fine; a desirable example of this scarce type; 1978 PF certificate and a 2010 PF certificate (VF 80; SSV $2,500.00).

Spink Shreves Galleries, Jul 2012, Sale 140, Lot 79

1857, 1¢ blue, type III (Scott 21), neat town cancel, deep color, wide margins, exceptional example, Extremely Fine, 1993 APS Cert. Scott $2,500. Estimate price $2,000 – 3,000. (Image 1)

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Jun 2012, Sale 630, Lot 1239

1857, 1¢ blue, type III (Scott 21), neat town cancel, deep color with wide margins, an excellent example of this tough stamp, Very Fine to Extremely Fine, 1985 PF Cert. Scott $2,500. Estimate price $1,500 – 2,000. (Image 1)

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Jun 2012, Sale 630, Lot 1240

1857, 1¢ blue, type III (Scott 21), pen cancel, beautifully centered with unusually full perfs, excellent example of this type with clear, large breaks at top and bottom, choice, Extremely Fine, 2001 PF Cert. Scott $1,250. Estimate price $1,000 – 1,500. (Image 1)

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Jun 2012, Sale 630, Lot 1241

1c Blue, Ty. III (Scott 21). Plate 4, deep rich color, cancelled by indistinct strike of face-free town datestamp, perfs barely in at right, attractive example of this scarce 1c type

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2012, Sale 1026, Lot 1167

1c Blue, Ty. III (Scott 21). Position 46L4, choice centering, deep rich color, single vertical manuscript cancel, couple trivial perf flaws not mentioned on accompanying 1983 P.F. certificate, otherwise Extremely Fine

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2012, Sale 1026, Lot 1166

1c Blue, Ty. III (Scott 21). Position 66L4, rich Plate 4 color on bright paper, incredibly choice centering with perforations clear of design on all sides, showing clear breaks at both top and bottom (the defining characteristic of the type), very light strike of black town datestamp EXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 PERFORATED ONE-CENT TYPE III. QUITE SIMPLY A SUPERB STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT. The example of the perforated Type III offered here, with the perforations clear of design on all four sides and showing all of the characteristics of the type, is truly a remarkable stamp. With 1997 and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90, SMQ price $5,100.00).

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2012, Sale 1024, Lot 56

1c Blue, Ty. III, Position 99R2 (Scott 21). Deep rich color, choice centering for this unique position with its characteristic wide breaks and double transfer clearly visible at both top and bottom, face-free strike of circular datestamp, small corner crease at top left, small sealed tear at upper left (not noted on accompanying certificate) VERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF THE EXTREMELY RARE PERFORATED ONE-CENT 1857 ISSUE FROM POSITION 99R2. THIS POSITION IS WIDELY REGARDED AS THE BEST EXAMPLE OF TYPE III. IT IS ALSO A RARELY ENCOUNTERED POSITION — OUR CENSUS RECORDS ONLY TWELVE USED SINGLES OFF COVER, AND THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST. ONLY THREE USED SINGLES AND ONE ON COVER ARE CONFIRMED AS SOUND. 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. Perforated 99R2 stamps are of extreme rarity. Our census, which incorporates the records of noted student Jerome S. Wagshal, the Philatelic Foundation, the Levi records and our own work, is illustrated on the opposite page and is also available at our website at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/21/21.pdf . Only one unused example is known, in a block. Twelve used singles are recorded, as are three on covers and two in strips, for a total of 18 known in any form. Virtually all have faults or are very off-center — only three off-cover singles and one on cover are confirmed as sound and not all have decent centering. In most examples the characteristics that make this position so special are obscured, because the perforations significantly affect the design at top and bottom. The example offered here, with a light cancel, far better centering than most and clearly showing the type characteristics, is a great rarity. Ex Chapin. Signed by Ashbrook. With 1995 P.F. certificate.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2012, Sale 1024, Lot 57

1857, 1¢ blue, type III (Scott 21), position 66L4, light black town cancel, attractive well centered stamp, with brilliant color, very scarce; tiny shallow thin spot, and a single unpunched perf along bottom margin, otherwise Very Fine. Scott $2,500 Estimate value $500 – 750.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Apr 2012, Sale 629, Lot 165

1857, 1¢ blue, type III (Scott 21), position 26L4, light black town cancel, fresh and affordable example, with bold deep color; light vertical crease, otherwise Fine. Scott $2,500 Estimate price $400 – 600.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Apr 2012, Sale 629, Lot 166

1c Blue, Ty. III (Scott 21). Position 36L4, deep rich color on bright paper, superior centering showing breaks at top and bottom (the defining characteristic of the type), face-free cancel EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE PERFORATED 1857 ONE-CENT TYPE III. With 2011 P.S.A.G. certificate (XF 90)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2012, Sale 1019, Lot 366

() 1857, 1¢ blue, type III (21), position 59L4, well centered with perfs clear of design on three sides and just in at top and showing unmistakable break in bottom frame line, remarkably fresh with deep, rich plate four color, unused without gum, trivial faint corner crease at upper left; choice Very Fine appearance. Scott $7,000 Expertization: clear 1985 PF Certificate.

Matthew Bennett International, Feb 2012, Sale 340, Lot 101

o 1857, 1¢ blue, type III (21), well centered with deep plate 4 color and especially bright paper; light cancel plus bit of red transit at lower left, fresh and Very Fine. Scott value $2,750 Expertization: 1991 PF and 2006 PSE Certificates.

Matthew Bennett International, Feb 2012, Sale 340, Lot 103

o U.S.; General Issues, 1857, 1¢ Blue, Type III, #21. Corner cancel, Very Fine, PF (1981) cert. Scott $2,500. Estimate $1,200-1,500.

Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries, Feb 2012, Sale 92, Lot 815

1857, 1¢ blue, type III (Scott 21), without gum, decent example of this elusive unused stamp, bright and fresh, natural straight edge at left; vertical tear at top right corner, otherwise Fine, 2007 P.F. certificate. Scott value $7,000.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Oct 2011, Sale 626, Lot 42