US Stamp Value Scott 39: 1860 90c George Washington. Page 9

90c Blue (Scott 39). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich color, choice centering for this difficult issue EXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1860 ISSUE. With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, VF-XF 85, SMQ $4,100.00)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2012, Sale 1025, Lot 98

90c Blue (Scott 39). Perfectly centered, intense shade and impression on bright fresh paper, deep red grid cancel struck at lower left almost entirely clear of face EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE SHORT-LIVED 90-CENT 1860 — THE FIRST UNITED STATES 90-CENT ISSUE — OF WHICH ONLY FIVE SOUND COPIES CANCELLED IN RED HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION. THIS IS THE FINEST OF THE FIVE. The 90c stamp was issued in 1860, along with the 24c and 30c values, all of which were needed to prepay high international letter rates established by various postal treaties. The basic 24c and 30c rates to England, France and Germany created a volume of mail franked with those values. However, the 90c saw much more limited use, partly due to the rates in effect, but more because of the American Civil War. When supplies of current postage stamps were declared invalid in the South and ultimately demonetized by the Federal government, the 90c had been in use for only one year. For this reason, genuinely cancelled copies are scarce, and covers bearing the 90c are extremely rare. Approximately 180 used examples have been certified by The Philatelic Foundation, of which one-quarter are sound. Of these sound examples, only five are cancelled in red, and this stamp is the best-centered and most attractively cancelled. Ex Dr. Morris and offered to the market for the first time since 1997. With 1988, 1994 and 2009 P.F. certificates. With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85, SMQ price $13,800.00). This appears to us to be a solid XF 90.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2012, Sale 1024, Lot 86

United States 1857-61 Issue 1857 90c blue, black cancel, well centered for this difficult issue, design clear of the perforations on all sides, small faults as often encountered in this high value, very rare genuinely used, with 2004 PFC (“with a tear at left center and small faults”), v.f. appearance

Cherrystone Auctions, Apr 2012, Sale 201204, Lot 38

90c Blue (Scott 39). Unused (regummed), rich color, Very Fine

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2012, Sale 1021, Lot 195

90c Blue (39). Block of four, unused (no gum), rich color on bright paper, few perfs trimmed at right A FINE-CENTERED AND SCARCE UNUSED BLOCK OF THE 90-CENT 1860 ISSUE. The 90c stamp was issued in 1860, along with the 24c and 30c values, all of which were needed to prepay high international letter rates established by various postal treaties. When supplies of current postage stamps were declared invalid in the South and ultimately demonetized by the Federal government, the 90c had been in use for only one year. Most unused multiples probably come from supplies recovered from Southern post offices. Scott Retail for a block with original gum is $75,000.00

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2012, Sale 1021, Lot 196

1860, 90¢ blue (39), bright color and paper, part original gum, reperforated at right; fresh Fine appearance. Scott value $3,000

Matthew Bennett International, Mar 2012, Sale 344, Lot 4248

90c Blue (Scott 39). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich color and proof-like impression, well-proportioned margins EXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1860 ISSUE. THIS ISSUE IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN IN SUCH PRISTINE ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION AND WITH SUCH PRECISE CENTERING. With 2012 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF 90, SMQ price $6,800.00). Only three have graded higher to date (the highest is 95).

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2012, Sale 1019, Lot 386

() 1860, 90¢ blue (39), unusually fresh and virtually perfectly centered with deep color amd exceptional contrast, unused without gum, Extremely Fine and choice. Scott value $1,100 Expertization: 1986 PF Certificate.

Matthew Bennett International, Feb 2012, Sale 340, Lot 129

o 1860, 90¢ blue (39), very well centered, deep color on bright paper, light town cancel, fresh and Extremely Fine. Scott price $10,200 AN EXTRAORDINARY USED SINGLE, BEING UNQUESTIONABLY AMONG THE FINEST OF THE TINY NUMBER OF WELL CENTERED, GENUINE USED EXAMPLES THAT ARE ALSO COMPLETELY SOUND. Expertization: 1977, 1991 & 2011 PF Certificates.

Matthew Bennett International, Feb 2012, Sale 340, Lot 131

1860, 90¢ blue (39), vibrant color and bright paper, part original gum, fresh and almost Fine. Scott price $3,000 Expertization: 2002 PF Certificate.

Matthew Bennett International, Feb 2012, Sale 340, Lot 130

o 1860, 90¢ blue (39), exceptionally well centered with deep color and a bright red cancel; skillfully repaired at lower right; Very Fine appearance. Scott price $10,000

Matthew Bennett International, Feb 2012, Sale 340, Lot 133

o 1860, 90¢ blue (39), exceptionally fresh with wide margins and vibrant red grid cancels, expertly repaired and partially reperforated at lower right, F.-V.F. appearance. Scott $10,000 Expertization: 2011 PF Certificate.

Matthew Bennett International, Feb 2012, Sale 340, Lot 132

() U.S.; General Issues, 1860, 90¢ Blue, #39, unused. “reperfed at left”, Very Fine appearance, PF (1995) cert. Scott $1,100. Estimate price $250-300.

Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries, Feb 2012, Sale 92, Lot 841

() U.S.; General Issues, 1860, 90¢ Blue, #39. Unused, well centered, rich color, grade 90 Very Fine or better, PSAG (2011) cert. Scott Stamp Values $1,750. Estimate $700-900.

Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries, Feb 2012, Sale 92, Lot 840

1860, 90¢ blue (Scott 39), without gum, brilliant fresh color, this could possibly be a #39P3, plate proof on India paper which catalogs for $1,250.00, irrespective of the accompanying certificates which state that this is a regularly issued stamp, scarce non-the-less, Fine, 1995 A.P.S. and 1998 P.F. certificates. Scott $1,100 Estimate price $300 – 400.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Jan 2012, Sale 628, Lot 236