US Stamps Value Scott 5: 1851 1c Benjamin Franklin. Page 1

U.S.; Encased Postage, Ayer’s Cathartic Pills, 3¢, Short Arrows, #EP3, mica intact, slight cracks, some wear on rim, Fine to Very Fine. Hodders & Bowers #5. Scott $475. Estimate $200-250.

Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries, Aug 2015, Sale 106, Lot 2241

1851, 1¢ blue, type I (Scott 5), position 7R1E, stitch watermark at center, large top and full right margins showing complete design except touched at left to slightly cut in at bottom left, bottom right plume is intact, bright early shade and impression, small Boston “Paid” cancel, one of only a few with a stitch watermark; small filled thin at center and sealed scissors cut at bottom left, otherwise Fine, Wagshal Census number 5-Can-07, approximately 110 examples and the rarest US PO issued stamp prior to the 1867 grill issues, with 1990 P.F. certificate which mentions a hinge stain which is no longer present. Scott $70,000. Estimate $25,000 – 35,000.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Aug 2015, Sale 672, Lot 2114

California State Telegraph Co., 1870, Blue & Black (Scott 5T1). Complete sheet of 12 comprising two panes of six with horizontal interpane gutter, original gum (brownish as always), handstamped serial no. 104 on all stamps (doubled at top center), slightly toned, creased along gutter between panes and crimped with small puncture at center (as usual since these were folded and stapled into booklets), top right corner slightly clipped FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF TWO COMPLETE SHEETS OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE TELGRAPH COMPANY 1870 BLUE & BLACK “BUSINESS” FRANK WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO LOCATE. The California Telegraph Company was the product of the 1861 consolidation of four companies responsible for the first transcontinental telegraph line. The 1870 Blue & Black typeset “Business” frank was the first issue. The black type was printed from a setting of six subjects repeated twice in a sheet of 12, with a blue background of ornaments also arranged in six subjects repeated twice in a sheet. Position 1 (top left in each pane of six) has an inverted ornament in the blue background at lower left (bottom row, second ornament), which breaks the pattern of diamond shapes. Position 3 has a repeating flaw in the “F” of “Free”. Booklets of 100 stamps were made by inserting 16 panes of 6 (96 stamps total) plus four additional stamps. The Kramer book speculates that stamps with red crayon serial numbers were added to the the booklets to make up the 100 count. The sheet offered here is one of two full sheets of 12 we have encountered. It is the largest possible multiple.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2015, Sale 1100, Lot 131

1c Blue, Ty. I (5). Position 7R1E, three large margins, just barely in at bottom but plumes almost complete, bright early shade, neat strike of blue grid cancel, small corner crease at top left entirely in the sheet margin VERY FINE APPEARANCE. POSITION 7R1E — THE SEVENTH STAMP IN THE RIGHT PANE OF PLATE ONE EARLY — IS THE ONLY ONE OF THE 1,000 POSITIONS USED TO PRINT IMPERFORATE ONE-CENT STAMPS THAT SHOWS THE COMPLETE DESIGN (TYPE I). A GREAT RARITY. The published census compiled by Jerome S. Wagshal contains at least 98 unduplicated records of Scott 5. There are probably no more than ten examples existing outside of the Wagshal census population. Therefore, the 1c 1851 Type I is the rarest of all United States stamps issued regularly prior to the 1868 Grills. Wagshal Census No. 5-CAN-26. Ex McCree. With 1995 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2015, Sale 1096, Lot 9

o 1851, 1¢ blue, type I (5), essentially four margins, being just barely in at bottom right, with the type characteristics plainly visible, bright powdery plate 1E color. Light grid cancel. Very Fine. Scott price $70,000 A CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THIS ICONIC RARITY, BEING ONE OF ONLY 5 ESSENTIALLY 4-MARGINED, SOUND, OFF-COVER SINGLES. ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT OF ALL 19TH CENTURY US STAMPS TO OBTAIN IN THIS OUTSTANDING QUALITY. Expertization: 2000 P.F. Certificate. Provenance: (as part of a multiple) Chase, Willard, Ishikawa Wagshal census No. 5.CAN-024. The origin of the various types of the 1¢ 1851 arose from the last-minute discovery that the engraved design for the stamp was simply a bit too tall to fit onto the standard printing plate then being used by Toppan, Carpenter. Consequently, the plate maker had to erase a bit of the top, the bottom or both from each subject on the plate in order to make enough room for all 200 subjects. It was these erasures that created the types we know today. A solitary position, 7R1E, escaped the erasing process. Hence it became the only one, of a total of 1,000 positions on the five plates used to print the imperforate 1¢ 1851 stamps, to retain its entire design as originally envisioned. It is estimated only 100 or so have survived.

Matthew Bennett International, Feb 2015, Sale 351, Lot 19

1c Blue, Ty. I (5). Position 7R1E, three large margins, just barely in at bottom but plumes almost complete, bright early shade, neat strike of blue grid and what appears to be part of a French decimes due handstamp at top, few small filled thin spots do not detract at all from choice appearance VERY FINE APPEARANCE. POSITION 7R1E — THE SEVENTH STAMP IN THE RIGHT PANE OF PLATE ONE EARLY — IS THE ONLY ONE OF THE 1,000 POSITIONS USED TO PRINT IMPERFORATE ONE-CENT STAMPS THAT SHOWS THE COMPLETE DESIGN (TYPE I). A GREAT RARITY. The published census compiled by Jerome S. Wagshal contains at least 98 unduplicated records of Scott 5. There are probably no more than ten examples existing outside of the Wagshal census population. Therefore, the 1c 1851 Type I is the rarest of all United States stamps issued regularly prior to the 1868 Grills. Wagshal Census No. 5-CAN-25. Ex Lessin. With 1988 P.F. certificate.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Nov 2014, Sale 1084, Lot 3028

1c Blue, Ty. I (5). Position 7R1E, huge margins including portion of adjoining stamps at sides and part of top sheet margin, barely touched at lower left, rich color and unusually dark shade, two neat strikes of Boston small “Paid” grid cancel, light vertical creases at left and right mostly in side margins are barely noticeable EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE WIDEST-MARGINED EXAMPLES OF THE 1851 ONE-CENT TYPE I IN EXISTENCE. A STAMP OF REMARKABLE PROPORTIONS. THIS IS THE ONLY IMPERFORATE POSITION THAT SHOWS THE ENTIRE DESIGN OF THE STAMP. The Type I 1c imperforate only comes from one position on the five plates used to print the imperforate stamps — Position 7R1E, or the seventh position in the top row of the right pane of the first plate. Due to difficulties in creating the plates, all 999 other positions are other types. An explanation of the 1c types can be found in the Siegel Encyclopedia at http://siegelauctions.com/enc/pdf/1c1851.pdf . The published census compiled by Jerome S. Wagshal and available at our website at http://siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/5/5.pdf contains 90 unduplicated records of Scott 5. There has been one addition to the Wagshal census, and there are probably no more than ten examples existing outside of the census population. Therefore, the 1c 1851 Type I is the rarest of all United States stamps issued regularly prior to the 1868 Grills. Because of the significance attached to the outer portions of the 1c 1851 design, rare types that have been carefully cut apart, so as not to impinge on any part of the design, are extremely desirable. The narrow spacing between stamps in the sheet and the users’ indifference to the outlying ornamentation during separation are factors that contributed to the great rarity of four-margin copies. Examples of Position 7R1E (Scott 5) with large right and bottom margins, where there was very little space between it and the adjoining stamps, are true rarities. Looking at the census data, the stamp offered here has among the widest margins known. It has consistently brought at least twice Scott Catalogue value in past auction sales. Wagshal Census No. 5-CAN-008. Ex T. Charlton Henry and Lyons. With 1999 P.F. certificate. Scott Catalogue states “Values for No. 5 are for examples with margins touching or cutting slightly into the design, or for examples with four margins and minor faults.”

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2013, Sale 1062, Lot 58

1851, 1¢ blue, type I (5), neat manuscript penstroke cancellation, decent example of this diserable type I stamp, in the gorgeous “powder blue” shade, a great rarity as less than 100 examples are known to exist, a wonderful opportunity to acquire an attractive example of a stamp that is missing from all but the most advanced collections; with creases, and a small portion scraped away at left, Very Good to Fine, 1972 P.F. certificate. Scott $75,000. Estimate price $20,000 – 30,000.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Sep 2013, Sale 639, Lot 3096

1c Blue, Ty. I (5). Position 7R1E, large margins to just touched, neat strike of grid cancel, stamp is extensively and expertly restored along top with top left portion of design painted in EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A VERY PRESENTABLE AND AFFORDABLE EXAMPLE OF SCOTT NUMBER 5, WHICH IS THE ONLY IMPERFORATE ONE-CENT STAMP TO SHOW THE ENTIRE DESIGN. ONLY ONE OF THE 1,000 POSITIONS USED TO PRINT IMPERFORATE ONE-CENT STAMPS SHOWS THE ENTIRE DESIGN. The published census compiled by Jerome S. Wagshal contains at least 98 unduplicated records of Scott 5. There are probably no more than ten examples existing outside of the Wagshal census population. Therefore, the 1c 1851 Type I is the rarest of all United States stamps issued regularly prior to the 1868 Grills. Wagshal Census No. 5-CAN-020. This was originally part of a strip of three (Positions 7-9R1E). With 1990 P.F. certificate as strip of three.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2013, Sale 1040, Lot 1181

1c Blue, Ty. I (5). Position 7R1E showing clear stitch watermark, large top and full right margins showing complete design, touched at left to slightly cut in at lower and bottom left, bottom right plume intact, bright early shade and impression, bold small Boston “Paid” cancel struck upside down, few faults including filled thin and small repaired scissors-cut at bottom left, P.F. certificate also mentions a hinge stain at top which is no longer evident FINE APPEARANCE. POSITION 7R1E — THE SEVENTH STAMP IN THE RIGHT PANE OF PLATE 1 EARLY — IS THE ONLY ONE OF THE 1,000 POSITIONS USED TO PRINT IMPERFORATE ONE-CENT STAMPS THAT SHOWS THE COMPLETE DESIGN (TYPE I). A GREAT RARITY. The published census compiled by Jerome S. Wagshal contains at least 98 unduplicated records of Scott 5. There are probably no more than ten examples existing outside of the Wagshal census population. Therefore, the 1c 1851 Type I is the rarest of all United States stamps issued regularly prior to the 1868 Grills. Wagshal Census No. 5-CAN-07. With 1990 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2013, Sale 1040, Lot 1180

1851, 1¢ blue, type I (Scott 5), position 7R1, light manuscript penstroke cancellation, an extremely handsome example of this immensely rare 1¢ 1851, with adequate margins showing clear and unmistakable type characteristics at right and bottom, brilliant fresh color, a wonderful opportunity to acquire a choice example of this highly sought after stamp without having to pay a small fortune for the privilege; three small corner creases of little consequence, especially on a stamp of this rarity, otherwise Fine, “Wagshal Census of 7R1E”, #5-CAN-057, 1974 and 2009 P.F. certificates. Scott $75,000. Estimate value $15,000 – 20,000 One of the rarest of all United States regularly issued classic stamps and a key element to completing a classic collection .

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Feb 2013, Sale 634, Lot 5

1c Blue, Ty. I (5). Position 7R1E, full margin at top to just barely in at bottom plumes and side ornaments, beautiful bright Plate 1 Early color, neat strike of Mobile Ala. circular datestamp FRESH AND VERY FINE. A RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF POSITION 7R1E — THE SEVENTH STAMP IN THE RIGHT PANE OF PLATE 1 EARLY — THE ONLY ONE OF THE 1,000 POSITIONS USED TO PRINT IMPERFORATE ONE-CENT STAMPS THAT SHOWS THE COMPLETE DESIGN (TYPE I). The published census compiled by Jerome S. Wagshal (available at our website at http://siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/5/5.pdf ) contains at least 98 unduplicated records of Scott 5. There are probably no more than ten examples existing outside of the Wagshal census population. Therefore, the 1c 1851 Type I is the rarest of all United States stamps issued regularly prior to the 1868 Grills. This stamp has not been offered to the market since the consignor purchased it in a Siegel auction in 1969. Wagshal Census No. 5-CAN-036. Ex Dr. Simon. Purple Buhler backstamp. With 1964 P.F. certificate.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2012, Sale 1037, Lot 1392

1c Blue, Ty. I, Large Die Proof on India (Scott 5P1). On 32 x 40mm card, bright color, showing clear layout lines from the die VERY FINE. ONE OF THREE REPORTED PROOF IMPRESSIONS FROM THE ONE-CENT 1851 ISSUE DIE, ONLY ONE OF WHICH IS IN BLUE. PROBABLY EXECUTED DURING THE PRODUCTION PHASE OF THE 1875 REPRINT AND DISTRIBUTED CIRCA 1910. This die impression shows the so-called cancellation dot in the oval at left, which was applied to the die in 1860 and reproduced on all subjects in Plates 11 and 12. It also shows two small dots below “C” of “Cents” and a strong horizontal layout line at upper left, which are not found on Plates 1 through 12, but are found on the 1875 Reprint plate, which led Neinken to opine that this impression and the few others like it were pulled from a die prepared for the 1875 Reprint (see Neinken, page 19). On one of the Black proofs there is further evidence of provenance, a pencil note on back “From J. E. Ralph. [signed] J. M. Bartels”. J. E. Ralph of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing is known to have distributed die proofs in 1910. Ex Finkelburg and Liberman

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Nov 2012, Sale 1034, Lot 30

o 1851, 1¢ blue, type I (5), position 7R1E, bright and fresh with wide side margins and a neat, centrally struck grid cancel; top and bottom well clear to just barely touching at upper and lower right, tiny natural paper flaw at bottom; a choice Very Fine example of this classic rarity. SMQ price $165,000. Scott $75,000 for Fine ONE OF THE FINEST KNOWN EXAMPLES OF THIS RARE STAMP, COMPLETELY SOUND AND WITH ITS TYPE CHARACTERISTICS PLAINLY VISIBLE. Expertization: 2006 PF and 2007 PSE Certificates, the latter graded VF 80. The origin of the various types of the 1¢ 1851 arose from the last-minute discovery that the engraved design for the stamp was simply a bit too tall to fit onto the standard printing plate then being used by Toppan, Carpenter. Consequently, the plate maker had to erase a bit of the top, the bottom or both from each subject on the plate in order to make enough room for all 200 subjects. It was these erasures that created the types we know today. A solitary position, 7R1E, escaped the erasing process. Hence it became the only one, of a total of 1,000 positions on the five plates used to print the imperforate 1¢ 1851 stamps, to retain its entire design as originally envisioned. Perfectionists among us who insist on only sound, fully four-margin used singles may never own a Scott #5. A survey of the Wagshal census reveals that no such example exists. Every used off-cover single listed is either touching on at least one point or has a fault, or, most often, suffers from both conditions.

Matthew Bennett International, Sep 2012, Sale 345, Lot 8

1c Blue, Ty. I (5). Position 7R1E, clear margins at sides, cut in at top and bottom but still can be plated to Position 7R1E, deep rich color, bold strike of blue Philadelphia (Nov. 5) circular datestamp POSITION 7R1E — THE SEVENTH STAMP IN THE RIGHT PANE OF PLATE 1 EARLY — IS THE ONLY ONE OF THE 1,000 POSITIONS USED TO PRINT IMPERFORATE ONE-CENT STAMPS THAT SHOWS THE COMPLETE DESIGN (TYPE I). A GREAT RARITY. The published census compiled by Jerome S. Wagshal contains at least 98 unduplicated records of Scott 5. There are probably no more than ten examples existing outside of the Wagshal census population. Therefore, the 1c 1851 Type I is the rarest of all United States stamps issued regularly prior to the 1868 Grills. Wagshal Census No. 5-CAN-046. Illustrated in the census as part of a strip of three on cover with a red star carrier marking. Ex Fortgang. With 2012 P.S.E. certificate (F 70)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2012, Sale 1025, Lot 71