US Stamp Value Scott CL1: 1877 5c Air Semi-official Buffalo Baloon. Page 1

United States – Air Post Air Post Semi-Officials 1877 Buffalo Balloon, 5c deep blue, unused without gum, margins all around, with positional plate flaw, v.f. example of the world’s first airmail stamp, which was privately issued by John F.B. Lillard, a Nashville reporter, for use on covers carried on a balloon flight which began in Nashville and landed at Gallantin, TN, on June 18, 1877. Lillard reported that 300 were printed and 23 were used

Cherrystone Auctions, Jul 2015, Sale 201507, Lot 97

5c Deep Blue, Buffalo Balloon (Scott CL1). Unused (no gum), large margins to just clear at bottom right, rich color, few thin spots FINE APPEARING AND RARE EXAMPLE OF THE BUFFALO BALLOON AIR POST ISSUE. The Buffalo Balloon stamp, designed by John F. B. Lillard and engraved by John H. Snively, was printed by Wheeler Brothers Printers in Nashville, Tenn., The stamps were intended for use on a balloon flight from Nashville to Gallatin Tenn., which took place on June 18, 1877. Of the 300 that were printed, only 23 were used. With Sanabria certificate and backstamp

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2015, Sale 1096, Lot 827

USA (Scott CL1a) 1870 BALLOON 5¢ BLUE SEMI-OFFICIAL AIRMAIL, TETE-BECHE PAIR RARE tete-beche pair of the World’s First Airmail Stamp, one of only about a dozen known! Pair has extremely fine centering, with large margins all around, but with crease between stamps (torn about 11mm), and thin on bottom stamp (not unusual on pairs), as well as couple of other tiny faults. The Buffalo Balloon stamp was designed by John F.B. Lillard and was engraved by John H. Snively. The stamps were printed by Wheeler Brothers in Nashville, Tenn., in tete-beche pairs. The stamps were intended for use on a flight of the ‘Buffalo’ from Nashville to Gallatin Tenn., June 18, 1877. Of 300 printed, only 23 were used. Missing from all but a lucky few collections. Ex-Jim Czyl. (1977 Friedl Cert #11149, signed by Bloch). Cat $22500.

Regency-Superior, Jan 2015, Sale 109, Lot 1432

5c Deep Blue, Buffalo Balloon (Scott CL1). Original gum, h.r., large margins, rich color, few thin spots, light corner crease at top right VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE BUFFALO BALLOON AIR POST ISSUE. The Buffalo Balloon stamp, designed by John F. B. Lillard and engraved by John H. Snively, was printed by Wheeler Brothers Printers in Nashville, Tenn., The stamps were intended for use on a balloon flight from Nashville to Gallatin Tenn., which took place on June 18, 1877. Of the 300 that were printed, only 23 were used.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2014, Sale 1082, Lot 477

5c Deep Blue, Buffalo Balloon (Scott CL1). Original gum, lightly hinged, large margins all around, rich color on crisp paper EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE RARE BUFFALO BALLOON AIR POST ISSUE. THIS IS QUITE POSSIBLY THE FINEST SINGLE IN EXISTENCE. The Buffalo Balloon stamp, designed by John F. B. Lillard and engraved by John H. Snively, was printed by Wheeler Brothers Printers in Nashville, Tennessee. Only 300 were printed in tête-bêche arrangement from a single die. The stamps were intended for use on a balloon flight from Nashville to Gallatin, Tennessee, which took place on June 18, 1877. Of the 300 that were printed, only 23 were used. Based on previous examples we have handled, at least some of the Buffalo Balloon stamps were exposed to moisture around the time they were printed. The example offered here should be considered a condition rarity. Ex Silver. With 1983 and 2014 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2014, Sale 1078, Lot 649

(*)    1877, 5¢ “Buffalo” Balloon (Scott CL1), unused without gum, large margins, two small thin spots, faint toning at bottom, mainly visible on reverse, otherwise fresh and Very Fine. Only 300 issued (photo). $7,500

Matthew Bennett International, May 2014, Sale 350, Lot 678

United States – Air Post Air Post Semi-Officials 1877 Buffalo Balloon, 5c deep blue, large margins all around, original gum (h.r.), fresh and v.f., one of the finest examples of the world’s first airmail stamp, privately issued by John F.B. Lillard, a Nashville reporter, used on covers carried on a balloon flight which began in Nashville and landed at Gallantin, TN, on June 18, 1877, only 300 printed, with 1985 PFC, ex-Silver

Cherrystone Auctions, Jan 2014, Sale 201401, Lot 43

UNITED STATES Air Post Semi-Officials 1877 Buffalo Balloon, 5c deep blue, unused without gum, margins all around, with positional plate flaw, v.f. example of the world’s first airmail stamp, which was privately issued by John F.B. Lillard, a Nashville reporter, for use on covers carried on a balloon flight which began in Nashville and landed at Gallantin, TN, on June 18, 1877. Lillard reported that 300 were printed and 23 were used

Cherrystone Auctions, May 2013, Sale 201305, Lot 145

Airmail Semi-Official, 1877, 5¢ Buffalo Balloon (Scott CL1), extraordinary example of this rare stamp, exceptionally large margins and gorgeous rich color, among the most impressive examples you’ll ever see, o.g., previously hinged; minute thin speck at upper left, Extremely Fine, only 300 printed. Scott $7,500. Estimate price $5,000 – 7,500.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Oct 2012, Sale 632, Lot 1498

Airmail Semi-Official, 1877, 5¢ Buffalo Balloon (CL1), large balanced margins, original gum, couple tiny thins and small tone spots, few very light vertical creases; fresh and otherwise Very Fine. Only 300 issued, of which 23 were used. Scott $7,500

Matthew Bennett International, Sep 2012, Sale 346, Lot 903

Airmail Semi-Official, 1877, 5¢ Buffalo Balloon (Scott CL1), without gum, lovely example of this extremely rare stamp, with spectacular deep rich color, a premium affordable example of this rarity; faint horizontal wrinkle shows only in fluid, Fine, only 300 actually printed. Scott $7,500 for o.g. Estimate value $2,000 – 3,000.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Aug 2012, Sale 631, Lot 1639

Scott #CL1a, 5c Deep blue “Buffalo Balloon”, tete-beche pair, an extremely rare unused example of this pair, without gum as is often the case with these stamps, extraordinarily well margined, with huge balanced margins all around, there are just a couple of trivial facial rubs and light wrinkling between the pair in the margin only, these small flaws are quite trivial considering not only the extreme rarity of the pair, but the majority of the few other surviving tete-beche pairs have faults much more severe than the pair offered here, extremely fine appearance; of particular interest is the wide variance of color between each stamp in the pair, with one having a light “milky” blue shade, while the other is a deep blue shade. These fascinating “Buffalo Balloon” stamps were intended for use on a balloon flight from Nashville to Gallatin, Tennessee, which took place on June 18, 1877. It is believed that only 300 stamps were printed, of which only 23 were used. We believe that only twelve to fifteen tete-beche pairs still exist today, of which most have been certified by the Philatelic Foundation. Nearly all existing examples have small faults and/or are without gum, suggesting that the original sheets may have been stacked and exposed to moisture prior to their sale; ex-Cunliffe.

Spink Shreves Galleries, Jul 2012, Sale 140, Lot 368

5c Deep Blue, Buffalo Balloon, with John B. Lillard Letter (CL1). Original gum, h.r., manuscript “X” mark, large margins to huge at bottom, deep shade and clear impression, couple small thins, accompanied by original Feb. 9, 1894 letter from stamp designer John B. Lillard regarding the stamps, letter with one split fold VERY FINE APPEARING STAMP AND AN IMPORTANT HISTORICAL ARTIFACT OF THE BUFFALO BALLOON MAIL. The booklet Buffalo Balloon Mail 1873-1877 by Schoendorf discusses and quotes this letter. It was sent from New York by stamp designer John B. Lillard to Jno. Skinner in Albany and reads “Dear Sir, I enclose you the sheet of Balloon stamps they were issued by myself in June 1877 and used in the trip I made in the Balloon Buffalo with Prof. King only 300 were issued and 23 used. Very best, J.H.B. Lillard.” It is from this letter that the information on how many stamps were used originates. The Schoendorf booklet states that the letter was sent with only one stamp but it does not cite its source for that information. We sold an example in the Jeanette Rudy collection in 2004 with a manuscript “X” marking nearly identical to this one and with similar margins. Scott Retail for unused No. CL1 $7,500.00

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2012, Sale 1025, Lot 247

5c Deep Blue, Buffalo Balloon (Scott CL1). Tête-bêche pair, 6mm spacing, original gum, large margins all around, one stamp with small margin faults including stain, thin and crease EXTREMELY FINE APPEARING TÊTE-BÊCHE PAIR OF THE RARE BUFFALO BALLOON AIR POST ISSUE. The Buffalo Balloon stamp, designed by John B. Lillard and engraved by John H. Snively, was printed by Wheeler Brothers Printers in Nashville, Tennessee. Only 300 were printed in tête-bêche arrangement from a single die. The stamps were intended for use on a balloon flight from Nashville to Gallatin, Tennessee, which took place on June 18, 1877. Of the 300 that were printed, Lillard wrote that only 23 were used (see lot 247 for letter). Based on previous examples we have handled, at least some of the Buffalo Balloon stamps were exposed to moisture around the time they were printed. This accounts for the fact that only two of the eleven tete-beche pairs certified by the Philatelic Foundation are potentially sound. The others are mostly thinned in one corner where they were stuck together. With 1986 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2012, Sale 1025, Lot 246

Airmail Semi-Official, 1877, 5¢ Buffalo Balloon, tête-bêche (CL1a), vertical pair, types II and III, 6mm spacing, large to huge margins all around, o.g., top stamp with a light corner crease, still fresh and Extremely Fine. Scott price $22,500 A CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THIS RARE TÊTE-BÊCHE PAIR, OF WHICH ONLY ABOUT 11 ARE KNOWN, VIRTUALLY ALL OF WHICH ARE FAULTY TO SOME DEGREE. Expertization: 2009 P.F. Certificate.

Matthew Bennett International, Feb 2012, Sale 340, Lot 564