Price of US Stamps Scott Catalogue #11: 1851 3c George Washington. Page 20

3c Brownish Carmine, Ty. I, Bergen N.Y. Sawtooth Perforations (11 var). Position 24L8, clear sawtooth perforations on three sides, s.e. at bottom, tied by well-struck “Bergen N.Y. Mar. 12” circular datestamp on small piece VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE BERGEN NEW YORK SAWTOOTH PERFORATION. ONLY NINE EXAMPLES ARE RECORDED IN THE HULME CENSUS — ONLY FOUR OF THESE ARE OFF-COVER. Please refer to the description for lot 189 for a brief explanation of this sawtooth perforation.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2008, Sale 964, Lot 192

3c Dull Red, Ty. I, Bronson’s Prairie Mich. Sawtooth Perforations (11 var). Position 47R7, showing clear sawtooth perforations at sides, s.e. at top and bottom, gauges approximately 9-1/2, cancelled by three penstrokes, blue “Bronson’s Prairie Mich. May 1?” circular datestamp on orange cover to Alleghany Co. N.Y. VERY FINE. THIS SAWTOOTH PERFORATION USED FROM BRONSON’S PRAIRIE MICHIGAN IS REPORTED TO BE UNIQUE. Little is known about this distinctive sawtooth perforation. It is noted in an article by Wilson Hulme on the unofficial roulettes in the Sesquicentennial book.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2008, Sale 964, Lot 193

3c Dull Red, Ty. I, Canton Mi. Unofficial Roulette (11 var). Two covers, each with single tied by negative star, “Canton Mi.” circular datestamps (Oct. 21 and Nov. 16), to Buchannon, Carroll & Co. in New Orleans, each stamp shows rouletting on two sides, usual small filing holes as found on this correspondence, some slight toning, otherwise Fine-Very Fine, the status and manufacture of these is unknown, an excellent opportunity for further research

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2008, Sale 964, Lot 194

3c Brownish Carmine, Ty. I, Bergen N.Y. Sawtooth Perforations (11 var). Position 71R6, showing sawtooth perforation at right, s.e. at top and bottom and straddle-pane margin at left, tied by “Bergen N.Y. Dec. 25” circular datestamp on buff cover to Monteray Mass., insignificant cover soiling VERY FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE EXAMPLE OF THE BERGEN NEW YORK SAWTOOTH PERFORATION USED ON COVER. ONLY NINE ARE RECORDED, INCLUDING FIVE ON COVER. Please refer to the description for lot 189 for a brief explanation of this sawtooth perforation.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2008, Sale 964, Lot 190

3c Dull Red (Scott 11). Large margins to clear incl. part of adjoining stamp at bottom, brilliant color, uncancelled, affixed to pink cover with pre-printed address to “R. K. Swift, Esq., Chicago, Ills.”, immaculate condition, fresh and Very Fine, an excellent collateral item for the Chicago Perf specialist, R. K. Swift was a prominent Chicago banker and businessman who actively promoted Dr. Hadley’s new perforating machine

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2008, Sale 964, Lot 187

3c Dull Red, Ty. I, Chicago Perf 12-1/2 (11 var). Position 78R6, perfs intact on three sides, roughly separated at left, tied by “Chicago Ill. Aug. 4, 1856” circular datestamp on cover to Skaneateles N.Y., manuscript “R. K. Swift Bro & Johnston” return address across top, with original printed enclosure from the Swift Brothers’ banking firm VERY FINE COVER AND AN IMPORTANT POSTAL HISTORY ARTIFACT SHOWING USE OF THE 3-CENT CHICAGO PERF BY R. K. SWIFT, THE PROMOTER OF THE HADLEY PERFORATING MACHINE. Wilson Hulme recorded two covers with this R. K. Swift corner card and this cover with the firm’s printed enclosure. This cover and enclosure are illustrated in Chronicle 175, page 162, where described as having “the highest degree of desirability”.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2008, Sale 964, Lot 180

3c Dull Red, Chicago Perf 12-1/2 (11 var). Position 96L6, bright color, scissors-trimmed perfs at top, tied by “Chicago Ill. Jun. 12, 1856” circular datestamp on buff cover to Alfred M. Hoyt in Portsmouth N.H., ms. “From R. K. Swift” at bottom left and addressed in his hand, missing part of top flap and minor edgewear VERY FINE. A REMARKABLE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT CHICAGO PERF ON A COVER SENT BY THE HADLEY PERFORATING MACHINE’S EARLY PROMOTER. This cover was sent to the postmaster in Portsmouth N.H. by R. K. Swift, the banker and businessman who promoted the perforating machine invented by Dr. Hadley in Chicago.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2008, Sale 964, Lot 181

3c Brownish Carmine, Ty. I, Bergen N.Y. Sawtooth Perforations (11 var). Position 45R6, sawtooth perforations on three sides, s.e. at top, tied by “Bergen N.Y. Dec. 1” circular datestamp on yellow cover to Monteray Mass., barely reduced at right, some slight wear incl. few cover toned spots at top right VERY FINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE BERGEN NEW YORK SAWTOOTH PERFORATION ON COVER. ONLY NINE EXAMPLES ARE RECORDED IN THE HULME CENSUS, OF WHICH FIVE ARE ON COVER. In the Sesquicentennial book, Wilson Hulme opines that these were created in either 1856 or 1857, and he reproduces an account from a later postmaster of Bergen, who had noted “About 1856, a shoemaker was postmaster of Bergen. Sheets of stamps then were not perforated and had to be cut apart with shears. He took the little wheel with a handle that cobblers and dressmakers used to make patterns, placed a stick across a sheet of stamps and drew his tool across, thus providing the first perforated stamp sheets.” Five are known on cover. Ex Wyer and Grunin. With 1978 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2008, Sale 964, Lot 189

3c Brownish Carmine, Ty. I, Chicago Perf 12-1/2 (11 var). Position 15R7, perfs intact, rich color, cancelled by Jan. 7, 1857 Chicago circular datestamp FINE. A RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 1851 3-CENT CHICAGO PERF. The 3c Chicago Perf is seldom encountered in sound condition.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2008, Sale 964, Lot 175

3c Brownish Carmine, Ty. I, Chicago Perf 12-1/2 (11 var). Position 77R7, well-centered, Chicago datestamp, top right corner repaired adding portion of design and margin, Very Fine appearance, with 1998 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2008, Sale 964, Lot 176

3c Brownish Carmine, Ty. I, Chicago Perf 12-1/2 (11 var). Deep rich color, part of Chicago circular datestamp with May date, well-centered with extra horizontal row of perfs at bottom, last perf hole at right is blind embossed VERY FINE. A REMARKABLE DOUBLE PERFORATION VARIETY OF THE CHICAGO PERF. According to Wilson Hulme’s analysis, the Chicago Perfs were applied with comb-shaped perforations. This example is a very rare double-row mis-perf. Ex Lake Shore.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2008, Sale 964, Lot 177

3c Dull Red, Ty. I, Chicago Perf 12-1/2 (11 var). Position 24L6 plating notation, perfectly centered with perfs all around, rich color, tied by “Chicago Ill. (Dec?) 16, 1856” circular datestamp on buff cover to Washington N.Y. with printed corner card of “R. K. Swift, Brother & Johnston, Bankers, Chicago, Ill.”, red wax seal EXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS ONE OF TWO RECORDED COVERS WITH THE 3-CENT CHICAGO PERF AND CORNER CARD OF R. K. SWIFT, THE PROMOTER OF THE HADLEY PERFORATING MACHINE. IN ADDITION TO THE SIGNIFICANT USAGE, THE STAMP IS CERTAINLY ONE OF THE FINEST-CENTERED EXAMPLES KNOWN. The origin of the Chicago perforation was revealed in an article published by Jerome S. Wagshal in the Chronicle 130 (May 1986). To briefly summarize Mr. Wagshal’s revelations, the inventor of the machine used to create the Chicago Perf stamps was Dr. Elijah W. Hadley, a Chicago dentist. He probably constructed the machine in 1854. Over a two-year period, beginning in November 1854, Dr. Hadley’s device was offered for sale to the Post Office Department thru R. K. Swift, a prominent Chicago banker and businessman. The distinctive 12-1/2 gauge Chicago Perf was applied to sheets of the 1c (Plates 1 Late and 2) and 3c 1851 Issue. Wilson Hulme recorded two covers with this R. K. Swift corner card. Both are illustrated in Chronicle 175, page 162, where they are described as having “the highest degree of desirability”. Ex Grunin. With 1974 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2008, Sale 964, Lot 179

3c Dull Red, Ty. I (Scott 11). Huge margins to just in incl. part of adjoining stamp at bottom, rich color, bold strike of negative “BELSEA” of fancy cancel, trivial corner crease at top right, Very Fine appearance, a most unusual cancel

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2008, Sale 964, Lot 162

U.S., Local, Blood & Co., 1854 (1¢) bronze on black with 3¢ on cover, #15L16; 11. Both tied by Philadelphia c.d.s. (#11 marginal copy) (1¢) small corner crease, back flap damaged, otherwise Fine. Scott $275. Estimate value $100.

Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries, Oct 2008, Sale 79, Lot 284

3c Dull Red, Chicago Perf 12-1/2 (11 var). Bright shade, neatly cancelled by 1856 Chicago circular datestamp, perfs scissors-trimmed at left, few small faults incl. pinhole and small tear at top left, otherwise Fine, rare, with 2004 P.S.E. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2008, Sale 962, Lot 2235