Value of US Stamps Scott Catalog 1 – 5c 1847 Benjamin Franklin. Page 130

5c Brown (1 var). Horizontal strip of three, unused (no gum), large margins to barely touched at top left, detailed impression, light horizontal crease, small toned spots are barely noticeable VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A SCARCE AND DESIRABLE UNUSED STRIP OF THREE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE IN THE BROWN SHADE. With 1991 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as a strip of three with original gum

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2008, Sale 963, Lot 13

5c Red Brown (1). Block of four, original gum, full to large margins all around, gorgeous bright shade with very strong reddish hue on deeply blued paper, exceptionally fresh, the naturally crackly gum has caused some vertical wrinkles (typical of Rawdon, Wright, Hatch & Edson gum and not noted on certificate), at one point this block was apparently kept between the pages of a book, resulting in faint offset of printed letters on the gum (described as “foreign matter” on certificate) EXTREMELY FINE FOR AN ORIGINAL-GUM MULTIPLE OF THE 1847 ISSUE. IN FACT, THIS BEAUTIFUL BLOCK OF FOUR, WITH ITS RICH COLOR AND SOUNDNESS, IS ONE OF THE FINEST OF THE RECORDED 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE MULTIPLES IN EXISTENCE. It is surprising that so little reliable information has been published about the precise number of 5c 1847 Issue blocks in existence. Philip H. Ward, Jr., in his article on classic unused blocks (“Early Unused Blocks 1847-1869”, 1960 Congress Book), simply said that the 5c was “not difficult to obtain in block form for some few exist in blocks of four and larger.” Lester G. Brookman estimated “about a dozen blocks are known” in unused condition. More recently, the Bennett November 2002 sale catalogue description of the block offered here (lot 1164) included an “exhaustive review” of the Philatelic Foundation records, which tallied eight unused blocks of four or larger. However, the Bennett list only included certified blocks. It omitted the block of sixteen now in the William H. Gross collection, along with eight other blocks we were able to locate. To bring the record further along and to give better perspective to the block offered here, we conducted our own review of auction records. We identified 17 unused blocks of the 5c 1847 Issue. Excluded from this tally is what might be an unused block in the Webster Knight collection at Brown University and a block of 30 which has been rumored to exist for years (if it does exist, then it becomes the largest recorded multiple). The list of 17 confirmed unused 5c 1847 multiples follows (some ownership information is provided). 1) block of 16 (4 x 4, Pos. 21-24/51-54R), OG, ex Earl of Crawford, Ackerman, Ward, Ishikawa, currently in the W. H. Gross collection, 2) block of 10 (5 x 2, Pos. 1-5/11-15L with sheet margin at top), POG, crease, small repairs, ex Kapiloff, Siegel 2002 Rarities sale, 3) block of 8 (4 x 2), 3rd and 7th stamp with dot in “S”, OG, slight creases, ex Caspary, Lilly, Grunin, 4) block of 8 (3 x 3 less TR stamp), Dark Brown shade, OG, ex Slater, Caspary, Lehman, Klein, 5) block of 6 (3 x 2), OG, BL stamp NH, light creasing from gum shrinkage, Siegel 2001 Rarities sale, 6) block of 6 (3 x 2), OG, vertical creases, thin bottom center, ex Sevenoaks, 7) block of 6 (3 x 2), traces of gum, toned, repaired tear, Siegel 1993 Rarities sale, 8) block of 6 (2 x 3 with sheet margin at top), no gum, creased, Siegel 1992 Rarities sale, 9) block of 4, OG, offset on back, ex Hind, the block offered here, 10) block of 4, OG, described as “pale reddish-brown, 1849 impression” in Crocker sale and “Orange Brown” in E. B. Martin sale, possibly the same shade as block #9 offered in this sale, 11) block of 4, bottom sheet margin, Dark Brown shade, OG, creases, Siegel Sale 902, lot 1002, 12) block of 4, no gum, right stamps vertical creases, lightened stains, 13) block of 4, OG, creases, small tear BR, Siegel 1992 Rarities sale, 14) block of 4, OG, creased and defective, Siegel 1988 Rarities sale, 15) block of 4, OG, creases, minor faults, ex Hessel, possibly ex Worthington, 16) block of 4, OG, Dark Brown shade, faults and small repair TL, ex Picher, Siegel 1993 Rarities sale, and 17) block of 4 (Pos. 89-90/99-100R incl. DT Pos. 90R), OG, vertical crease, ex West. Among the larger blocks, only #1, 4 and 5 are essentially sound. Of the nine blocks of four, only two are free of faults: #9 offered here and #10, which has not been examined in years (its present location is unknown). For the collector who wishes to own one of the finest multiples of the United States First Issue, this block represents a rare opportunity. Another distinctive feature of this block is its remarkable vibrant color. We placed it side by side with a range of 5c 1847 stamps certified as Orange Brown (Scott 1b), and the color of this block certainly matches several of the certified Orange Browns. The block listed as #10 above was once described as “Orange Brown,” and we wonder if its color matches the color of this block. Ex Hind. With 1990 and 2003 P.F. certificates as Red Brown (Scott 1).

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2008, Sale 963, Lot 14

5c Orange Brown (Scott 1b). Large to huge margins all around, deep and gorgeous shade, black grid cancel EXTREMELY FINE. A SCARCE AND CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ORANGE BROWN. With 2000 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2008, Sale 963, Lot 40

5c Orange Brown (Scott 1b). Full to huge margins including part of adjoining stamp at top, deep rich color and proof-like impression, well-struck red grid cancel at top leaves portrait clearly visible, Very Fine and choice, a remarkably fresh stamp, ex Rohloff and Wall, with 1996 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2008, Sale 963, Lot 41

5c Orange Brown (Scott 1b). Large to huge margins incl. part of adjoining stamp at bottom, brilliant color nicely complemented by blue grid cancels, faint pressed-out crease at top not mentioned on accompanying certificate Extremely Fine appearance, with 1976 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2008, Sale 963, Lot 42

5c Orange Brown (Scott 1b). Bright shade, large margins all around, unobtrusive strike of red grid cancel, faint vertical crease, Extremely Fine appearance, with 2000 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2008, Sale 963, Lot 43

5c Grayish Brown (Scott 1a). Enormous margins with left sheet margin and part of adjoining stamp at top, rich color and sharp early impression, light strike of blue Philadelphia integral-rate datestamp EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE IN THE GRAYISH BROWN SHADE. A STAMP OF TREMENDOUS VISUAL APPEAL. With 1991 and 2001 P.F. certificates

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2008, Sale 963, Lot 30

5c Dark Brown (Scott 1a). Large margins to full at bottom, deep rich color nicely contrasted by bold red grid cancel, tiny natural inclusion, Very Fine and choice, ex Wall, with 2000 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2008, Sale 963, Lot 31

5c Dark Brown (Scott 1a). Large margins to full, bright color from a late impression, neat strike of blue circular datestamp, Very Fine and choice, with 2000 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2008, Sale 963, Lot 32

5c Orange Brown (Scott 1b). Large margins to full incl. part of adjoining stamp at right, brilliant color and early impression, red New York square grid cancel, stitch watermark EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE IN THE ORANGE BROWN SHADE. With 1993 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2008, Sale 963, Lot 37

5c Orange Brown (Scott 1b). Large even margins all around, gorgeous and distinctive color, black grid cancel EXTREMELY FINE. A RICH AND TRUE ORANGE BROWN SHADE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE. With 2003 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2008, Sale 963, Lot 38

5c Orange Brown (Scott 1b). Large to huge margins all around, intense shade and early impression, red New York square grid cancel EXTREMELY FINE. A WONDERFUL LARGE-MARGINED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ORANGE BROWN. With 1997 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2008, Sale 963, Lot 39

5c Dark Brown (Scott 1a). Large to huge margins incl. sheet margin at left, deep rich color nicely complemented by blue “Paid” cancel of Philadelphia, faint vertical crease, Extremely Fine appearance, a stamp with great visual appeal, with 1996 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2008, Sale 963, Lot 33

5c Dark Brown (Scott 1a). Horizontal pair, huge to large margins all around including sheet margin at right and part of adjoining stamp at top, deep rich color from the late state of the plate, bold strikes of red grid cancellations EXTREMELY FINE. A PARTICULARLY CHOICE PAIR OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE IN THE DARK BROWN SHADE. Ex Haas (illustrated on the front cover of that catalogue) and Wall. With 2000 P.F. certificate.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2008, Sale 963, Lot 34

5c Orange Brown (Scott 1b). Large to huge margins, vivid color and impression on nicely blued paper, two clear strikes of red grid cancel EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE IN THE DISTINCTIVE AND DESIRABLE ORANGE BROWN SHADE. Ex Wall. With 2000 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2008, Sale 963, Lot 35