US Stamp Prices Scott Catalog # 11 – 1851 3c George Washington. Page 19

3c Red, Ty. I, Plate Proof on India, Brush Stroke Obliteration (11P3). Wilson Hulme’s partly-completed effort to reconstruct the two Plate 4 sheets of 200 sent to Bemrose and Perkins Bacon in 1854, comprising 74 of the 400 positions (the left pane of 100 sent to Perkins Bacon is offered in the preceding lot), the reconstruction is arranged on large pages and includes a total of 20 singles, five pairs, six blocks of four (two with corner sheet margins), one corner-margin block of twelve and the left imprint and plate no. 4 block of eight, usual faults, also includes an original letter from the son of William Bemrose which accompanied the left pane of the sheet sent to Bemrose (the letter confirms its source), old photographs of the multiples which have been divided into singles and blocks A PHILATELIC “ARCHAEOLOGIST’S” EFFORT TO RECONSTRUCT THE ORIGINAL PROOF SHEETS SENT IN 1854 FROM TOPPAN, CARPENTER & COMPANY TO TWO OF GREAT BRITAIN’S PREMIER PRINTERS AND PERFORATORS FOR USE IN EARLY EXPERIMENTS TO PERFORATE UNITED STATES STAMPS. WILSON HULME’S ACHIEVEMENT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO DUPLICATE, AND WE HOPE SOMEONE WITH THE MEANS AND INCLINATION WILL PICK UP THE MANTLE AND CONTINUE THE EFFORT TO RECONSTRUCT THE SHEETS. In 1854 complete sheets of 200 3c India proofs from Plate 4 were sent by Toppan, Carpenter to Bemrose and Perkins Bacon in England for a perforating experiment. Each firm received left and right panes. All of the proofs were cancelled with brush strokes to prevent use as postage. This part-reconstruction comprises 44 subjects from the Bemrose sheet (34 Left Pane and 10 Right Pane) and 30 subjects from the Perkins Bacon sheet (30 Right Pane). This lot includes the imprint and plate number block of eight from the Bemrose left pane and the top right corner sheet margin block of twelve from the Perkins Bacon right pane, both of which are important pieces. It should be noted that only three of the original four plate blocks have been located. One is in the pane of 100 offered in the preceding lot (Perkins Bacon left pane). Another is in the lot offered here (Bemrose left pane). The third was last sold in our Sale 869 (lot 3024) for $18,500 hammer. The fourth plate block, from the right pane of the Bemrose sheet, has not been photographed or seen. Scott Retail as singles, blocks and the plate block.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2008, Sale 964, Lot 213

3c Claret, Ty. I, Richmond Va. Sawtooth Perforations (11 var). Clear sawtooth perforations on all four sides, gauges approximately 10-1/2, tied by indistinct strike of “Richmond Va. Jun. 13” circular datestamp on cover to Lexington Va., 1857 docketing at left, trivial ink erosion in address at far right VERY FINE. ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE RICHMOND VIRGINIA SAWTOOTH PERFORATION, AND THE ONLY EXAMPLE WITH THE DISTINCTIVE 10-1/2 GAUGE. A GREAT RARITY. In the Sesquicentennial book, Wilson Hulme notes that only two examples are recorded from Richmond. Both are on cover (see previous lot) and both show different gauge of perforation. Both have been known for many years and are from different correspondences.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2008, Sale 964, Lot 205

3c Dull Red, Ty. I, New York Unofficial Roulette (11 var). Position 76L4, clear roulettes on all sides, rouletted approximately 17, tied by “New York Jul. 21” circular datestamp on 1857 folded letter to Albany N.Y., some splitting along vertical file fold, unobtrusive tear in address panel, stamp slightly affected by vertical file fold and diagonal crease at top left VERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF ONLY FOUR RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE NEW YORK UNOFFICIAL ROULETTE. A GREAT RARITY. Little is known about this unofficial roulette. In the Sesquicentennial book, Wilson Hulme postulated that these were done by hand and not by a machine. New York received its supply of perforated stamps in the third week of July 1857, and so the window for use of these roulettes would have been extremely narrow — all are known used in July of that year. He also mentions the possibility that one may exist on a 1c stamp. With 1996 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2008, Sale 964, Lot 201

3c Dull Red, Ty. I, New York Unofficial Roulette (11 var). Position 97L4, clear roulettes on three sides, rouletted approximately 17, s.e. at bottom, tied by “New-York Jul. 1” circular datestamp on cover to Philmont N.Y., some minor toning from gum along right edge of stamp VERY FINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS THE EARLIEST OF THE FOUR RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE 3-CENT 1851 ISSUE WITH THIS UNOFFICIAL ROULETTE. This cover is not listed in Wilson Hulme’s census in the Sesquicentennial book and must be a relatively recent discovery.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2008, Sale 964, Lot 202

3c Yellowish Rose Red, Ty. I (11 var). Position 6R8, tied by well-struck “N. Haven & Greenfield R.R. Aug. 23” circular datestamp on cover to New York, fresh and Very Fine example of this scarce shade

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2008, Sale 964, Lot 151

3c Purple Claret, Ty. I (11 var). Position 1L4, huge margins incl. part of adjoining stamps at bottom and right and sheet margin at top, distinct color, tied by perfect strike of “Brunswick Me. Feb. 21” circular datestamp on cover to West River Md., with original 1857-dated enclosure, top margin of stamp barely affected from placement at edge of cover, still Extremely Fine example of this exceedingly rare shade

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2008, Sale 964, Lot 154

3c 1856 Orange Brown (11 var). Position 65R8, ample margins to just touching, vivid color, tied by blue “Baltimore Md. May 3” circular datestamp on brown cover with commission merchant’s illustrated blue cameo corner card, to Frederick Md., docketed May 4, 1856, Very Fine, note on back “VF 1856 orange brown W. F. Amonette”, this scarce shade is not listed in Scott

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2008, Sale 964, Lot 140

3c 1856 Orange Brown, Ty. I (11 var). Position 23L8, original gum, h.r., large margins to in, brilliant color, fresh and Fine, an extremely rare stamp, especially in original-gum condition, with note from Dr. Amonette

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2008, Sale 964, Lot 138

3c Dull Red, Ty. I (Scott 11). Position 34R4, enormous margins all around incl. part of stamps on three adjoining sides, brilliant color, neat strike of circular datestamp, Extremely Fine Gem, a huge stamp

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2008, Sale 964, Lot 120

3c Yellowish Rose Red, Ty. I (Scott 11). Position 4L8 with Gash on Shoulder variety, huge margins incl. top sheet margin, gorgeous color and impression, neat ms. cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with notes from Dr. Amonette (“Perhaps the prettiest stamp ever seen”)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2008, Sale 964, Lot 121

3c Orange Red, Ty. I (Scott 11). Positions 15-16/25-26R4, block of four cancelled by Philadelphia circular datestamp, large margins to slightly in at top, pressed vertical crease, otherwise Fine-Very Fine, an attractive used block

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2008, Sale 964, Lot 122

3c Orange Red, Ty. I (11 var). Positions 5-6/15-16L4, block of four, large margins to in, beautiful color which strikes us as the Experimental Orange Brown shade (a note from Dr. Amonette calls it Orange Red, so we defer to his judgment), two neat strikes of “New York Jan. 18” circular datestamp, left stamps light creases, Fine-Very Fine appearing block, with 1983 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2008, Sale 964, Lot 123

3c Dull Red, Ty. I, Keene N.H. Unofficial Roulette (11 var). Bright color, clear roulettes on three sides and with sheet margin at right, tied by blue “Keene N.H. Apr. 16, 1857” circular datestamp on buff cover to Chester N.H., light corner crease at top right, otherwise Very Fine, scarce, little is known of this unofficial roulette

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2008, Sale 964, Lot 197

3c Brownish Carmine, Ty. I, Kensington Pa. Sawtooth Perforations (11 var). Position 23L6, showing clear perforations at left and bottom, gauges approximately 10-1/2, s.e. at right and top, tied by grid, red “Kensington Pa. Mar. 5” circular datestamp on orange cover with blue illustrated burning fluid manufacturer’s corner card to Bristol Pa., immaculate condition EXTREMELY FINE. ONLY TWO EXAMPLES OF THIS SAWTOOTH PERFORATION ARE RECORDED BY WILSON HULME IN HIS CENSUS — BOTH ARE ON COVER. ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL PRIVATE PERFORATIONS ON THIS ISSUE, AND ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE IN SUCH IMMACULATE CONDITION AND WITH THE CORNER CARD. In his Sesquicentennial book article, Wilson Hulme records two covers with the sawtooth perforation used from Kensington, a suburb of Philadelphia. Both are from the same sender to the same recipient. Additionally, he records two stamps used from Philadelphia, which show the same perforations as the two from Kensington, and which may have originated from the same creator. With 1992 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2008, Sale 964, Lot 198

3c Dull Red, Ty. I, Bergen N.Y. Sawtooth Perforations (11 var). Position 82R6, showing clear sawtooth perforations on all sides, gauging between 9 and 10, tied by “Bergen N.Y. Sep. 7” circular datestamp on cover to Colon Mich., 1852 docketing at top applied at a much later date and is incorrect (probably was 1856 based on Wilson Hulme’s research), some wear, some soiling affects stamp and cover VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE BERGEN, NEW YORK SAWTOOTH PERFORATION ON COVER. ONLY NINE EXAMPLES ARE RECORDED IN THE HULME CENSUS — ONLY HALF SHOW THE PERFORATIONS ON ALL FOUR SIDES. IT IS ESPECIALLY NOTABLE THAT THESE WERE LIKELY MADE BY THE POSTMASTER OF BERGEN. Please refer to the description for lot 189 for a brief explanation of this sawtooth perforation. The example offered here is listed in the Hulme census as the earliest usage.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2008, Sale 964, Lot 191