US Stamp Price Scott 63: 1861 1c Benjamin Franklin National Bank Note. Page 1

U.S.; General Issues, 1861, 1¢ Blue, #63, l.h., Very Fine, PF (2000) cert. Scott $300. Estimate value $150-200.

Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries, Aug 2015, Sale 106, Lot 1381

1c Blue, Laid Paper (Scott 63c). Clear vertical laid lines, deep rich color, very lightly cancelled by target, accompanying certificate carefully annotates a couple of small tears and corner creases, which we would characterize as trivial flaws, Very Fine appearance and rare, Don Evans notes in his 1c book (p. 37) that this is known to have been printed on both horizontally and vertically laid paper, with 2003 P.F. certificate.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jul 2015, Sale 1107, Lot 120

Scott #63, 1c Blue, an eye-arresting used example that features not only outstanding centering within large oversize margins, but its color is brilliant and vibrant as well, bright fresh paper, black grid cancel, extremely fine; 2009 PSE certificate (XF 90J; SMQ value $125.00 for 90 and $575.00 for 95).

Spink Shreves Galleries, Jul 2015, Sale 151, Lot 65

Scott #63, 1c Blue, an eye-arresting used example that features outstanding centering within large margins, its color is bright and vibrant on fresh white paper, very light cancel with a tiny portion of a c.d.s. just catching the bottom of the stamp leaving the face entirely cancel free, extremely fine and highly select; 2015 PSAG certificate (XF 90; SSV $150.00).

Spink Shreves Galleries, Jul 2015, Sale 151, Lot 66

1c Blue (Scott 63). Rich color, tied by strike of Apr. 5, 1863 N.Y. town double-circle datestamp on buff cover to Holley N.Y., clear strike of “SEEDS ONLY” handstamp at center, reduced at left, few vertical file folds well away from stamp, few cover flaws and stamp affected from placement at edge of cover, still Fine and extremely rare, the Postal Act of Feb. 27, 1861, provided for a special rate for mail containing agricultural seeds only, the rate was 1c for one ounce sent under 1,500 miles, this is the first example of this rate (clearly marked) we have offered since keeping computerized records

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2015, Sale 1105, Lot 2588

1c Blue (Scott 63). Rich color, tied by boldly struck “Paid” in oval cancel, red “Boston Mass. Feb. 24” double-circle datestamp on multicolored Romeo & Juliet Valentine cover addressed locally, with original embossed multicolored enclosure depicting lovebirds kissing and with “You are all my heart’s treasure/My joy and my pleasure” label affixed, cover has small tear at right from opening EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL MULTICOLORED ROMEO AND JULIET VALENTINE DESIGN, WITH A BEAUTIFUL STAMP AND MARKINGS. Ex “Sevenoaks”.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2015, Sale 1105, Lot 2586

1c Blue (Scott 63). Three, affixed along top of Leeds and Franklin Patent envelope, right stamp properly affixed over latticework, each tied by “Stratford Vt. Jun. 29” circular datestamp, addressed to South Harwick Vt., the stamp affixed over latticework lifted and placed on blue card (latticework still adheres to back of stamp), slightly reduced at right, Very Fine, the patent envelope was a means of confirming the date of use (important for commercial and legal correspondence), the latticework allowed the stamp with its dated cancel to be affixed to the contents, this is the only recorded example of a Leeds & Franklin patent envelope used with three 1c stamps, illustrated in the Evans 1c book on p. 393, ex Christian

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2015, Sale 1105, Lot 2587

1c Blue (Scott 63). Horizontal strip of three tied by two strikes of “Camp Nelson Ky. Dec. 10” datestamp on incoming cover to Covington Ky. Prison, addressed to “Sergeant Z.F. Steele, Commanding Prison, Covington Ky.”, with original enclosure datelined “Camp Nelson, Fort Taylor Ky. Decem. 9th 1865”, slightly reduced at right, Fine and rare, no covers are known to prisoners at this camp, ex Agre

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2015, Sale 1105, Lot 2577

1c Blue (Scott 63). Horizontal pair and single, tied by “Washington D.C. Jan. 6” datestamps on bright buff cover to Baltimore with red “Approved by (signature) Provost Marshal, Washington D.C.” examiner’s handstamp (Ty. V) with the name in manuscript, cover slightly reduced at top, two stamps slightly affected from placement at edge of cover, Very Fine appearing use from Old Capitol Prison

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2015, Sale 1105, Lot 2578

1c Blue (Scott 63). Vertical strip of three tied by blue grid cancels and light strike of Va. circular datestamp (Richmond?) on inbound orange cover to Camp Chase, Columbus O., addressed “Care Capt. D.T. Tiffany Prison PM (Postmaster), Prison No. 3, No. 37, Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio”, manuscript examiner’s marking “Gray Ex”, 1862 receipt docketing, slightly reduced at right into bottom stamp, Very Fine, scarce with the 1c stamps

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2015, Sale 1105, Lot 2576

1c Blue (Scott 63). Two, used with 1c Blue, Ty. V (24), tied by “Philadelphia Pa. Nov. 10, 1861” circular datestamps on cover to Chapinville Conn., clear strike of “OLD STAMPS/NOT RECOGNIZED” two-line handstamp ties all three stamps, neat “Due 1 Ct” handstamp, stamps with few small flaws at top from placement near edge, few cover edge tears VERY FINE. A RARE AND DESIRABLE “OLD STAMPS NOT RECOGNIZED” COVER COMBINING THE ONE-CENT 1857 AND 1861 ISSUES, WHICH WAS CHARGED ONE CENT FOR THE UNRECOGNIZED OLD POSTAGE. The late 1861 Federal demonetization of all United States stamps issued before the new 1861 series resulted in the rejection of 1857 Issue stamps as prepayment — most famously represented by the “Old Stamps Not Recognized” handstamps. Other markings used to reject prepayment were applied in manuscript, or letters were simply marked postage due or held for postage. In the case of the cover offered here, the sender apparently tried to sneak the old stamp past postal clerks by flanking it with two new issues, but the demonetized stamp was spotted and “not recognized.” Ex Ishikawa

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2015, Sale 1105, Lot 2570

1c Blue (Scott 63). Bright shade, tied by perfect strike of Waterbury Conn. “W” fancy cancel (Rohloff K-14), “Waterbury Con. May 24, ’66” double-circle datestamp on light yellow cover to Capt. Tompkins in Waterbury, slightly reduced at left, Extremely Fine strike and a beautiful cover, ex Matthies and Houser, with 1990 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2015, Sale 1105, Lot 2597

1c Blue (Scott 63). Rich color, tied by perfect strike of Waterbury, Connecticut, Man with Hat fancy cancel (Rohloff E-5), “Waterbury Con. Apr. 22 ’66” double-circle datestamp on small cover to Rev. Joseph Anderson in Waterbury, 1c drop rate, diagonal cover crease thru datestamp but clear of stamp and fancy cancel, one side flap removed EXTREMELY FINE STRIKE OF THE WATERBURY MAN WITH HAT FANCY CANCELLATION. A MARVELOUS EXAMPLE OF POSTMASTER JOHN W. HILL’S ARTISTRY AND IMAGINATION. ONLY TWO ONE-CENT 1861 COVERS ARE RECORDED WITH THIS CANCELLATION. Notation on back indicates this was acquired from Harry Keffer in 1952. With 2001 P.F. certificate.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2015, Sale 1105, Lot 2596

1c Blue, Laid Paper (Scott 63c). Clear vertical laid lines, deep rich color, very lightly cancelled by circular datestamp FINE. A RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT 1861 ISSUE ON VERTICALLY LAID PAPER. Don Evans notes in his 1c book (p. 37) that this is known to have been printed on both horizontally and vertically laid paper. He notes that examples are somewhat difficult to identify by casual observation. He also notes that horizontally laid paper seems to be scarcer than vertically laid (he was aware of only two horizontal), but our experience and an examination of the records of The Philatelic Foundation indicate that both are equally scarce. They are also usually seen with faults. With 2006 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2015, Sale 1106, Lot 3082

1c Blue (Scott 63). Tied by “North Brookfield Mass.” 1862 double-circle datestamp on beardless Lincoln 1860 campaign cover to local address, design shows Liberty cap and rays of light above Lincoln’s portrait, cover immaculate, stamp scissors-separated into perfs at top, still appears Extremely Fine, a very rare use of the 1c 1861 on a beardless Lincoln campaign cover — most of these were used in 1860 — with 1977 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2015, Sale 1105, Lot 2559