2018-02-20 Tue

Different 24¢ Washington stamps from the same 1861 series were offered by Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries on 19th and 20th December. This “extremely fine gem” with original gum of the 1861 24¢ violet on thin paper was sold for $23,600. Out of the four regular shades, the violet on thin paper was the first, issued in August 1861, and the rarest.

Rare private die medicine stamps were also offered. A 4¢ green J.C. Ayer & Co. stamp die cut on old paper was sold for $20,650. There are only three known examples of this stamp.

A unique 2¢ blue Ring’s Vegetable Ambrosia stamp perforated on silk paper was sold for $11,800. Ring’s Vegetable Ambrosia was invented in the 1860s for restoring gray hair. The stamps were produced between May 1873 and October 1881. An imperforate 8¢ William Swaim on old paper was auctioned for $22,420. Only two known examples of these stamps exist.

Image Courtesy Siegel Auctions