Lot 309 (C) New Brunswick #1a 3d Dark Red Crown & Heraldic Flowers, 1851-1860 Pence Issue, A Fine Cover Franked With 3.5 Margin Single, Sent From Woodstock To Saint John, Clear December 6, 1851 & December 9 Woodstock & Saint John Backstamps, Early Use

A fine cover of the 3d dark red Crown & Heraldic Flowers from the 1851-1860 Pence Issue franked with 3.5 margin single, sent from Woodstock to Saint John, clear December 6, 1851 & December 9 Woodstock & Saint John backstamps, relatively early use. The stamp has a very nice, crisp impression, deep colour. The bottom margin is oversize, showing the adjoining stamp along the bottom of that margin. The right margin is also more than full sized. The left margin is full most of the way up to just around the "w" of "New", where it just cuts the design at the upper left numeral box. The upper margin is clear, but extremely narrow. So, overall, the stamp would be considered fine, as the large margins on 2 sides partially compensates for the slight cutting in at the top left. The cover itself is in fine to very fine conditon, with just the usual vertical filing fold, but no major tears or stains. We have therefore graded the cover as fine overall.

Unitrade values the set of reprints at $400, so our estimate of the value is $1000.

The pence issues are notorious for condition problems. First of all the paper used was very soft and fragile: it tears very easily, creases easily and thins very, very easily. As a result, very few stamps have survived without at least one of these three faults. Many have been repaired or rebacked to conceal these faults. The genuine paper should have a somewhat rough surface under magnification, and will often show very fine mesh. If it is smooth, lacks any bluish undertone and shows no mesh at all, even when held to backlight, it very likely has been rebacked. The second major condition issue with these is small to no margins. This is because the printing plates for these were laid down by hand, by just 2 or three individuals. Spacing between the impressions was often no more than 1 mm, to even less, and occasionally slightly more, so that margins are rarely more than 1/2 mm wide. So, quite often a stamp will appear to have fewer than 4 margins, even when it does. Full margins on all sides is XF to superb. VF stamps will have 4 margins of 1/2 mm width.

This is a consignment lot. Accordingly, a 15% buyer's premium will be added to the hammer price.