Pinnacle Rare Stamps

Last (4/4) of the 24¢ 1861 color study. This is #70c, in the coveted purplish "Cincinnati Violet" shade w/ blue Cincinnati, O. town & duplex grid cancels; ex-Grassi, V. Morris. #hobby #collecting #philately #rarestamps #stampcollecting #classicstamps #postalhistory #history #art #beautiful #colors

Continuing the 24¢ 1861 color study (3/4). This is #70b in the "Steel Blue" shade w/ a black grid cancel. #hobby #collecting #philately #rarestamps #stampcollecting #classicstamps #postalhistory #history #art #beautiful #colors

Continuing the color study (2 of 4) of the 24¢ 1861 design. This is #70a in the "Brown Lilac" shade complimented w/ a blue Baltimore town cancel dated Oct 20. #hobby #collecting #philately #rarestamps #stampcollecting #classicstamps #postalhistory #history #art #beautiful #colors

A color study (1 of 4) of the 1860s 24¢ Washington. This is #70, which is in the "Red Lilac" shade complimented by a red grid cancel. #hobby #collecting #philately #rarestamps #stampcollecting #classicstamps #postalhistory #history #art #beautiful #colors

Ridgway's 100+ year old tome from 1912 to classify bird colors is also a key reference for rare shades of 19th century stamps. Amazing craftsmanship w/ its 53 plates providing 1,115 color chips! #hobby #collecting #philately #rarestamps #stampcollecting #art #beautiful #birds #ornithology

Another 1875 reissue of 1869, #130 24¢ graded 90 w/ black double-oval cancel. Only 2,091 were sold w/ this being of < 75 believed to exist used contemporaneously. #hobby #collecting #philately #rarestamps #stampcollecting #classicstamps #postalhistory #history #art #beautiful

The 1875 reissue, #123, of the 1869 1¢ Franklin w/ black 1879 New York duplex cancel. The original issue had "grills" whereas the National Bank Note reissues used whiter paper without grills. #hobby #collecting #philately #rarestamps #stampcollecting #classicstamps #postalhistory #history #art

All 3 of America's first inverted error stamps from 1869 - #119b, #120b, #121b. Fully sound and free of faults. As or more rare than the upside-down airplane error that came a half century later. #hobby #collecting #philately #rarestamps #stampcollecting #postalhistory #history #art #inverted #ERROR

Inverted error #121b w/ US Flags pointing upside down! ex-Colonel Green. Possibly the finest used example of which 45 exist w/ this one of the only 13 that are sound (free of faults). Siegel Census 121b-CAN-31. #hobby #collecting #philately #rarestamps #stampcollecting #history #inverted #ERROR

Inverted error #120b w/ Declaration Signing upside down! 90 exist w/ this one of the only 16 that are sound (free of faults). Siegel Census 120b-CAN-61. Black fancy rosette cancel. #hobby #collecting #philately #rarestamps #stampcollecting #classicstamps #postalhistory #history #inverted #ERROR

Inverted error #119b, Columbus Landing upside down! 105 exist w/ this one of the only 14 that are sound (free of faults). Siegel Census 119b-CAN-71. Black cork and red transit cancels. #hobby #collecting #philately #rarestamps #stampcollecting #classicstamps #postalhistory #history #inverted #ERROR

Graded Extremely Fine 90, #121, 1869 30¢ “Eagle, Shield & Flags" w/ distinctive black quartered-cork cancel. #hobby #collecting #philately #rarestamps #stampcollecting #classicstamps #postalhistory #history #art #beautiful

Graded Extremely Fine 90, #120, 1869 24¢ “Declaration of Independence" at 1/300th size of Trumbull’s painting. Paid heavy-weight domestic letters or expensive foreign destinations. #hobby #collecting #philately #rarestamps #stampcollecting #classicstamps #postalhistory #history #art #beautiful

To identify the two stamps previously posted, #118 T1 (left) has shading lines in side inner frame (red) and no shading in protrusion at top center inner frame (green). #119 T2 (right) lacks these characteristics. Both valuable in nice condition w/ #118 3x more valuable. #hobby #collecting

Scott #119, 1869 15¢ Type 2 “Landing of Columbus” in brown & blue w/ black cancel. This rate was for destinations such as France, Germany, Italy or the domestic registered fee for mail. #philately #stampcollecting #postalhistory #rarestamps #classicstamps #hobby #collecting #history #art #beautiful

Scott #118, 1869 15¢ Type 1 “Landing of Columbus” in brown & blue w/ black cork cancel. Inspired by John Vanderlyn's painting of the same name. #philately #stampcollecting #postalhistory #rarestamps #classicstamps #hobby #collecting #history #art #beautiful

Scott #117, 1869 12¢ “SS Adriatic” in green w/ black cork cancel. This ship, when launched in 1856, was the largest, fastest, most luxurious trans-Atlantic passenger liner of its time. #philately #stampcollecting #postalhistory #rarestamps #classicstamps #hobby #collecting #history #art #beautiful

Very tough stamp to find w/ rich color and not oxidized to a brown hue. Notice the deep color of the 1st vs 2nd stamp. Scott #116, 1869 10¢ Eagle & Shield w/ black cancels. #philately #stampcollecting #postalhistory #rarestamps #classicstamps #hobby #collecting #history #art #beautiful

The 1869 6¢ Washington, Scott #115, in ultramarine w/ black cork and circular-date cancels. Probably the hardest 1869 to find 90+ centered w/ this being around 80. #philately #stampcollecting #postalhistory #rarestamps #classicstamps #hobby #collecting #history #art

Official grading would probably be 85, 90 or 95 as the left is centered slightly to the top while the right is shifted a bit to the left side.

Two nice 1869 3¢ Locomotives, Scott #114, in ultramarine w/ black target cancels. Would you agree the left has a better face-free cancel, while the right has deeper color? #philately #stampcollecting #postalhistory #rarestamps #classicstamps #hobby #collecting #history #art #beautiful

Scott #113, the 1869 2¢ Post Horse & Rider in brown w/ black cancel at left margin. Graded Superb 98 and previously owned by Robert Zoellner, a prominent American collector. #philately #stampcollecting #postalhistory #rarestamps #classicstamps #hobby #collecting #history #art

Scott #112, the 1869 1¢ Franklin in buff w/ black quartered cork cancel. This rate paid for domestic drop letters without carrier service and unsealed circulars. #philately #stampcollecting #postalhistory #rarestamps #classicstamps #hobby #collecting #history #art

The 1869 stamps were groundbreaking w/ pictorial designs and bi-colors, which enabled the first inverted error stamps! Here are the highest denominated 1869s. Stay tuned for more including the legendary inverts! #philately #stampcollecting #postalhistory #rarestamps #classicstamps #hobby #inverted

Perforated stamps began around 1857. Here are all 5 “Types” of the perforated 10¢ Washington, Scott #s 31-35. Well centered, full perfs, nice color, complementary black postmarks. #philately #stampcollecting #postalhistory #rarestamps #classicstamps #hobby #collecting #history #art

The origin story … US Scott #1 …acquired in 1992 at the Ivy, Shreve & Mader auction during the World Columbian Stamp Expo.

All 4 “Types” of the 1855 imperforate 10¢ Washington, Scott #s 13-16. The frame ornament completeness determines classification. Full margins clear of design, bright color, black unobtrusive cancels. #philately #stampcollecting #rarestamps #classicstamps #hobby #collecting #art