The Bulkley Collection of United States Revenue Stamps will be highlighted on October 24 by the sale of the 1871 "Large Persian Rug".
 The most beautiful US revenue stamp |
Jonathan Bulkley's collection has been fastidiously assembled, with each item selected for its overall beauty with a strong emphasis on margin examples and hand stamped cancellations.
The sale will also see his collection of Match and Medicine stamps offered, featuring a magnificent selection of some of the finest and rarest examples of the private die issue.
Learn more about match and medicine stamps with our preview of the Scarsdale Collection.
The 1871 $500 "Large Persian Rug" is considered the most beautiful of all US revenue stamps, and even ranks among the most striking in the entirety of the nation's postal history. Bulkley's example is particularly appealing, boasting wide margins, rich colours and only a small thin spot at the upper left.
Free from the usual creasing found on the majority of other examples and featuring three strikes of the "Surrogates Office, New York" hand stamp, the $500 stamp is expected to bring $12,000, as top lot of the sale.
Also featuring will be a very fine example of the 1871 $200 "Small Persian Rug", which is again in fantastic condition. Displaying a neat 1887 manuscript cancel, the attractive stamp will sell at $4,000.
Another outstanding collection of US revenue stamps will be sold on October 4 in New York, and will be highlighted by a superb 3c Playing Cards imperforate.
Highlighting among the Matches and Medicine stamps is a flawed yet appealing example of the Macklin & Co 1c black, which is one of just 11 recorded examples. Marred by a repaired nick at the lower right and a small portion of the frameline being painted in, it will sell for an estimated $2,900.
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