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THE CELEBRATED AND UNIQUE "PACK STRIP" -- ALSO KNOWN AS THE XIPHOPAGUS TRIPLET -- WIDELY ESTEEMED AS ONE OF THE TOP TEN PHILATELIC RARITIES IN THE WORLD.

Ex Lindgren, Martins, Lemaire, Pack, Souren, Contini, Dias and Lima. Exhibited in Interphil 1976 and Anphilex 1996 Aristocrats of Philately displays. Illustrated in Life magazine's "World's Rarest Stamps" feature story and color spread (July 1954) and in Encyclopedia of Rare and Famous Stamps, L. N. Williams.

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Offered intact from a collector’s estate, by order of the trustee

This collection in 33 Scott Specialty albums is the result of at least three decades of dedicated collecting by one of those rare individuals who set out to complete the world. Excluding the United States and Possessions, which are not part of this collection, virtually every country is represented for the years stamps were issued up to the mid- 20th century. There are tens of thousands of unused and used stamps carefully mounted with hinges or in hingeless mounts. Hundreds of countries and thousands of completely filled pages are contained in this massive collection, which is offered intact, according to instructions received from the trustee of the deceased collector’s trust.

It is impossible to describe every significant item in this collection, but the following overview will convey the “flavor” of the collection, as well as the scope and depth of representation. The Scott Specialty albums are arranged by geopolitical categories, and this overview follows that arrangement.

We begin with the two volumes of Great Britain, British Europe and Oceania, in which there is a valuable collection of Great Britain, including several scarce or rare ten-shilling, one- and five-pound Victoria issues, most of the George V and VI sets complete, a choice unused “V.R.” Official and many of the other scarce Officials. The value of the Great Britain collection alone is in the mid-five figures. In addition to Great Britain there are solid collections of Australasia, including Australian States (an excellent showing of used classic issues, especially New South Wales and New Zealand) and Australia pound-value Kangaroos (mixed used and unused). Noteworthy scarce stamps among the Pacific Islands include Fiji Times Express and “VR” overprints, New Britain overprints, North Borneo (including Japanese Occupation), North-West Pacific Islands overprints and an unusually complete collection of Samoa Express stamps.

The next volume is dedicated to British America, including Canada and Maritime Provinces, and Caribbean and Latin American colonies. There is substantial value in the Canadian Pence and Large Queens issues, and Newfoundland is the most valuable of the Maritime Provinces. Dominica features the rare 1886 1p on 4p Green (14; SG 18) on piece, a major world rarity. Among the more valuable country collections is Turks Islands, featuring a selection of the scarce or rare surcharged issues. British Guiana boasts two of the typeset provisional issues.

Rounding out the British Colonial and Commonwealth countries are two volumes of British Africa and two volumes of British Asia.These albums are packed with complete sets and high-denomination George V and George VI issues, as well as the myriad overprinted issues from stamp-issuing entities in Africa and other colonial outposts. Madagascar is especially strong in Consular issues. The Mafeking Siege is represented by some of the scarcer provisionals. All together, the British Africa is a formidable collection worth six figures on its own. The British Asia collection is a bit lighter in the more valuable issues, but its total value is still in the mid-five figures, with Ceylon, India and Malaya dominating.

Next we come to the vast collection of Europe and European Colonies, contained in seventeen volumes, many of which are bulging with filled pages. Naturally, France and Germany dominate, with the classic issues well-represented and German States featuring a Saxony First Issue. Italian States are surprisingly complete and in excellent condition, including a choice Savoy Cross on piece. The undisputed highlight of the collection will be found in Switzerland, where a sound and Very Fine Double Geneva is located (with von der Weid certificate). This rare gem is a $20,000-$30,000 item and would satisfy the most discriminating collector.

The volumes containing Scandinavia-Finland (one), Latin West Indies (one), Central and South America (five) will impress the viewer with their completeness and many scarce issues. Two volumes of Independent Countries of Asia have most of the value concentrated in China, where a 5c Large Dragon Wide Spacing and Red Revenues light up the pages. There is also a separate collection of People’s Republic of China contained in two three-ring notebooks, which is worth several thousand dollars (it contains the Year of the Monkey stamp).

Regarding condition, this is most definitely not a “spacefiller” collection. The better stamps in this collection are at least Fine and more often Very Fine. It contains stamps that were bought at auction and from dealers at significant percentages of catalogue value. Some of the sets are mixed unused and used, and minor faults in some of the classic issues should be expected, but sound Very Fine stamps with catalogue values in excess of $500.00 will be found throughout. There are a large number of expert certificates, and we detected very few problematic stamps.

Our conservative estimate is based on the fair market value of the stamps if they were offered in typical individual lots and small country collections. The estimate does not reflect the extraordinary opportunity to acquire a worldwide collection of this vast scope and depth in one lot. Filling page after page with the sets and scarce issues found in this collection took decades and, if attempted incrementally, would take an equal amount of time. For someone who loves stamps -- the entire world of stamps -- and wants a “turn-key” worldwide collection on which to build, this is a unique opportunity. Needless to say, for a dealer with the means to make a substantial investment, its acquisition within, or even above, our estimate range holds certain potential for a substantial resale profit.

NOTICE REGARDING LOT 3946 IN SIEGEL SALE 1143

Special presale registration will be required in order to bid on lot 3946. This lot will only be released to the winning bidder after payment in full in cleared funds has been made. Prospective bidders who wish to examine lot 3946 must make an appointment for viewing.

REGISTRATION/APPROVAL/PAYMENT: To register and receive approval for bidding on lot 3946, please contact Colleen Stellato at Siegel Auction Galleries by telephone at 212-753-6421 or email colleen@siegelauctions.com. Prospective bidders on lot 3946, even if known to our firm, must allow at least three full business days for approval. References (trade and personal) may be required. The Siegel firm reserves the right to require a deposit prior to bidding or to refuse bids from anyone whom Siegel, in its absolute discretion, does not deem to be a bona fide bidder for lot 3946, even if the bidder has been approved by Siegel or Stamp Auction Network to bid on other lots. The successful purchaser of lot 3946 must make arrangements for payment in cleared funds (including sales tax or customs duty) within ten business days of the sale. Delivery charges, if any, will be invoiced separately and must be paid before delivery.

VIEWING: Viewing of lot 3946 will be by appointment only under Siegel’s close supervision. To schedule an appointment, please contact Andrew Titley at Siegel Auction Galleries by telephone at 212-753-6421 or email andrew@siegelauctions.com. Prospective viewers should allow at least two hours to examine the entire lot. Siegel reserves the right to rotate viewers during a viewing session.

IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE NOTICE, ALL CONDITIONS OF SALE WILL BE APPLICABLE TO THE OFFERING OF LOT 3946.

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THE ONLY SURVIVING TETE-BECHE PAIR OF THE BARQUITOS ISSUE. ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREAT PHILATELIC RARITIES.

Ex Alfred H. Caspary, Lars Amundsen, Joseph Schatzkes, John R. Boker Jr., and Gabriel Sanchez. Exhibited in Aristocrats of Philately displays at Ameripex in 1986 and Anphilex in 1996. Illustrated in Encyclopedia of Rare and Famous Stamps by L. N. Williams.

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EXTREMELY FINE. THE LARGEST AND FINEST OF THE THREE RECORDED 5-CENTAVOS LITHOGRAPHED BLOCKS AND THE ONLY ONE KNOWN ON COVER. THIS ASTOUNDING COVER IS APTLY DESCRIBED BY GERHARD BLANK AS "THE MOST OUTSTANDING 'COLON' COVER OF THEM ALL" IN HIS DEFINITIVE BOOK ON THE 1853-1867 ISSUES OF CHILE. OFFERED AT PUBLIC AUCTION FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE ITS DISCOVERY IN A PARIS FLEA MARKET SHORTLY AFTER WORLD WAR II.

The 1854 Lithograph stamps are extremely rare in multiples. Only one unused pair is recorded, and strips of three or larger are rare on or off cover. As for blocks, there are just three: 1) the block of fourteen on the cover to Valparaiso offered here; 2) block of six, ex Caspary and Galvez, offered in this sale as lot 120; and 3) block of six, ex Walters and Galvez, offered in this sale as lot 121.

This remarkable cover, bearing a block of fourteen in perfect condition and well-tied by the four-ring cancellation, was completely unknown to philatelists until shortly after World War II when it was discovered in a flea market in Paris. It was acquired by John F. Rider and then sold to Helen Novy, a collector and the daughter of another famous collector, B. D. Forster, whose pencil signature is on the back of this cover. Islander acquired it in 1967 as part of the entire Novy collection of Chile.

Exhibited in the Aristocrats of Philately displays at Anphilex 1971, Interphil 1976 and Ameripex 1986. Illustrated in Gerhard Blank's Chile: First Issues of Postage Stamps 1853-1867, where described as "The most outstanding 'Colon' cover of them all."

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THE FINEST OF THE ELEVEN RECORDED EXAMPLES OF PEROT'S FIRST PROVISIONAL STAMPS. THE ONLY 1854 DATE IN PRIVATE HANDS - THE OTHER BEING PART OF THE ROYAL PHILATELIC COLLECTION - AND BY FAR THE BETTER OF THE TWO PEROT FIRST-TYPE PROVISIONALS KNOWN ON COVERS. THE MOST OUTSTANDING ITEM OF BERMUDA AND RANKED AMONG THE WORLD'S MOST IMPORTANT PHILATELIC RARITIES.

This example was the first of the Perot postmaster's provisional stamps to be seen outside of Bermuda. It was shown by Louis Mowbray to Alfred Smith & Co. of Bath, England, in 1897 (Alfred Smith's Monthly Circular, July 1897). Sometime thereafter the cover was sold to Count Philippe de la Renotiere von Ferrary, whose massive worldwide collection was dispersed between 1921 and 1925 in a series of auctions at the Hotel Drouot in Paris under the supervision of M. G. Gilbert. In the fifth Ferrary sale (November 15, 1922, lot 122) this 1854 Red on Bluish Wove on cover was sold for 35,250 French francs (approximately $5,021) to Maurice Burrus, an Alsatian tobacco magnate whose own vast collection was sold in various auctions from 1962 to 1967. At the Robson Lowe sale of the Burrus Bermuda (July 24, 1963, lot 478), the cover was acquired by the Italian collector, FIRST NAME? Tomasini, for £11,000.

Ten years after the Burrus sale the cover again traded hands when part of the Tomasini collection was sold through Stanley Gibbons (October 4, 1973, lot 5). At the Tomasini sale, or sometime after, the cover was acquired for £50,000 by an American collector, who later consigned it to our firm's Rarities of the World auction (April 5, 1980, lot 368), where it realized $231,000, selling to the late Dr. Leonard Kapiloff. Prior to his death, Dr. Kapiloff sold the cover through Christie's London (June 13, 1991, lot 1079) for £XXX,XXX.

Of the eleven recorded examples of Perot's first provisional stamp, in black or red, this stamp is of vastly superior quality. It has the largest margins of any of the eleven stamps (several of which are badly cut into), and, unlike the others, it is free of any faults or repairs.

There are only two provisionals dated "1854", the other being part of the collection of Her Majesty the Queen. Perhaps of greater significance, given the current emphasis on postal history, is the fact that only two first-type Perot provisionals are known on covers. Both emanate from the Butterfield-Higgs correspondence, the other being the Black on Bluish Gray stamp dated "1848", which was affixed across the flap and torn in half upon opening (repaired).

Described and illustrated in Stamps of Fame, L. N. and M. Williams (p. 80-84, plate 12). The Perot provisionals are discussed in detail in M. H. Ludington's The Postal History and Stamps of Bermuda.

Ex Ferrary, Burrus, Tomasini and Kapiloff. With 1991 B.P.A. certificate. Stanley Gibbons £250,000

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VERY FINE APPEARANCE. THIS INTACT PANE OF EIGHTEEN IS THE LARGEST UNUSED MULTIPLE OF THE 90-REIS BULL'S EYE ISSUE. NO OTHER UNUSED 90-REIS PANE IS RECORDED. ONE OF THE GREAT RARITIES OF BRAZIL AND OF WORLDWIDE CLASSIC PHILATELY.

The largest recorded unused blocks of the three Bull's Eye values are as follows: 30r, three blocks of four (one heavily creased and rebacked), none larger; 60r, a complete sheet of 60 from the Large Plate, followed by a block of 20 (Large Plate) and smaller blocks from the Composite Plates (there is no known complete unused pane of 18 of the 60r from the Composite Plate); and 90r, the unused pane of 18 offered here, followed by a block of 12 (these are the only recorded unused blocks of the 90r).

Photos of this pane in its original condition may be found in American Philatelic Society's 1943 Centenary Handbook (page 45) and the 1966 Harmer, Rooke & Co. catalogue of the de Souza collection (lot 591). They show the tears in the corners and interior scrapes, which have been sealed and touched up in places to great effect, but there are no paper additions.

Ex Dr. Hermes (according to A.P.S. 1943 Centenary Handbook, page 45), Mario de Souza (a key element of his Efimayo 1960 Grand Prix award-winning exhibit) and Angelo Lima (a key element of his exhibit, which won the International Grand Prix at Philexfrance 1989 and Grand Prix d'Honneur at Philanippon 1991). The pane was acquired by Islander in a private transaction when the Lima collection was dispersed through David Feldman S.A. in November 1993.

No catalogue can possibly measure the value of this unique item, but for the record the Meyer Brazilian Empire Stamp Catalogue prices an unused 90r block of four at Euros 46,000 and an unused pair at Euros 9,800, for a total of Euros 167,400.

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VERY FINE APPEARANCE. BY FAR THE FINER OF TWO RECORDED SURVIVING BLOCKS CONTAINING THE MEDIO PESO ERROR (THE OTHER IS OFFERED IN THE FOLLOWING LOT). THIS EXTRAORDINARY MULTIPLE IS WIDELY REGARDED AS THE MOST IMPORTANT OFF-COVER PIECE OF PERUVIAN PHILATELY, AND IT IS CERTAINLY ONE OF THE ARISTOCRATS OF SOUTH AMERICAN PHILATELY.

The make-up of the lithographic stone which produced the 1858 One-peseta is not known with certainty. However, by studying examples of the Medio Peso Error, specialists have deduced that at least one of the 10-subject bloc reports erroneously included a row of five of the Medio Peso denomination. The normal One-peseta bloc report consisted of two horizontal rows of five, all of the same denomination, which philatelists have classified as ten different numbered types, based on tiny distinguishing marks in each transfer. The correct arrangement of the types in the bloc report became known after the type numbers were assigned, which accounts for the non-sequential order of the bloc report (top row 10-1-4-7-3, bottom row 5-2-8-6-9).

Apart from the obvious philatelic importance of this se-tenant Medio Peso Error block, it also tells us something about the bloc report that produced it. The two errors, which are called Types C and D, are the third and fourth positions in the bottom row of the 10-unit bloc report. Normally, the stamps above these two positions in the bloc report would be Types 4 and 7. However, the Types are 8 and 6, which indicates that Types 5-2-8-6-9 were in the top row of the error bloc report rather than their normal position at the bottom. This means that not only were the five Medio Peso denominations transferred to the stone, but the entire bloc report of ten was uniquely configured with the bottom row positioned at the top and the error transfers at the bottom.

For many years, no one knew the whereabouts of the remarkable block of six offered here, which is known as the "Small Weinberger Block." We quote directly from the Bargholtz handbook on the Medio Peso error: "The earliest mention found of this block was in a 1930 publication Etudes Philateliques by Didier Darteyre, who illustrated it together with the Ferrari block and stated that the new block had recently been offered for sale by the German auction firm H. Kohler. Subsequently, in 1931, Hall mentioned that the block belonged to one of Mr. Kohler's customers, Mr. Alfred Weinberger from Czechoslovakia. An illustration of the block was also included in Hall's article mentioned above. After this, the block disappeared and was not seen or heard of again until 1997, when it was offered as lot 245 in the Harmers of London auction on 24 July together with some other material from the Consul Weinberger estate."

The "Large Weinberger Block," which included two Medio Peso Errors se-tenant with sixteen One-Peseta in a tall vertical block, no longer exists. It was also mentioned in the 1931 article by Hall, but sometime between then and 1959, it was cut down into two se-tenant strips of three (Types A/10/5 in one strip and B/1/2 in the other, both of which are now in the Jaretzky collection of Peru). The only other block containing the Medio Peso Error is the ex-Ferrary block offered in the following lot. Although a rare artifact, the Ferrary block's condition cannot compare to the "Small Weinberger Block" offered here.

Bargholtz Census A2. Ex Consul Weinberger. Offered publicly in this sale for only the third time in approximately 80 years.

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THE FAMOUS AND UNIQUE UNUSED BLOCK OF THE ONE-PENNY "POST PAID" EARLIEST IMPRESSION. THE MOST IMPORTANT UNUSED MULTIPLE OF MAURITIUS AND ONE OF THE OUTSTANDING IMPERFORATE BLOCKS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE.

This remarkable survivor from the early period of the Mauritius post office can be traced as far back as Henry J. Duveen's ownership. It is not known from whom Duveen acquired the block, although he did purchase a significant portion of Sir William B. Avery's Mauritius collection. When the Duveen collection was dispersed through private sales by Charles J. Phillips in 1922-1926, the block figured prominently among the items purchased by Arthur Hind. After Hind's death, his Mauritius was offered as the fourth part of the British Empire series conducted by H. R. Harmer of London (June 12, 1934), and the "Post Paid" block sold for the U.S. dollar equivalent of $23,688, a staggering price that eclipsed the combined figure paid for the 1p and 2p "Post Office" stamps and came close to matching the amount realized by the 1p and 2p "Post Office" combination cover. The buyer was Alfred H. Caspary, presumably in competition with Maurice Burrus and Alfred F. Lichtenstein. Although Caspary's Mauritius collection paled in comparison to the holdings of his contemporaries, Burrus and Lichtenstein - he lacked even a single example of the "Post Office" stamps - the two titans of British Empire philately must have coveted their friend's "Post Paid" block. In 1958, after Caspary's death, his Mauritius was sold by H. R. Harmer, and the "Post Paid" block was featured in color in the sale catalogue, the only item in all of the Caspary sales to receive such chromatic distinction. It realized $18,500 and soon became part of the Josiah K. Lilly collection. When our firm sold the Lilly collection after his death, the "Post Paid" block realized $64,000 (March 16, 1967).

With 1995 B.P.A. certificate

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EXTREMELY FINE AND ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT COVERS OF BRITISH NORTH AMERICA. VERY FEW 12-PENCE STAMPS ARE KNOWN ON COVER, AND THIS IS THE FINEST OF THE TWO OR THREE TIED EXAMPLES.

The 1851 12-pence stamp was issued for prepayment of the basic letter rate to Newfoundland, Bermuda and the West Indies, but its value - stated in pence rather than "one shilling" to avoid confusion - also corresponded to the double 6p rate to the United States and certain other countries. However, its use was very limited, and most of the printing was destroyed, with only approximately 1,500 stamps sold.

In his Encyclopedia of Rare and Famous Stamps, L. N. Williams estimates that five covers have survived. The two best known covers are this tied usage from Montreal and the untied usage from Hamilton (see Boggs, p. 137).

Ex Worthington, Dale-Lichtenstein, Nickle. With 1995 B.P.A. certificate

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VERY FINE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED COVER BEARING A COMBINATION OF THE 3-PESO AND 4-PESO HIGH VALUES. THE ONLY OTHER COVER BEARING MORE THAN ONE DENOMINATION OF THE FIRST ISSUE IS THE EX-CASPARY 2-PESO AND 4-PESO COVER. THIS IS UNDOUBTEDLY THE MOST OUTSTANDING COVER OF BUENOS AIRES, AND, IN A RANKING OF ALL ITEMS, IT IS SECOND ONLY TO THE "IN PESO" TETE-BECHE PAIR.

On this cover the 3p and 4p Barquitos stamps prepay 7 pesos postage. The 5-peso "heavy" rate was required on a letter weighing between 12 and 16 adarmes (16 adarmes is the equivalent of one ounce). One peso was required for each additional 4 adarmes. Therefore, this folded letter weighed between 20 and 24 adarmes (1-1/4 to 1-1/2 ounce), requiring 7 pesos prepayment.

This is without question the most important of only four covers we record with a Barquitos combination, which are: 1) 2p and 4p to Corrientes, ex Caspary; 2) 3p and 4p to Rosario, the cover offered here; 3) 1p Brown and 4r Brown to Uruguay, offered in this sale as lot 73; and 4) 1p Blue and 4r Brown to Buenos Aires, offered in this sale (lot 74). These Barquitos combination frankings are among the highlights of the entire Islander collection.

Illustrated in the Kneitschel book (page 118). Ex Gargantini, Kneitschel, Amundsen and Boker.

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VERY FINE. A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE AN IMPORTANT AND VIRTUALLY COMPLETE COLLECTION OF FRENCH COLONIES. THIS COLLECTION WOULD TAKE DECADES OF COMMITTED SEARCHING TO ASSEMBLE, AND AT THE END OF THE DAY IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO MATCH THE QUALITY OF THIS COLLECTION OR TO FIND THE RARITIES OFFERED HERE.

The following is a detailed description by volume:

Alouites-Cambodia incl. Algeria C4a, Andorra unused Nos. 21-22 and Benin complete with Nos. 15, 15A and 19.

Cameroon-Diego Suarez incl. Cameroons British Occupation 62a and 63a, Cameroons French Occupation Nos. 101-129 less 105A, Castellorizzo complete, Cilicia virtually complete, Diego Suarez complete incl. unused Nos. 21 and 22, used J12 and unused J13.

French Colonies-French Equatorial Africa with excellent French Colonies which are apparently complete, outstanding and virtually complete Offices in China incl. used or unused Nos. 47A, J7a, J9a, J10a, J14, J20, J20a, J27a, Hoi Hao incl. Nos. 6 and 15, Mongtseu incl. No. 7C, Offices in Crete incl. No. 46A, Offices in Zanzibar incl. Nos. 29-33, 34, 50, 51 and 62, French Congo incl. used Nos. 1, 12, 50 and 51, unused incl. Nos. 6 and 49c.

French Guyana-French Morocco incl. French Guyana with used Nos. 1 and 2, unused Nos. 9, 12 and 14, French India incl. unused Nos. 116, 140, 140a, 179 and non-Scott listed "France Toujurs" overprints complete with all 27 (two complete sets are believed to exist), French Morocco incl. used Nos. 9 and B3, unused No. 24.

French Oceania-Guadeloupe incl. French Sudan used Nos. 1 and 2, Gabon incl. Nos. 1, 2, 4-7, 9-10, 12, 14-15, Guadeloupe incl. Nos. 13 and J1-J3.

Guinea-Laos with Indochina evidently complete less No. Q4, Ivory Coast incl. Nos. Q13, Q16, Q23 and Q36.

Mayotte-New Hebrides with Monaco evidently complete less B18, New Caledonia incl. Nos. 34 and J8, New Hebrides incl. No. 35.

Latakia-Mauritania with Madagascar incl. Nos. 12-13, 22D, 23-27, 62 and 228, Martinique incl. No. 11.

Niger-Senegal with Nossi-Be incl. Nos. 1-2, 3-5, 7-9, 20, 21, J17, Obock incl. Nos. 63-64 and J1, Rouad incl. Nos. 1-3, Saar incl. Nos. B64a and CB1a, Senegal incl. Nos. 3, 7, 13, 14, 16, 17-20, 33 and 34.

St. Pierre & Miquelon contained in its own volume incl. Nos. 7-8, 9, 12-14, 16, 17, 206C, 206D, 208A, 218A, 225, 227, 230, 233, 234, 242, 247, 248, 248A, 293, 230 double overprint (only 25 issued), 209 on cover with inverted overprint (only 25 issued in total), J44 and Q5 pair. Special attention should also be drawn to the two world-class rarities Nos. 233 and 247.

Senegambia & Niger-Togo with Somali Coast incl. Nos. 4, 21-22, 26, 27, 27B, Tahiti incl. Nos. 1B, 4, 7, 14, 19-20, J12-J13, J14, J15-J26, Togo incl. Nos. 161, 162, 165-166.

Tunisia-Wallis & Futuna with Tunisia No. 8 unused.

Two stockbooks of modern issues (after 1963) containing several years worth of issues and many hundreds of stamps.

Virtually all of the scarcer or problematic surcharges or overprints are signed by recognized experts. There are also approximately 30 photo certificates. Scott Catalogue value is well in excess of $450,000.00, plus many items such as covers, imperforates and proofs are not listed or included in catalogue value.

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EXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED COVER WITH CLASSIC COLOMBIAN STAMPS USED ON THE FIRST DAY OF ISSUE. MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT IS THE ONLY FIRST DAY COVER OF ANY AMERICAN FIRST ISSUE, INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA.

This cover is illustrated in Dieter Bortfeldt's Colombia Philatelic Handbook and Catalogue 1859-1860 (page 4), where it is described as "Cover dated 1 September 1859 - The ONLY known cover from the FIRST DAY." The handstamped postmarks on early Colombia covers usually did not have a date (except for the Medellin receiving mark).

Ex Larsen

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EXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS THE ONLY BLOCK OF ANY BULL'S EYE ISSUE KNOWN ON COVER. THIS SPECTACULAR ITEM, DISCOVERED ONLY IN THE PAST 30 YEARS, IS REGARDED AS ONE OF THE TOP FIVE PHILATELIC ITEMS OF BRAZIL AND ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST CLASSIC IMPERFORATE COVERS.

This extraordinary cover was discovered sometime in the 1970's and sold to Reinaldo Bruno Pracchia, who featured it in his award-winning exhibit, which garnered the Grand Prix d'Honneur at London 1980. It was acquired by Angelo Lima and again became one of the cornerstones of his Grand Prix exhibit (International Grand Prix at Philexfrance 1989 and Grand Prix d'Honneur at Philanippon 1991). Islander acquired the cover at the November 1993 sale of the Lima collection, held by David Feldman S.A.

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THIS FAMOUS AND UNIQUE EXAMPLE OF THE SYDNEY VIEW ISSUE IN TETE-BECHE FORM IS RENOWNED AS THE MOST IMPORTANT ITEM IN AUSTRALIAN PHILATELY AND ONE OF THE WORLD'S OUTSTANDING PHILATELIC PIECES

To date this is the only confirmed multiple of any Sydney View showing a complete tete-beche configuration of the stamps. The 2p Plate II, from which this pair was printed, comprised 24 subjects arranged in two horizontal rows of 12 each. Sheets of 48 stamps were created by a print-and-turn technique (see Figure 1), resulting in tete-beche (head-to-foot) orientation between one pane and the other on the same sheet. In evidence of this printing method, we have some stamps that show so-called "double compartment lines", which are, in fact, the outer framelines of an adjoining tete-beche impression printed close together. We also have this complete tete-beche pair; no other pair or multiple of any size is known.

This cover was discovered in 1903 by a Sydney stamp dealer, Fred Hagen. The cover was part of the Clarke and Meinertzhagen collections before passing into the Alfred F. Lichtenstein collection of Australian States. It was retained by the Dale-Lichtenstein Foundation until 1990.

Illustrated in Rare Stamps, L. N. and M. Williams. Exhibited in ADDITIONAL CITATIONS! (Life Magazine, etc etc)

With 1990 B.P.A. certificate KIDS I

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EXTREMELY FINE. A SPECTACULAR BLOCK FROM THE 20-CENTAVOS LITHOGRAPHIC STONE, CONTAINING THE 5-CENTAVOS TRANSFER ERROR. THIS IS THE SMALLER OF ONLY TWO SE-TENANT BLOCKS KNOWN. ONE OF THE FAMOUS ARISTOCRATS OF SOUTH AMERICAN PHILATELY.

Dieter Bortfeldt's Colombia Philatelic Handbook and Catalogue 1859-1860 states (page 41), "Only 4 pieces known, all in mint condition."

Ex Thomas William Hall, Crocker, Newbury and Neuberger.

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EXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF TWO RECORDED COLOMBIA FIRST ISSUE COVERS BEARING THREE DIFFERENT DENOMINATIONS. THE QUINTESSENTIAL COMBINATION OF QUALITY, RARITY AND PHILATELIC IMPORTANCE.

This cover is illustrated in Dieter Bortfeldt’s Colombia Philatelic Handbook and Catalogue 1859-1860 (page 11).

Ex Jewell and Wickersham.

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AN IMPORTANT AND EXCEPTIONAL COMPLETE SET OF THE CANADA 1897 JUBILEE ISSUE IN MARGIN BLOCKS OF TEN, INCLUDING SIX PLATE BLOCKS.

The Diamond Jubilee Issue of 1897 was Canada's first commemorative set. It was also the first issue supplied by the American Bank Note Company, Ottawa. The designs were by Lynwood Pereira and the portraits of the Queen were based on the famous Chalon vignette and the painting by Prof. Von Angeli of Vienna. (Bogg, p. 317). The -1/2c thru 8c values were printed in sheets of 100, while the 10c thru $5.00 values were printed in sheets of 50. Like the Columbian Issue of the United States, a full set of stamps was costly, setting the collector back $16.21-1/2 for a set, or $162.15 for blocks of ten.

Following are formats and condition notes for each of the 16 blocks in the set:

-1/2c Black (50). Right selvage, one stamp with small toned spot on gum

1c Orange (51). Right selvage, slight oxidation

2c Green (52). Top imprint and plate no. 8

3c Bright Rose (53). Right selvage

5c Deep Blue (54). Top left corner selvage, part imprint at top right

6c Yellow Brown (55). Full selvage at bottom and sides, natural gum bends

8c Dark Violet (56). Bottom left corner selvage, tiny toned spot in corner of one block and in corner of selvage, minor selvage perf separations

10c Brown Violet (57). Top imprint and plate no. 19 with selvage at sides, small h.r. in selvage

15c Steel Blue (58). Top imprint and plate no. 18 with selvage at sides, small margin tear sealed with h.r., two other small h.r. in selvage

20c Vermillion (59). Top imprint and plate no. 21 with selvage at sides, tiny tear in selvage

50c Ultramarine (60). Top imprint and plate no. 23 with selvage at sides

$1.00 Lake (61). Full selvage at bottom and sides, slight gum disturbance on one

$2.00 Dark Purple (62). Full selvage at bottom and sides

$3.00 Yellow Bister (63). Full selvage at bottom and sides

$4.00 Purple (64). Full selvage at bottom and sides, light pencil mark on one stamp

$5.00 Olive Green (65). Top imprint and plate no. 25 with selvage at sides, perf separations in one part of selvage at top, perf disc adhesion on one stamp

Unlisted in Scott or Unitrade as margin or plate blocks. Scott Retail as Mint N.H. singles with no premium for the positions $230,000.00

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