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1,808 Selected Lots, Page 1 of 91
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1843, 30r/30r/60r Black, Se-Tenant Strip of Three (1d). 2nd Composite Plate, State D, 30r Positions 11/17, 60c Position 5, vertical strip of three from the 30r and 60r panes, the Xiphopagus Triplet with interpanneau dividing line between 30r and 60r values, full to large margins, cancelled by two strikes of "Correio Geral da Corte" circular datestamp (1844 yeardate is readable), top stamp has tiny thin, very slight wrinkles or creasesTHE 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.
1859, 1p ("In Ps") Deep Blue, Tete-Beche (7d). Positions 33/41 from the lower left corner of the sheet, top stamp the inverted cliche in second setting, minor faults but lightly cancelled with black ponchito leaving ship design clearly visibleTHE 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.
1854, 5c Red Brown, Lithograph (7a). Horizontal block of fourteen, large even margins on three sides, touched to slightly in at left, beautiful rich color and proof-like impression, tied by multiple strikes of four-ring cancel, red "Santiago 10 Agto 54" circular datestamp on blue folded cover to Valparaiso, from the Jagerschmidt & Jullian correspondence, slight toning along horizontal fold well clear of block, which is perfectEXTREMELY 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."
1843, 90r Black, Intermediate Impression (3). Complete unused pane of 18, 1st Composite Plate, State A, sharp impression (early Intermediate), large margins all around with full outer framelines, faint ms. "206" in bottom margin, tears in corners and other interior faults have been expertly improvedVERY 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.
1858, Medio Peso Rose Red Error (5). Vertical block of six containing two Medio Peso errors se-tenant with four of the normal One-peseta, the bottom four stamps come from the error bloc report with One-peseta Types 8-6 above the two Medio Peso Types C-D, the top pair comes from another bloc report with One-peseta Types 8-6 repeated--an unusual configuration, which is explained more thoroughly on page 32 and below--large margins to ample at bottom, two strikes of "TRUJILLO" straightline, pressed-out horizontal crease between stamps at bottom, three tiny pinholes, truly insignificant flaws and otherwise in excellent conditionVERY 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.
1858, 3p ("Tres Ps") Green, 4p ("Cuato Ps") Vermilion (3, 4). 3p with huge margins all around showing portions of surrounding stamps, rich color, 4p usual small margins to slightly in, deep shade, both well-tied by three strikes of ponchito cancel, bold "Correos de Buenos Aires 31 Ago 58" circular datestamp on folded letter to Rosaria, light file folds well clear of stampsVERY 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.
1859, 5c Violet, 10c Red Brown (3, 4). Each stamp has large margins all around, beautiful early shades, both stamps tied by blue "BOGOTA/FRANCA" oval handstamp on folded letter to Rio Negro, datelined "Sr. D. Manuel Maria Ballejo, Convto. de Nra. Me. Sta. Clara Seitiembre 1 de 1859" on September 1, 1859, the official first day of issueEXTREMELY 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
1843, 30r Black, Late Impression (3). Large Plate, State A, Positions 23-24/29-30/35-36, block of six, large to huge margins including sheet margin and outer frameline at right, tied by one of four strikes of "Correio Geral da Corte 1/4/1845" circular datestamp on folded cover to Rio Pardo, the block is affixed over the backflap and has been carefully opened so as to preserve the block in perfect conditionEXTREMELY 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.
1859, 5c and 20c Blue, Se-Tenant (6b). Stone A, Positions 24-26/35-37/46-48, block of nine containing 5c transfer error (Position 35) on plate of 20c, forming a se-tenant multiple with adjoining stamps, Position 25 is the retouched transfer, original gum, large margins, beautiful rich color and fresh paper, couple usual slight gum creasesEXTREMELY 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.
1859, 5c Blue Violet, 10c Red Brown, 20c Blue (3c, 4, 6). Three different values of the First Issue, each with full to large margins, bright fresh colors, tied by two perfect bold strikes of "BOGOTA" oval handstamp on blue folded cover to Ambalema, "Mauricio Rizo, Bogota" double-oval sender's handstamp, receipt docketing "1859, Mauricio Rizo, Diciembre 19", file fold far from stampsEXTREMELY 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.
1859, 20c Blue, Tete-Beche (6c). Stone A, Positions 1-4, 12-15, block of eight with top left corner sheet margins, containing the inverted transfer, Position 13, forming a tete-beche multiple with adjoining stamps, original gum, large margins all around, bright fresh color and paper, couple typical slight gum creasesEXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF FIVE RECORDED TETE-BECHE MULTIPLES OF THE 20-CENTAVOS AND THE SMALLER OF TWO BLOCKS CONTAINING THE INVERTED TRANSFER. TRULY ONE OF THE ARISTOCRATS OF SOUTH AMERICAN PHILATELY.
Illustrated on page 39 of Dieter Bortfeldt's Colombia Philatelic Handbook and Catalogue 1859-1860, which states, "It is said that only about 4 examples are known in mint and only one in used condition" (page 41).
Ex Crocker, Newbury, Neuberger and Londono.
1859, 20c Blue (6). Four singles, mostly full to large margins except lefthand stamp touched, end stamp at right has slight vertical crease, varying impressions in a deep shade, tied by two perfect strikes of "BOGOTA" framed handstamp on blue legal-size registered cover to Cartagena, red registration markings including "Certificacion a Bogota/Salio en 28 de Fbro. 1860" two-line script handstamp with date in manuscript, matching "Confederacion Granadina, Bogota, Admon. Geral de Correos Nacionales" oval handstamp with coat of arms, multiple strikes of "0" handstamp, manuscript "80cs" rate at upper right, red wax seals, neat receipt docketing at lower left, vertical fold at leftEXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS THE ONLY REGISTERED COVER EXTANT BEARING THE COLOMBIAN FIRST ISSUE, AND, IN FACT, IT IS THE ONLY REGISTERED COVER BEFORE 1863. IT IS ALSO THE LARGEST NUMBER OF FIRST ISSUE 20-CENTAVOS STAMPS KNOWN ON COVER AND THE HIGHEST FRANKING OF THE FIRST ISSUE. TRULY ONE OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR COLOMBIAN COVERS IN EXISTENCE, AND AN IMPORTANT ITEM FROM BOTH THE POSTAL HISTORY AND PHILATELIC PERSPECTIVES.
This remarkable artifact of Colombian postal history is illustrated on page 13 of Dieter Bortfeldt's Colombia Philatelic Handbook and Catalogue 1859-1860. It surfaced in the 1982 Corinphila sale of the Neuberger collection and has no prior recorded history. The only other cover known to us which bears more than one 20-centavos is the cover to Hamburg illustrated on page 5 of the Bortfeldt handbook.
THE DR. ROBERT H. LEBOW COLLECTION OF BOLIVIA. Intact collection comprising hundreds of items, many on handwritten exhibit pages, includes stampless covers, 1867-68 Condor Issue, 9-Star and 11-Star 1868-69 Coat of Arms Issues, 1878 Arms and "The Law" Issue, 1887-94 Coat of Arms Issue and a solid representation of later issues, a detailed review follows:Stampless Covers: 42 (including a few documents and fronts only), almost all from Republic Period (1825-67), nice range of straightlines, fancy and pictorial markings including "Oruro Franca" oval and leaf, "Santa Cruz Franca" oval and eagle, spectacular "Cochabamba" ornately framed straightline, "Potosi Franca" with eagle, "Chayanta Franca" with figure of man, and "Correos de la Chimba/Bolivia" illustrated ship oval, condition generally excellent;
1867-68 Condor Issue (Scott 1-8): Substantial representative collection of this scarce First Issue, including off-cover stamps, mostly 5c stamps (including sheets), but also includes two postally-used pairs of 10c Brown; five covers with 5c including three with pairs (Sucre, Tupiza and Oruro straightlines), superb strip of three on cover (Santa Cruz) paying 15c rate, and strip of four on cover (one stamp torn when opened), also a 5c pair on front and a 10c Brown uncancelled on cover from the well-known De la Torres correspondence; and large quantity of documents showing fiscal use of Condor Issue, including large blocks of 5c Yellow Green, 5c Violet block of eight (Scott value $1,200.00), 10c Brown strip and bisect, 50c Blue (two) and 100c large blocks; there are sheets and plate reconstructions made of Reprints which have not been figured in our estimate;
1868-69 Coat of Arms 9-Stars and 11-Stars, 1878 Arms and "The Law", 1887-94 Coat of Arms Issues (Scott 10-46): Hundreds of proofs, stamps and covers, a wonderful specialized collection including one 500c 9-Star (No. 14, Scott value $1,000.00) and two 500c 11-Star (No. 19, Scott value $3,500.00 each), ten 9-Star covers and 14 11-Star covers including bisects, two 1868 Allegory of Justice postal usages, Arms and "The Law" bisect covers, 1893 imperforate varieties;
Later Issues and Air Post: Specialized collection including a plethora of philatelically-inspired varieties, such as inverts, inverted surcharges, "Muestra" and proofs, the rarest stamp is 1911 20c on 2c Villa Bella provisional surcharge (No. 97, Scott value $2,500.00, with Friedl certificate), nice group of Air Post including 1925 Junkers Flight "Sucre" overprints (6 unused, 2 pieces, one with inverted overprint), 1930 Air Post overprint varieties including a set of inverts;
Overall condition is excellent, with many Very Fine or better stamps and covers throughout. A wonderful opportunity to acquire a significant collection of this philatelically-rich South American country, including six Condor Issue covers, which alone would fetch $15,000 to $20,000 if offered individually. We strongly recommend careful examination (a PDF of the album pages is available at our website)
1858, Medio Peso Rose Red Error (5). Type E, large margins to ample at bottom left, used with horizontal pair of 1858 1d Blue (3), Types 6-7, large margins, all tied by "YCA" dotted oval cancel on blue folded cover to S. S. Tomas LaChambre y Ca. in Lima, docketed with September 5, 1858 origin date, lightly cleaned and pressedEXTREMELY FINE. THIS SPECTACULAR COVER BEARS THE ONLY RECORDED TWO-COLOR FRANKING WITH THE MEDIO PESO ERROR. IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT COVER OF PERUVIAN PHILATELY AND ONE OF THE ARISTOCRATS OF SOUTH AMERICAN PHILATELY.
According to the Percy Bargholtz booklet on the Medio Peso Error, the first report of the error occurred in June 1858, about three months after the March 10, 1858, issue date of the first official government postage stamps. Bargholtz cites the generally-accepted statement that postmasters were instructed to treat the Medio Peso error as a One-peseta stamp, but he also notes that a few covers appear to have required the half-peso denomination and were accepted as such.
The cover offered here was posted in September 1858, months after the errors were discovered. It is probably franked for the double rate of two pesetas with the Medio Peso Error counted as a One-peseta stamp. The Bargholtz census of Medio Peso Error covers lists all of the covers which were known to him in 2001. Only this cover bears the Medio Peso Error in combination with a stamp other than the One-peseta Rose Red.
Bargholtz Census Da1. Ex Magonette and Schatzkes.
1858, 2p ("Dos Ps") Blue, Diagonal Half Used as 1p (2b). Upper left diagonal half tied all around by "Correos de Buenos Aires 26 Abr 59" circular datestamp on folded cover to Gualeguaychu, the bisect pays the reduced one-peso domestic rate in effect in 1859VERY FINE. THIS IS BY FAR THE FINER OF THE TWO KNOWN EXAMPLES OF THE 2-PESO BLUE BISECT ON COVER.
Ex Gargantini, Kneitschel and Boker
1854, 5c Red Brown, Lithograph, "Big Squeeze" Transfer Flaw (7 var). Galvez Type 1 (Blank 5/Vt 1/2), large margins to barely in at top, tied by lightly-struck four-ring cancel, red "Valparaiso 11 Nbre 54" circular datestamp on blue folded cover to Santiago, file folds and small tape stains clear of stampVERY FINE. THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE "BIG SQUEEZE" LITHOGRAPHIC TRANSFER FLAW USED ON COVER. ONE OF THE GREATEST ITEMS OF CHILEAN PHILATELY AND ONE OF THE MOST STRIKING PLATE VARIETIES AMONG ALL CLASSIC ISSUES.
Ex Galvez. Illustrated in Blank book (plate 21)
1859, 1p ("To rs") Blue (8). Horizontal strip of four, lefthand stamp shows "Cuato rs" variety with uncleared letters, large margins to clear at bottom, beautiful dark shade, uncancelled on blue folded cover from Buenos Aires to Rosario, receipt docketing with Sep. 3, 1859 origin date, horizontal file foldEXTREMELY FINE. A UNIQUE COVER BEARING AN UNCANCELLED STRIP OF FOUR OF THE "TO" PESO BARQUITOS ISSUE. THIS IS THE LARGEST MULTIPLE OF THIS STAMP AND THE LARGEST UNCANCELLED MULTIPLE OF THE ENTIRE BARQUITOS ISSUE.
Ex Gargantini and Boker (where it realized DM 13,000 in 1979)
THE JOHN H. HALL JR. COLLECTION OF CHILE 1853-65 "COLON" ISSUES. A truly remarkable intact collection, comprising more than 650 stamps (almost all are used, many in multiples and some on covers), all meticulously presented in three volumes with extremely detailed write-up, this study collection was completed in 1936 and reflects the philatelic priorities of the era with emphasis on plate varieties, watermark orientation and shade/paper varieties, including all of the "Colon" issues from 1853 to 1865, each identified by printing; in addition to the mounted collection there is loose material, including stamps on pages (the working collection) and a number of lots from the Caspary and Col. Green sales (still on the original lot pages), some later issues (not counted in overall tally); a brief overview of each issue follows, the quantities are approximate and include both the mounted and loose material, Scott Nos. are for basic shades, stamps are used unless otherwise indicated:Proofs: more than 20 items including defaced die proofs and Black plate proof blocks of the 1c, 5c and 10c, and a set of 5c, 10c and 20c with Perkins Bacon & Co. "Cancelled" Specimen obliterator on a page with note "To my friend John Hall... John Wilson 1938";
5c, 10c 1853 Perkins Bacon & Co., London (Scott 1, 2): 5c (26) and 10c (17) incl. No. 1 pair and 1a, two pairs of No. 2, plus three 5c covers and one 10c cover;
5c, 10c 1854 Desmadryl, Santiago (Scott 3-6): 5c (47) including No. 3b Chestnut (ex Caspary) and 3e Double Impression, plus two on covers; 10c (20) including scarce shades and two pairs, a bisect on cover identified as Greenish Blue;
5c 1854 Gillet Engraved, Santiago (Scott 4/4a): A wonderful group of this scarce issue, including more than 50 of the Burnt Sienna and 4 of the rare Chocolate shade (Scott 4a, $2,700.00 each), a couple of superb imprint sheet-margin stamps including one from the Col. Green sale that brought $41 in the 1940's;
5c 1854 Gillet Lithographed, Santiago (Scott 7): The scarcest and most desirable of the "Colon" issues, a fabulous study collection including the pair discovered in 1898 that led to the revelation of Gillet's lithographic printing, before this pair was recognized and documented, no one knew that Gillet had resorted to lithography when he was unable to produce high-quality stamps from the engraved plate, this pair obviously has great philatelic significance; in total there are 36 stamps off-cover, two singles on covers (one dated Aug. 2, 1854, very early use) and a pair on cover; among the numerous lithographic transfer flaws are examples of the prominent "squeezes", including the "Big Squeeze" (Galvez Type I, Blank Ty. 5/Vt 1/2), ex Walters, a choice stamp which alone would be estimated at $10,000-15,000, and the rare "Chile" and "o" of "Centavos" squeezed (Blank 5/Vt 2/8); there is a also a fascinating page presenting a Black proof impression and single used stamp, both with the White Flaw in "C" of "Colon", which, according to the write-up, does not appear on any engraved stamps, its presence on the proof and single and the physical characteristics of these two impressions indicate that both are lithographic printings (potentially an extremely rare, if not unique, proof);
5c 1855 Perkins Bacon & Co., London (Scott 8): 60+, including pairs, strips and block of four, wide range of shades and watermark varieties noted;
5c, 10c 1856-62 Santiago Post Office Printings (Scott 9-10): 5c (160+) and 10c (75+), including an enormous array of shades, cancels and varieties, numerous multiples, plus eight 10c bisects on covers incl. two with additional full stamps;
1c, 10c, 20c 1862 Perkins Bacon & Co., London (Scott 11-13): 1c includes unused pair and block, used multiples and No. 11a Double Impression, One Inverted (with B.P.A. certificate), 10c (80+) including three covers, 20c plate proof and four unused, 18 used;
5c 1865 Santiago Post Office Printing (Scott 14): two unused, 91 used, plus No. 14b Printed on Both Sides and No. 14d Double Impression;
Reprints: Several dozen in blocks and singles, all identified by the source
The condition of the stamps is outstanding, with the vast majority having four margins and many are Extremely Fine, especially by the standard applied to the narrowly-spaced "Colon" issues; the provenance is impeccable, with many of the stamps originating in the Riesco and Walters collections sold during the early part of the 20th Century, and some coming from the Caspary sale in June 1958.
An extraordinary opportunity to acquire a "time capsule" study collection formed by John Hall Jr., one of the great collectors of the 20th Century and a friend/contemporary of Lichtenstein, Caspary and Boker. Our estimate reflects the pure commercial value of the stamps (the Scott value applicable to basic stamps, not counting the "Big Squeeze", covers and unlisted varieties, is more than $50,000.00). The uncounted, yet enormous value, of this collection is the work and scholarship of presentation. A color PDF of the collection can be downloaded from our website.
1858, 5p ("Cinco Ps") ("Cinco Ps") Orange (5). Positions 41 and 42, originally a horizontal pair (rejoined with hinge), left stamp unused (no gum), right stamp with large part original gum, huge sheet margins at left and bottom, others sides mostly clear of framelines, beautiful bright rich color, exceptionally fresh and entirely soundEXTREMELY FINE. THIS REJOINED PAIR OF RARE UNUSED 5-PESO STAMPS IS THE CLOSEST PHILATELISTS CAN COME TO A MULTIPLE OF THE THREE HIGH VALUES OF THE FIRST BARQUITOS ISSUE. THE TWO STAMPS ARE ALSO AMONG THE FINEST UNUSED EXAMPLES OF THE 5-PESO EXTANT.
There are no intact multiples of the 3, 4 or 5-peso Barquitos stamps. Therefore, this rejoined pair of the 5-peso is the nearest example of a multiple.
Ex Dale-Lichtenstein, Boker and Sanchez. Pencil note on back of left stamp indicates it came from the collection of Dr. Chiesa, one of the earliest collectors of Buenos Aires stamps.