9th Floor
New York, NY 10036
12 Selected Lots, Page 1 of 2
General/Issue
Date
4c Columbian, Error of Color (233a). Deep rich color, bold duplex cancel, small horizontal crease at right and tiny picked out inclusion at leftFINE APPEARANCE. ONLY 15 USED EXAMPLES OF THE ONE-CENT COLUMBIAN ERROR OF COLOR ARE LISTED IN OUR CENSUS. ONE OF THE GREAT RARITIES OF USED UNITED STATES PHILATELY AND OF THE POPULAR COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
The 4c Columbian color error was caused by the use of a wrong batch of ink, and spectrographic analysis has shown that the blue inks of the 4c error and 1c Columbian have the same components. Stamps from at least three panes reached collectors, and the few cancelled examples indicate that stamps used by the public came from at least one additional pane. It is likely that a number of full sheets were printed using the wrong ink, and most of the stamps have simply been lost to philately.
Our census of used Scott 233a, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/233a , contains 15 stamps. One additional stamp was previously certified as the error, but received a recent certificate as the Dark Ultramarine sub-shade. Only two stamps listed in our census are confirmed as sound.
Census No. 233a-CAN-08. With 1993 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail value is for an example with small faults
4c Columbian, Error of Color (233a). Deep rich color, attractive margins and centering, bold duplex cancel, completely soundVERY FINE. ONLY THIRTEEN USED EXAMPLES HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED AS GENUINE BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION AND ONLY TWO ARE CONFIRMED AS SOUND. ONE OF THE GREAT RARITIES OF USED UNITED STATES PHILATELY AND OF THE POPULAR COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
The 4c Columbian color error was caused by the use of a wrong batch of ink, and spectrographic analysis has shown that the blue inks of the 4c error and 1c Columbian have the same components. Stamps from at least three panes reached collectors, and the few cancelled examples indicate that stamps used by the public came from at least one additional pane. It is likely that a number of full sheets were printed using the wrong ink, and most of the stamps have simply been lost to philately.
Our census of used Scott 233a, available at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/233a/233a.pdf , contains 13 stamps certified as No 233a. One additional stamp was previously certified as the error, but received a recent certificate as the Dark Ultramarine sub-shade. Only two stamps listed in our census are confirmed as sound -- the example offered here and the ex Natalee Grace example (Census No. 1). Census No. 7 may be sound but it has not been seen in many years.
Census No. 233a-CAN-04. With 2016 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail value is for an example with small faults
4c Columbian, Error of Color (233a). Wide margins and choice centering, deep color in the more intense of the two shades, bold duplex cancel, small filled thin at bottom right not mentioned on accompanying certificateVERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONLY THIRTEEN USED EXAMPLES HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED AS GENUINE BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION. ONE OF THE GREAT RARITIES OF USED UNITED STATES PHILATELY AND OF THE POPULAR COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
The 4c Columbian color error was caused by the use of a wrong batch of ink, and spectrographic analysis has shown that the blue inks of the 4c error and 1c Columbian have the same components. Stamps from at least three panes reached collectors, and the few cancelled examples indicate that stamps used by the public came from at least one additional pane. It is likely that a number of full sheets were printed using the wrong ink, and most of the stamps have simply been lost to philately.
Our census of used Scott 233a, available at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/233a/233a.pdf , contains 13 stamps certified as No 233a. One additional stamp was previously certified as the error, but received a recent certificate as the Dark Ultramarine sub-shade. This is one of the best centered of the examples contained in our census.
Census No. 233a-CAN-06. With 1978 P.F. certificate not mentioning the filled thin
4c Columbian, Error of Color (233a). Wide to huge margins, intense color, neat strike of duplex cancel, faint narrow thins at top right, certificate describes an "internal paper rift at left center" which used to be called a wrinkle and left unmentionedVERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONLY THIRTEEN USED EXAMPLES HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED AS GENUINE BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION. ONE OF THE GREAT RARITIES OF USED UNITED STATES PHILATELY AND OF THE POPULAR COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
The 4c Columbian color error was caused by the use of a wrong batch of ink, and spectrographic analysis has shown that the blue inks of the 4c error and 1c Columbian have the same components. Stamps from at least three panes reached collectors, and the few cancelled examples indicate that stamps used by the public came from at least one additional pane. It is likely that a number of full sheets were printed using the wrong ink, and most of the stamps have simply been lost to philately.
Our census of used Scott 233a, available at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/233a/233a.pdf , contains 13 stamps certified as No 233a. One additional stamp was previously certified as the error, but received a recent certificate as the Dark Ultramarine sub-shade.
Census No. 233a-CAN-02. Ex A.T. Seymour. With 1947 and 2013 P.F. certificates.
4c Columbian, Error of Color (233a). Three wide to huge margins, intense color, neat machine cancel, small corner crease at bottom left and tiny margin thin at lower leftVERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONLY THIRTEEN USED EXAMPLES HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED AS GENUINE BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION. ONE OF THE GREAT RARITIES OF USED UNITED STATES PHILATELY AND OF THE POPULAR COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
The 4c Columbian color error was caused by the use of a wrong batch of ink, and spectrographic analysis has shown that the blue inks of the 4c error and 1c Columbian have the same components. Stamps from at least three panes reached collectors, and the few cancelled examples indicate that stamps used by the public came from at least one additional pane. It is likely that a number of full sheets were printed using the wrong ink, and most of the stamps have simply been lost to philately.
Our census of used Scott 233a, available at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/233a/233a.pdf , contains 13 stamps certified as No 233a, including this newest addition. One additional stamp was previously certified as the error, but received a recent certificate as the Dark Ultramarine sub-shade. The copy offered here is the only one in our census with a machine cancel.
Census No. 233a-CAN-13. With 2013 P.F. certificate. Scott Catalogue notes that "No. 233a used is valued with small faults, as almost all examples come thus."
4c Columbian, Error of Color (233a). Beautiful centering with Jumbo margins, intense color in the darker of the two shades, with three-leafs variety at right, bold strike of duplex datestamp and oval grid numeral cancelEXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS THE ONLY SOUND AND CENTERED USED COPY OF THIS ERROR IN EXISTENCE. THIS IS BY FAR THE FINEST USED EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT COLUMBIAN ERROR OF COLOR. ONLY TWELVE USED EXAMPLES HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED AS GENUINE. ONE OF THE GREAT RARITIES OF USED UNITED STATES PHILATELY AND OF THE POPULAR COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
The 4c Columbian color error was caused by the use of a wrong batch of ink, and spectrographic analysis has shown that the blue inks of the 4c error and 1c Columbian have the same components. Stamps from at least three panes reached collectors, and the few cancelled examples indicate that stamps used by the public came from at least one additional pane. It is likely that a number of full sheets were printed using the wrong ink, and most of the stamps have simply been lost to philately.
Our census of used Scott 233a, illustrated at left and available at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/233a/233a.pdf , contains 13 stamps which at one time have been certified as genuine used examples. One was originally certified as Deep Ultramarine and subsequently received a certificate as the genuine Blue error of color. Another was originally certified as the genuine error of color and received a recent certificate as the Dark Ultramarine sub-shade. The copy offered here is the only one confirmed as sound. Census Nos. 4 and 7 may be sound but have not been seen in many years. Even if they are sound, neither has choice centering. Only the stamp offered here is sound and centered.
Census No. 233a-CAN-01. With 1999 and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85 Jumbo). This is the only graded used example of this issue. Scott Catalogue notes that "No. 233a used is valued with small faults, as almost all examples come thus."
4c Columbian, Error of Color (233a). Beautiful deep rich color, light strike of duplex circular datestamp, faint diagonal crease at top leftFINE APPEARANCE. ONLY THIRTEEN USED EXAMPLES OF THE 4-CENT COLUMBIAN ERROR OF COLOR HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION. ONE OF THE GREAT RARITIES OF USED UNITED STATES STAMPS.
Only four of the thirteen are sound, and two of the sound copies have not been re-examined for faults since the 1940's. Therefore, the number of sound copies may actually be less than four, and may only be two. Most of the used examples are also off-center to some degree, with eight having the perforations either close or touching on at least one side. In the last seven years, this is only the fifth used example of this rarity we have handled.
Unpublished Census No. 233a-CAN-09. Ex Lake Shore. With 1979 Friedl and 1997 P.F. certificates. In our opinion, this is undercatalogued in Scott given its rarity compared to unused copies.
4c Columbian, Error of Color (233a). Beautiful deep rich color, light strike of duplex circular datestamp, faint diagonal crease at top leftFINE APPEARANCE. ONLY THIRTEEN USED EXAMPLES OF THE 4-CENT COLUMBIAN ERROR OF COLOR HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION. ONE OF THE GREAT RARITIES OF USED UNITED STATES STAMPS.
Only four of the thirteen are sound, and two of the sound copies have not been re-examined for faults since the 1940's. Therefore, the number of sound copies may actually be less than four, and may only be two. Most of the used examples are also off-center to some degree, with eight having the perforations either close or touching on at least one side. In the last seven years, this is only the fifth used example of this rarity we have handled.
Unpublished Census No. 233a-CAN-10. With 1979 Friedl and 1997 P.F. certificates. In our opinion, this is undercatalogued in Scott given its rarity compared to unused copies.
4c Columbian, Error of Color (233a). Beautiful deep rich color in the more intense of the two error shades, bold strike of duplex circular datestamp and "2" oval grid, small filled thin in corner not noted on accompanying certificateVERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONLY THIRTEEN USED EXAMPLES OF THE 4-CENT COLUMBIAN ERROR OF COLOR HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION. ONE OF THE GREAT RARITIES OF USED UNITED STATES STAMPS.
Only four of the thirteen are sound, and two of the sound copies have not been re-examined for faults since the 1940's. Therefore, the number of sound copies may actually be less than four, and may only be two. Most of the used examples are also off-center to some degree, with eight having the perforations either close or touching on at least one side. The stamp offered here is among the three best-centered of all known used examples. In the last six years, this is only the third used example of this rarity we have handled.
With 1978 P.F. certificate
4c Columbian, Error of Color (233a). Beautiful deep rich color in the more intense of the two error shades, choice centering with wide margins, neat strike of duplex circular datestamp and "2" oval grid, trivial crease and minor repair, accompanying certificate (1973) remarks that shade has been affected by "aging", which we feel is not at all the caseVERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONLY THIRTEEN USED EXAMPLES OF THE 4-CENT COLUMBIAN ERROR OF COLOR HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION. ONE OF THE GREAT RARITIES OF USED UNITED STATES STAMPS.
The 4c Columbian color error was caused by the use of a wrong batch of ink. Spectrographic analysis confirms that the ink of the 4c error matches that used for the 1c stamp. There are two recognized shades of the color error, one being slightly darker than the other. Of the thirteen used examples certified as genuine by the Philatelic Foundation, only half can be confirmed by us as being in the darker shade.
Only six of the thirteen stamps certified by the Philatelic Foundation are sound. One of these received two previous certificates as the Deep Ultramarine sub-shade of the issued stamp before being issued a third certificate as the error of color. Three of the other sound copies have not been re-examined for faults in more than 20 years. Therefore, the number of sound copies may actually be less than six. Most of the used examples are also off-center to some degree, with eight having the perforations either close or touching on at least one side. The stamp offered here is among the three best-centered of the group. If one takes into consideration the factors of both condition and centering, this stamp should be considered one of the most desirable used examples of this rarity.
With 1973 P.F. certificate
12 Selected Lots , Page 1 of 2
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