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102 Selected Lots, Page 1 of 11
General/Issue
Date
4c Pan-American, Center Inverted (296a). Original gum, pretty colors, reperfed at leftVERY FINE APPEARING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT.
The 4c Pan-American Invert was a special printing and not regularly issued. Examples were distributed through two official channels, and the gum on the majority of stamps without "Specimen" overprint was disturbed. In fact, because the stamps were removed from mounting paper, they are generally thinned or have seriously disturbed gum.
With 2019 P.S.E. certificate
4c Pan-American, Center Inverted (296a). Regummed over small repairs, attractive centering and marginsFINE CENTERING. A COLLECTIBLE AND AFFORDABLE EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT.
The 4c Pan-American Invert was a special printing and not regularly issued. Examples were distributed through two official channels, and the gum on the majority of stamps without "Specimen" overprint was disturbed. In fact, because the stamps were removed from mounting paper, they are generally thinned or have seriously disturbed gum.
4c Pan-American, Center Inverted (296a). Original gum which is free from any disturbance, rich colors, pulled perf at top, short perf and small sealed tear at bottomFINE CENTERING. A FRESH ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT.
The 4c Pan-American Invert was a special printing and not regularly issued. Examples were distributed through two official channels, and the gum on the majority of stamps without "Specimen" overprint was disturbed. In fact, because the stamps were removed from mounting paper, they are generally thinned or have seriously disturbed gum. The example offered here, which was kept in a safe deposit box for more than 70 years (sharing space with the Inverted Jenny Position 49), is exceedingly fresh.
With 2018 P.F. certificate.
The unique plate block of the 4¢ Pan-American Invert Error--an iconic rarity of United States 20th century philatelyDESCRIPTION
4¢ Pan-American, Center Inverted (296a), block of four with selvage showing frame plate’s “Bureau, Engraving & Printing.” imprint and plate number “1145” in Red Brown and vignette plate’s string of plate pressmen’s initials in Black, top pair with original gum and hinge remnants, bottom pair has traces of gum, most of which was lost when the pane in the National Museum (predecessor of the Smithsonian National Postal Museum) was removed from paper to which it was affixed
PROVENANCE
* National Museum accession (complete pane of 100), inventoried in July 1913
* Either “Exchange No. 3” to Nassau Stamp Company (77 copies) or “Exchange No. 4” to H. F. Colman, Washington D.C. dealer (20 copies)
* Supposedly discovered in a cigar box of duplicate stamps
* Weill Brothers’ Stock, Christie’s Robson Lowe sale, 10/12/1989, lot 263, to Jack Rosenthal (collection sold privately to Andrew Levitt; later acquired by William H. Gross)
CENSUS, LITERATURE AND EXHIBITION REFERENCES
* INTERPHIL 1976 “Aristocrats of Philately” (Weill)
* ANPHILEX 1996 Invited Exhibits (Rosenthal)
CONDITION NOTES
* Fine appearance; top left stamp has two small thin spots; brown color slightly affected by oxidation; some vertical perf separations
VIEW PDF OF HISTORY AND COMMENTARY at https://siegelauctions.com/2018/1188/102.pdf
4c Pan-American, Center Inverted (296a). Original gum, crisp impressions, outstanding centering for this difficult issue, reperfed at topEXTREMELY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT.
The 4c Pan-American Invert was a special printing and not regularly issued. Examples were distributed through two official channels, and the gum on the majority of stamps without "Specimen" overprint was disturbed. In fact, because the stamps were removed from mounting paper, they are generally thinned or have seriously disturbed gum.
With 1999 P.F. certificate
4c Pan-American, Center Inverted (296a). Part original gum, crisp impressions, choice centering for this difficult issue, vertical thin along left edge, slight horizontal crease, small scuff above right “4”VERY FINE CENTERING AND AN ATTRACTIVE EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT.
The 4c Pan-American Invert was a special printing and not regularly issued. Examples were distributed through two official channels, and the gum on the majority of stamps without "Specimen" overprint was disturbed. In fact, because the stamps were removed from mounting paper, they are generally thinned or have seriously disturbed gum.
With 2018 P.F. certificate
4c Pan-American, Center Inverted (296a). Block of four, original gum, tiny hinge slivers at top and bottom sensibly reinforcing a few trivial perf separations, each stamp with far superior centering than normally seen on either singles or blocks, top right stamp small thin spotEXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION THE FINEST OF THE SIX RECORDED BLOCKS OF FOUR OF THE 4-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT, WHICH IS THE LARGEST SIZE MULTIPLE EXTANT.
Our records contain six blocks of four of the 4c Pan-American Invert. A seventh block that was offered in Part 17 of the Col. Edward H. R. Green auction series has since been divided into singles, two of which have been offered in our auctions. Most of the blocks have disturbed gum and minor flaws. The centering and freshness of the block offered here are unsurpassed.
Ex Wharton Sinkler, Siegel 1976 Rarities sale, 1980 Sotheby’s sale (where offered with blocks of the 1c and 2c) and 2000 Shreves sale where acquired by David Wingate. With 1980 and 2018 P.F. certificates
4c Pan-American, Center Inverted (296a). Unused (no gum), rich colors, centered to bottom but other three sides nicely balanced framing the design, tiny thin spot at bottom rightFINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT.
The 4c stamp portrays an electric automobile, known at the time as the "Electric Vehicle Service," as depicted on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad brochure from which the engraving was made. In the background one can see the dome of the Capitol. One of the two men seated at the front was Samuel B. Hege, B&O's passenger agent, so this stamp actually depicts a living person in violation of the law.
The 4c Pan-American Invert was a special printing and not regularly issued. Examples were distributed through two official channels, and the gum on the majority of stamps without "Specimen" overprint was disturbed. In fact, because 97 of the stamps were removed from an album page, they are generally thinned or have seriously disturbed or no gum.
Scott Catalogue notes that "Values are for examples with full original gum that is slightly disturbed"
4c Pan-American, Center Inverted (296a). Slightly disturbed original gum, h.r., pretty colors, defective with repairsFINE APPEARANCE. A PRESENTABLE AND AFFORDABLE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 4-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT.
The 4c Pan-American Invert was a special printing and not regularly issued. Examples were distributed through two official channels, and the gum on the majority of stamps without "Specimen" overprint was disturbed. In fact, because the stamps were removed from mounting paper, they are generally thinned or have seriously disturbed gum.
With 1970 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail $85,000.00
4c Pan-American, Center Inverted (296a). Original gum, lightly hinged, fresh and bright colors, nearly perfect centering with well-proportioned marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF THE 4-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT IN EXISTENCE. THIS REMARKABLE STAMP IS GRADED EXTREMELY FINE 90 BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION. THE 4-CENT IS BY FAR THE MOST DIFFICULT OF THE PAN-AMERICAN INVERTS TO OBTAIN IN SUCH CHOICE SOUND CONDITION.
The 4c stamp portrays an electric automobile, known at the time as the "Electric Vehicle Service," as depicted on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad brochure from which the engraving was made. In the background one can see the dome of the Capitol. One of the two men seated at the front was Samuel B. Hege, B&O's passenger agent, so this stamp actually depicts a living person in violation of the law.
The 4c Pan-American Invert was a special printing and not regularly issued. Examples were distributed through two official channels, and the gum on the majority of stamps without "Specimen" overprint was disturbed. In fact, because the stamps were removed from mounting paper, they are generally thinned or have seriously disturbed gum. This is a rare exception.
Ex Drucker. With 1987, 2002 and 2012 P.F. certificates (XF 90)
102 Selected Lots , Page 1 of 11
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