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11 Selected Lots, Page 1 of 2
General/Issue
Date
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). 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). Block of four, large part disturbed original gum, rich color and sharp vignette impression, bright fresh paper, choice centering throughout, horizontal perfs mostly rejoined, a few irregular perfs at top left, top right stamp with tiny sealed tear and slight diagonal creaseEXTREMELY FINE CENTERING. AN EXTREMELY RARE BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 4-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT. ONLY SIX BLOCKS ARE RECORDED, AND THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST CENTERED.
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 Col. Edward H. R. Green, Amos Eno and Stephen Bechtel. With 2015 P.F. certificate
4c Pan-American, Center Inverted (296a). Block of four, rich color and sharp vignette impression, few small pieces of hinge used to rejoin or reinforce some perf separations, tiny perf thins and minute tear at right of bottom right stampFINE-VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 4-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT. ONLY SEVEN BLOCKS ARE RECORDED.
This block shows the wheels of the automobile in the vignette touching the surrounding brown frame. Based on the centering of this block, absence of "Specimen" overprint, and the shifted vignette, we believe this block comes from "Sheet 1 Left" as diagrammed in our catalogue for the "Beverly Hills" collection (Siegel Sale 1052, pages 52-53).
A review of our Levi records located seven blocks of four. One has not been seen since the 1944 Col. Edward H. R. Green auction and has probably been broken into singles, and another has not been seen since 1970. One of the well-centered blocks (with thin spots) realized $325,000 hammer in our sale of the Alan B. Whitman collection (Sale 968B).
Ex Lilly.
4c Pan-American, Center Inverted (296a). Block of four, slightly disturbed original gum as usual, bright colors, proof-like impressions, unusually choice centering throughout, top right and bottom left stamps have small thin spotsEXTREMELY FINE. A MAGNIFICENT BLOCK OF THE 4-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT. ONLY SEVEN BLOCKS ARE RECORDED, AND THIS IS AMONG THE BEST-CENTERED. A FABULOUS 20TH CENTURY PHILATELIC RARITY.
The 4c Pan-American Invert was not regularly issued. According to Sloane, an erroneous report reached the Post Office department that the 4c had been discovered with inverted center. Edwin C. Madden, the 3rd Assistant Postmaster General, remarked that if any were found they should not be destroyed but kept for the archives. None was found, but two sheets of inverts (400 stamps total) were deliberately printed. This caused an uproar as it was not clear at first whether these had been deliberately ordered by Madden (in violation of his duties). He was later exonerated of any wrongdoing.
Examples were distributed through two official channels. One sheet was overprinted with "Specimen". A total of 106 copies, both with and without "Specimen", were distributed to friends and dignitaries. 197 were destroyed. One pane of 100 was retained by the Post Office Department and was stuck down on a ledger page in the Post Office archives. The sheet was broken up in about 1916 or 1917, and 97 copies were traded in exchange for material needed for the government collection. Since most of the stamps were removed from the mounting paper, they are generally thinned or have seriously disturbed gum.
A review of our Levi records located seven blocks of four. Two of the blocks have perfs cutting into the design. One has not been seen since the 1944 Col. Edward H. R. Green auction and has probably been broken into singles, and another has not been seen since 1970. Of the other two well-centered blocks, one has a crease and thin spots, and the other has a small tear on the bottom left stamp.
With 1998 P.F. certificate
4c Pan-American, Center Inverted (296a). Block of four, bright color, well-centered, slightly disturbed original gum--much better gum condition than found on most examples of this stamp--some perfs expertly reinforced or rejoined, bottom left stamp has small tear at bottomVERY FINE APPEARANCE. EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST RECORDED BLOCKS OF FOUR OF THE 4-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT.
A review of our Levi records located seven blocks of four. Two of the blocks have perfs cutting into the design. One has not been seen since the 1944 Col. Edward H. R. Green auction and has probably been broken into singles, and another has not been seen since 1970. Of the other two well-centered blocks, one has a crease and thin spots, and the other has thins. This is one of the finest blocks of the 4c Invert in existence.
Ex Col. Edward H. R. Green, Y. Souren and Lilly. With 1968 P.F. certificate
4c Pan-American, Center Inverted (296a). Block, Beautifully Centered, Rich Color, disturbed o.g., couple small separations neatly reinforced with tiny bits of hinge, top right & bottom left stamps have small thin spots, other two each have trivial thin specks, Extremely Fine Appearance, This Block is Without Question the Most Handsome of the Three Known
4c Pan-American, Center Inverted (296a). Block!, Fresh, Part o. g. Wonderfully Well Centered, top right stamp small thin spots & slight crease, top left stamp tiny thin spot & single partly nibbed perf., Bottom Pair Very Fine, An Extremely Rare & Astounding Block
4c Pan-American, Inverted Center (296a) Block, Exceptionally Well Centered, Part o. g., Some separation skillfully rejoined, A Magnificent Block of Greatest Rarity, Ex-Lilly
4c Pan-American, Center Inverted (296a). Block, Wonderfully Well Centered, part o.g., tiny closed tear in one, reperfed at B. and slightly reinforced, nevertheless one of the most attractive appearing blocks known of this Rarity
11 Selected Lots , Page 1 of 2
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