Sale 1188 — United States Stamp Treasures: The William H. Gross Collection

Sale Date — Wednesday, 3 October, 2018

Category — Pan-American Issue Invert Multiples

Lot
Symbol
Photo/Description
Cat./Est. Value
Realized
101°
ogbl
Sale 1188, Lot 101, Pan-American Issue Invert MultiplesThis block of twenty of the 1¢ Pan-American Invert is unique--it is by far the largest known multiple of any Inverted Center postage stamp error, and ranks as one of the most outstanding items in United States philately

DESCRIPTION

1¢ Pan-American, Center Inverted (294a), block of 20 (five by four), eleven stamps are Mint N.H. (the entire second and third rows plus top center stamp), the other nine are lightly hinged, deep rich colors and proof-like impressions, the centering of six stamps in the lower two rows at left is superb, and overall the block is beautifully centered and as fresh as the day it left the post office

PROVENANCE

* Warren H. Colson (exhibited by him in 1926)

* Owned by an anonymous collector and kept in a bank vault in Boston after the collector’s death in 1951; bought privately from the heirs by the Weills in 1975

* Sold to Alex Acevedo, Alexander Gallery (private transaction)

* Christie’s Robson Lowe sale, 2/2/1994, lot 28, to William H. Gross

CENSUS, LITERATURE AND EXHIBITION REFERENCES

* New York International Philatelic Exhibition 1926 (Colson)

* INTERPHIL 1976 “Aristocrats of Philately” (Weill)

* ANPHILEX 1996 Invited Exhibits (Gross)

* Collectors Club of New York “Aristocrats of United States Philately” exhibit, December 2000 (Gross)

* World Stamp Show 2016 Court of Honor (Gross)

CONDITION NOTES

* Very Fine-Extremely Fine and flawless

VIEW PDF OF HISTORY AND COMMENTARY at https://siegelauctions.com/2018/1188/101.pdf

E. 300,000-400,000
400,000