Sale 1000 — Siegel Sale 1000
Sale Date — Wednesday, 8 December, 2010
Category — 1893 Columbian Issue (Dollar Values)
$1.00 Columbian (241). Mint N.H. with part imprint selvage at right, radiant color as fresh as the day it was printed, fantastic centering with wide and balanced margins on all sides, long and full perforations all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLES OF THE $1.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE, WHICH DEPICTS THE FAMOUS SCENE OF QUEEN ISABELLA PLEDGING HER JEWELS. THIS STAMP HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE AND ONE OF ONLY THREE TO ACHIEVE THIS GRADE.
According to Brookman, only 55,050 copies of the $1.00 Columbian were issued. It was sold out before all of the other dollar values, probably because it was the most affordable of the dollar-value stamps. Speculation soon drove the price to $5.00 but it soon fell again, to about $1.50.
The theme of the stamp, Isabella pledging her jewels to finance Columbus's voyage, is known to most fifth-grade students who study the voyage of Columbus. However, the offer was never accepted, as financing was found elsewhere.
With 2001 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $40,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded to date, and only two others share this grade. It is the highest grade we have ever offered in one of our auctions -- the Scarsdale sale contained a 90.
$1.00 Columbian (241). Bottom imprint, plate no. 93 and letter "W" at right block of eight, original gum, barely hinged, brilliant color, few reinforced perf separations between horizontal row and along one vertical rowFINE-VERY FINE. A RARE AND REMARKABLY FRESH IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF EIGHT OF THE $1.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE. A MARVELOUS SHOWPIECE.
Perhaps a dozen plate blocks of eight exist for the $1.00 Columbian. Very few compare favorably to the example offered here.
With 2009 P.F. certificate
$3.00 Columbian (243). Mint N.H., brilliant color on post-office fresh paper, gorgeous centering with wide and balanced margins, long and full perforations all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN ABSOLUTELY STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $3.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE IN THE FINEST CONDITION ATTAINABLE. THIS FANTASTIC STAMP HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE AND ONE OF ONLY THREE TO ACHIEVE THIS LOFTY GRADE.
The design for the $3.00 Columbian was taken from a painting by Spanish artist Francisco Jover Casanova (1836-1890) and depicts Columbus describing his third voyage. Another of his paintings was used as the theme for the 8c Columbian.
The $3.00 Columbian is one of the most difficult of the dollar values to obtain in such choice condition. Only 24,713 were issued, which is approximately half the number of the $1.00 and $2.00. The margins are generally narrow on this denomination. The stamp offered here is the exception to the rule. It is beautifully centered, the color and paper are bright and fresh, and the gum is pristine. It is truly one of the finest in existence.
With 2010 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $50,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded to date and one of only three to achieve this grade.
$4.00 Rose Carmine, Columbian (244a). Mint N.H., absolutely gorgeous color which is unmistakably in the aniline-ink Rose Carmine shade, magnificent centering with wide and balanced margins, long and full perforations all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS MINT NEVER-HINGED $4.00 COLUMBIAN IS WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE. A TRULY REMARKABLE STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT, THIS HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE AND ONLY ONE OTHER SHARES THIS GRADE.
The $4.00 Columbian depicts the two central figures in the story of Columbus -- Queen Isabella and Columbus himself. The portrait of Isabella is said to be based on a painting in Madrid, but its origins have been lost to history. The portrait of Columbus is based on a painting by the artist Lorenzo Lotto (c. 1480-1556). A student of the great painter Raphael, his realistic and empathetic works, filled with distinctive sharp lines and vivid colors, were in sharp contrast to his contemporaries in Venice such as Titian and Tintoretto. He died penniless after joining a religious order. His works were unappreciated until the late 19th and early 20th Century, when he was identified as a forerunner of the Surrealists due to his inclusion of unusual symbolic references in his works. This portrait of Columbus was painted in 1512 as a commission from Domenico Malpiero, a Venetian senator and historian, and was executed shortly after the death of Columbus in 1504. It is one of the earliest portraits of Columbus (none is known to have been painted in his lifetime). This image was also used for several stamps of Chile.
With 2010 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $65,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded to date and only one other shares this grade. The next-highest grade for this shade in Mint N.H. condition is an 80. For the normal shade, 95 is also the highest grade awarded to date (three in P.S.E. Population Report), followed by 90 (five in P.S.E. Population Report)
$4.00 Columbian (244). Mint N.H., vibrant color on post-office fresh paper, gorgeous centering with wide and balanced margins, long and full perforations all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $4.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF 90 BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS A DIFFICULT ISSUE TO FIND IN SUCH A HIGH GRADE.
With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $23,000.00). Only three have graded higher to date (all at 95) and only four others share this grade.
$5.00 Columbian (245). Mint N.H., perfectly centered with massive margins evenly framing design, intense shade and proof-like impression on brilliant white paper, long full perforationsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLES OF THE $5.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE IN EXISETNCE. THIS PHENOMENAL STAMP HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE AND ONE OF ONLY THREE TO ACHIEVE THIS GRADE.
The $5.00 Columbian features a portrait of Columbus which was taken from the design of a contemporary medal cast in Madrid. A 50-cent coin was also minted for the Columbian Exposition based on the original medal, and the stamp's design was taken from this twice-removed design.
For many collectors, acquisition of the $5.00 Columbian represents the ultimate achievement in classic philately. When issued in 1893, this was the highest denomination and first $5.00 United States stamp. The high total face value of the dollar value Columbians represented a very significant expense to collectors and therefore sales were slow. A total of 21,844 were issued.
We could not begin to count the number of $5.00 Columbian stamps sold by the Siegel firm over 80 years. However, the number of Extremely Fine, Mint Never Hinged, examples is very limited. Due to the high face value multiples are very rare. For much of philatelic history stamps were hinged into albums. This fact, plus the lack of multiples, explains the scarcity of Mint N.H. copies. The stamp offered here is certainly a contender for the top position of any we have ever encountered.
With 2010 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $87,900.00). This is the highest grade awarded to date and only two others share this grade. The next-highest grade awarded to a Mint N.H. example is a 90 (one copy) and then an 80 (three copies).
$5.00 Columbian, Plate Proof on India (245P3). Top imprint, plate no. 108 and "D D" block of eight, large margins, crisp impression, one stamp small pinhole, few minor flaws often associated with this fragile paperVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE PLATE BLOCK OF THE $5.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE PLATE PROOF ON INDIA PAPER. A WONDERFUL SHOWPIECE.
We were shocked to discover that this is the first plate block on India paper we have offered since keeping computerized records.
$5.00 Columbian (245). Intense shade and impression, unusually wide margins all around, neat strike of circular datestampEXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE AND VERY SCARCE WITH THIS DATESTAMP CANCEL.
Small purple backstamp. With 2008 P.F. certificate (XF 95 XQ)