Sale 1095 — The Golden Collection of U.S. Official Special Printings
Sale Date — Thursday, 26 March, 2015
Category — Treasury Department
1c-90c Treasury, Specimen Ovpt. (O72S-O82S). Without gum as issued, deep rich colors, few small flaws mostly affecting a few perfsFINE-VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A SELDOM-OFFERED COMPLETE SET OF THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT SPECIAL PRINTING. THIS IS THE RAREST SET OF THE "CENTS" VALUES AMONG THE DEPARTMENTAL SPECIAL PRINTINGS.
Only 72 of the 90c were sold, and 74 to 99 of the other values (excluding the 1c, 2c and 7c) were sold, making the Treasury Department Special Printing the rarest of the 1c to 90c sets.
1c-90c Treasury, Specimen Ovpt. (O72S-O82S). Without gum as issued, deep rich colors, 10c s.e. at right, few small flaws but overall in better condition than manyFINE-VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A REMARKABLE COMPLETE SET OF THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT SPECIAL PRINTING. THIS IS THE RAREST SET OF THE "CENTS" VALUES AMONG THE DEPARTMENTAL SPECIAL PRINTINGS.
Only 72 of the 90c were sold, and 74 to 99 of the other values (excluding the 1c, 2c and 7c) were sold, making the Treasury Department Special Printing the rarest of the 1c to 90c sets.
1c-2c Treasury, Specimen Ovpt. (O72S-O73S). Without gum as issued, rich color, well-proportioned margins, Extremely Fine
3c Treasury, Specimen Ovpt. (O74S). Without gum as issued, rich color on bright paper, gorgeous centeringEXTREMELY FINE. A MAGNIFICENT EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT TREASURY DEPARTMENT SPECIAL PRINTING. ALMOST CERTAINLY THE FINEST EXTANT.
Only 84 sold.
6c Treasury, Specimen Ovpt. (O75S). Without gum as issued, bright shade, wide margins, Very Fine and choice, only 85 sold
7c Treasury, Specimen Ovpt. (O76S). Without gum as issued, detailed impression, three wide margins, Very Fine, only 198 sold
10c Treasury, Specimen Ovpt. (O77S). Without gum as issued, deep rich color, extra wide top and bottom margins, Very Fine, rare, only 82 sold
12c Treasury, Specimen Ovpt. (O78S). Without gum as issued, bright shade, scissors-separated at top but perfs essentially intact, few barely nibbed perfs at left, still Extremely Fine, rare, especially in this choice quality, only 75 sold
15c Treasury, Specimen Ovpt. (O79S). Without gum as issued, crisp impression, well-balanced margins, scissors-separated with full intact perfs, Very Fine and choice, rare, only 75 sold
24c Treasury, Specimen Ovpt. (O80S). Without gum as issued, intense shade and impression, intact perfs all around, fresh and Very Fine, only 99 sold
30c Treasury, Specimen Ovpt. (O81S). Without gum as issued, pretty shade, Very Fine, small backstamp, rare, only 74 sold
90c Treasury, Specimen Ovpt. (O82S). Without gum as issued, rich color and detailed impression, single nibbed perf at right, still Very Fine and choice, only 72 sold
1c Treasury, Specimen Ovpt. (O72S). Block of 74, without gum as issued, rich color, natural s.e. at sides, some toned spotsFINE-VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A MAGNIFICENT AND EXTREMELY RARE BLOCK OF 74 OF THE ONE-CENT TREASURY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Position 21 showed the "Sepcimen" error in the early production of the Official Special Printings. It was evidently corrected during the printing of the 2c Interior, since that stamp comes with and without the error. None of the Treasury Special Printing values are known with the "Sepcimen" error, as this block containing Position 21 demonstrates.
Scott Retail as 18 blocks of four and two singles
2c Treasury, Specimen Ovpt. (O73S). Block of four, without gum as issued, bright shade, well-centeredFINE-VERY FINE. A RARE BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 2-CENT TREASURY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Multiples are of the 2c Treasury Department Special Printing are rare.
2c Treasury, Specimen Ovpt. (O73S). Block of four, without gum as issued, radiant color, s.e. at right, few shortish perfs at left, otherwise Fine-Very Fine, multiples are rare
2c Treasury, Specimen Ovpt. (O73S). Complete pane of 100, the left half of the printed sheet of 200, including imprint and plate no. 42 selvage at top and bottom, guide arrows at top and bottom right, selvage at left and natural s.e. at right, without gum as issued, few stamps at top right faint crease (looks more like a bend).FINE-VERY FINE. THIS PHENOMENAL COMPLETE PANE OF 100 OF THE 2-CENT TREASURY SPECIAL PRINTING, WITH IMPRINTS AND PLATE NUMBERS AT TOP AND BOTTOM, IS SURELY UNIQUE. THIS PANE CONTAINS ALMOST A THIRD OF THE KNOWN SUPPLY OF THIS ISSUE. A PHENOMENAL RARITY AND ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE GOLDEN COLLECTION.
Official records indicate that 10,000 2c Treasury Department Special Printings were delivered (100 panes of 100). The Official Special Printings were offered as complete sets by Department (1c-90c). Specific stamps could be ordered, provided the minimum face value was $2. The State Department dollar values were offered individually with no restrictions.
In common with other Special Printings, Reprints and Re-Issues (for example Scott 102-111), the sale of these issues was discontinued on July 15, 1884. Official sales figures indicate only 309 of the 2c Treasury were sold. The remaining stock of 9,691 on hand was counted and destroyed on July 23 of that same year under closely monitored conditions.
Position 21, the "Sepcimen" error in early production, was corrected during the printing of the 2c Interior. It does not appear on the Treasury Special Printings.
This pane of 100 represents almost one-third of the 309 2c Treasury Special Printings sold (three panes). We are unaware of any other plate blocks. The one known 7c Treasury Special Printing plate block is contained in a half-sheet of 50 -- the Scott Catalogue values the plate block of 14 in this multiple at $30,000.00.
This pane of 100 has a total Scott Retail value of $106,250.00 as 25 blocks of four. If one counts 17 blocks of four at $72,250.00 plus two plate blocks of 14 at the equivalent of the 7c, then this would catalogue $132,250.00