Sale 1123 — The Rollin C. Huggins Jr. Collection of U.S. Officials
Sale Date — Friday, 8 April, 2016
Category — Offical Special Printings: Justice thru Navy
1c Justice, Specimen Ovpt., Ribbed Paper, Small Dotted "i" in Specimen (O25S, O25Sc). Top imprint and plate no. 85 block of 50 with selvage at sides, representing the top half of the sheet of 100, Positions 7 and 26 with small dotted "i" in "Specimen", without gum as issued, brilliant color, many well-centered stamps, perf separations as would be expected in such a large multiple as well as some "pinched" perfs between 8th and 9th vertical rows, Pos. 15 small stainFINE-VERY FINE. A RARE HALF-SHEET OF THE ONE-CENT JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SPECIAL PRINTING ON RIBBED PAPER, SHOWING BOTH OF THE SMALL DOTTED "i" VARIETIES.
The 1c Justice Department was printed from sheets of 100 subjects. The Special Printing small dotted "i" occurs only on the second printing on ribbed paper and is found on Positions 7 and 26. This half sheet beautifully illustrates the two positions that furnished the variety.
Scott Retail as plate block of 12, two small dotted "i" singles and normal singles
1c Justice, "Sepcimen" Error (O25Sa). Without gum as issued, wide margins and choice centering, Extremely Fine, an outstanding example of this error, small red backstamp
2c Justice, Specimen Ovpt. (O26S). Block of four, without gum as issued, gorgeous fresh color, natural s.e. at right, Very Fine
3c Justice, Specimen Ovpt. (O27S). Without gum as issued, four margins with complete perfs, rich color, Very Fine, only 178 sold
6c Justice, Specimen Ovpt. (O28S). Without gum as issued, three wide margins, full perfs all around, bright color, Very Fine, only 163 sold
10c Justice, Specimen Ovpt. (O29S). Without gum as issued, close at left but full perfs all around, rich color, short perf at bottom, still Fine, only 163 sold
12c Justice, Specimen Ovpt. (O30S). Without gum as issued, rich color, reperfed on at least two sides, otherwise Very Fine, only 154 sold
15c Justice, Specimen Ovpt. (O31S). Without gum as issued, outstanding centering, fresh color and paper, Extremely Fine, select quality for this issue, only 157 sold
24c Justice, Specimen Ovpt. (O32S). Without gum as issued, bright shade, wide margins, Very Fine, only 150 sold
30c Justice, Specimen Ovpt. (O33S). Without gum as issued, deep rich color, choice centering, slightly shortish perf at upper right, still Very Fine, only 150 sold
90c Justice, Specimen Ovpt. (O34S). Without gum as issued, bright color, fresh and Fine, ex Admiral Combs, only 152 sold
1c Navy on Soft Porous Paper, Specimen Ovpt. (O35xS). Complete sheet of 100 with top and bottom imprint and plate no. 80, full selvage on all sides, without gum as issued, rich color, some expected perf separations but overall strong and intact, a few positions show plate varieties, Position 66 with small dotted "i" (which is a printing flaw and not the listed constant variety found on the ribbed paper)FINE-VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE FULL SHEET OF 100 OF THE NAVY DEPARTMENT 1881 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING ON SOFT PAPER.
The 1c Navy Department on soft paper is found only with the "Specimen" ovpt. of the 1881 American Bank Note Co. Special Printing. 4,182 were sold, which represents just under 42 sheets. We have not encountered another complete sheet and it is doubtful that many remain intact.
The plate block of 12 is not listed in Scott, which does list and value a plate strip of six (at more than six-times the value of singles). Scott Retail as two plate strips of six, blocks of four and singles
1c Navy, "Sepcimen" Error (O35Sa). Without gum as issued, bright color on crisp paper, wide margins, couple shortish perfs at lower left, still Extremely Fine, a lovely example of this error and the first single we have offered in nine years (the Golden collection contained an example in a block of 30), signed Sloane in pencil
1c Navy on Soft Porous Paper, Specimen Ovpt. (O35xS). American Bank Note Co. printing, two multiples, without gum as issued, first is a block of nine with bottom right corner selvage, bottom row faint toning, Fine-Very Fine, second is a block of four, rich color, h.r. reinforcing some perf separations at top, Fine-Very Fine, ex Crystal
2c Navy, Specimen Ovpt. (O36S). Top left corner imprint and plate no. 50 strip of six, without gum as issued, rich color on bright paper, wonderfully well-centered, small thin spot in selvage which has some h.r. perf reinforcements, minor selvage corner crease, right stamp small soiled spot, still Very Fine and scarce position piece, unlisted in Scott in this format, Scott prices blocks at more than double the price of four singles, Scott Retail as singles $450.00
2c Navy, "Sepcimen" Error (O36Sa). Without gum as issued, bright color, four margins with complete perfs all aroundVERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT NAVY DEPARTMENT "SEPCIMEN" ERROR.
Although the sold quantity of the 2c Navy Special Printing would suggest a fair number of "Sepcimen" errors were sold (1,748 stamps, or 18 sheets), the truth is this error is very rare. Most of the handful of copies available to collectors have faults to varying degrees (two additional copies are in the Miller collection on extended loan by The New York Public Library to the Smithsonian National Postal Museum). Admiral Combs observed its rarity in his book and commented that "there should be some more copies around some place" (page 39) -- apparently not.
With 1983 P.F. certificate
3c Navy, Specimen Ovpt. (O37S). Without gum as issued, brilliant color, fresh and Fine, only 126 sold
6c Navy, Specimen Ovpt. (O38S). Without gum as issued, brilliant color, well-centered with complete perfs all around, Very Fine, scarce in sound condition without scissors-separation, only 116 sold
7c Navy, Specimen Ovpt. (O39S). Without gum as issued, vivid color, beautiful centering, Extremely Fine
10c Navy, Specimen Ovpt. (O40S). Without gum as issued, bright color, outstanding centering, perfs scissors-separated at bottom but intact, Extremely Fine, rare in this choice condition, only 112 sold
12c Navy, Specimen Ovpt. (O41S). Without gum as issued, radiant color, full margins and perforations, Very Fine, only 107 sold
15c Navy, Specimen Ovpt. (O42S). Without gum as issued, rich color on bright paper, margins at least clear all around with full perforations, fresh and Fine, only 107 sold
24c Navy, Specimen Ovpt. (O43S). Without gum as issued, exceptional centering, intense color which is deeper than others in this section, detailed impression on bright paper, Extremely Fine example of this scarce Specimen overprint and very rare in this quality, only 106 sold
30c Navy, Specimen Ovpt. (O44S). Without gum as issued, radiant color, outstanding centering with wide margins, Extremely Fine, very rare in sound condition with such choice centering, only 104 sold
90c Navy, Specimen Ovpt. (O45S). Without gum as issued, rich color, beautifully balanced margins, single shortish perf at bottom right, still Very Fine, this is the scarcest value of the Navy Department Special Printing, only 102 sold