Sale 1123 — The Rollin C. Huggins Jr. Collection of U.S. Officials
Sale Date — Friday, 8 April, 2016
Category — State Department $2.00-$20.00 Values
$2.00 State, Plate Proof on India (O68P3). Complete sheet of ten with imprints and double plate nos. 121 and 123, bright colors, free of the usual India paper faults normally encountered, just a slight bit of wrinkling in bottom margin which is detectible only when held up to lightVERY FINE. A RARE COMPLETE SHEET OF TEN OF THE $2.00 STATE DEPARTMENT PLATE PROOF ON INDIA.
The dollar-value State Department issues were printed in sheets of ten with black imprint and both color plate numbers at top and with green imprint at bottom. This India paper proof is the only way to collect the complete $2.00 sheet, as none are known intact for the issued stamp
$2.00 State (O68). Mint N.H. with enormous top right corner sheet margins and black vignette plate no. 123 at top, clear outline of corner of plate with a full 20mm of selvage beyond, h.r. at edge of selvage, deep rich colors and well centered, horizontal crease thru portrait and right selvageVERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN OUTSTANDING AND EXTREMELY RARE MINT NEVER HINGED CORNER SHEET-MARGIN EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 STATE DEPARTMENT. ESPECIALLY RARE WITH THE PLATE NUMBER.
This is the only $2.00 State we located using Power Search with the attached plate number selvage or in Mint N.H. condition. The Markovits collection contained a bottom right corner margin single with similar size selvage, described as one of two recorded untrimmed margin singles (the other presumably the lot offered here), but the Markovits copy was without the plate number.
Scott Retail without regard to the plate number
$2.00 State (O68). Original gum, lightly hinged, radiant color, detailed impression, choice centering with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 STATE DEPARTMENT.
With 1981 P.F. certificate
$2.00 State (O68). Block of four, disturbed original gum from hinge removal, bright colors, nice centering, couple tiny natural inclusions, minor stain over small sealed tear top left stampFINE-VERY FINE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED BLOCK OF THE $2.00 STATE DEPARTMENT ISSUE. A GREAT RARITY OF THE 1873 OFFICIALS.
There are no recorded complete sheets of the $2.00 State Department. This block of four is the largest known multiple and only recorded block.
Ex Worthington, Ackerman, Weill Brothers and Markovits.
$2.00 State (O68). Wide margins and well-centered, light strike of red cancelVERY FINE USED EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 STATE DEPARTMENT WITH A COLORED CANCEL.
This is one of two $2.00 State Department stamps with a red cancel we located using Power Search. With 2004 P.F. certificate
$2.00 State (O68). Rich colors and detailed impressions, bold strike of "New York U.S.A. 2-14 1883" registry oval cancelVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A SCARCE SOUND USED EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 STATE DEPARTMENT.
This dollar-value issue is nearly always found with varying degrees of faults and poor centering. Collectors seeking sound well-centered used Officials will appreciate just how rare this stamp is in such condition. A Power Search review found only two others in sound condition among the 28 we have offered.
$2.00 State (O68). Bright colors nicely complemented by purple cork cancel, choice centering, small thin spot top leftVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE USED EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 STATE DEPARTMENT WITH A COLORED CANCEL.
This is the only example with a purple (or violet) colored cancel listed in Power Search
$2.00 State (O68). Crisp impressions, bold strike of unusual segmented cork cancel, slightly shortish perfs at top left and bottom left, Fine appearance, this is an extremely difficult issue to obtain in basically sound condition, most were used on heavy parcels or overseas and were damaged
$2.00 State (O68). Bright colors, blue "Received" favor cancel with clear 1879 yeardate, fresh and Fine
$5.00 State (O69). Original gum, incredible Jumbo margins and outstanding centering, deep rich colorsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A TRULY SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 STATE DEPARTMENT AND LIKELY THE FINEST EXTANT. THIS STAMP HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 JUMBO BY P.S.E. THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADED AND ONLY EXAMPLE TO ACHIEVE A 95 GRADE AMONG ALL FOUR OF THE DOLLAR-VALUE STATE DEPARTMENT ISSUES.
A Power Search review, as well as a survey of major named Officials sales, failed to find an example even approaching the margins and centering of the stamp offered here. The P.S.E. Population Report also bears this out. This stamp is the highest graded of any of the bicolor dollar-value State Department issues. To find the $5.00, which is rarest stamp of the series, in this grade is even more remarkable. One must go back to the 30c before finding a stamp graded higher than 90J. In fact, only the far more common 1c, 12c and 30c State denominations have received grades higher than this 95J among the 15 stamps in the series. The highest grades awarded by P.S.E. for the dollar value States are as follows:
$2.00 (Scott O68) OG 90 Jumbo
$5.00 (Scott O69) OG XF-Superb 95 Jumbo, the example offered here, the next best is OG F 70
$10.00 (Scott O70) OG XF 90
$20.00 (Scott O71) OG VF 80
With 1983 P.F. and 2016 P.S.E. certificates (OGh, XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 90, SMQ $18,000.00 as 90)
$5.00 State (O69). Wide margins, fresh colors, blue 1879 State Department double oval "favor" receiving datestampVERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 STATE DEPARTMENT ISSUE CANCELLED IN BLUE.
From our 1976 Rarities of the World sale
$10.00 State (O70). Original gum, detailed impressionsVERY FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $10.00 STATE DEPARTMENT.
With 1979 P.F. certificate
$10.00 State (O70). Complete sheet of ten with top and bottom imprint, top green "No. 122" and black "No. 123" plate numbers, seven stamps Mint N.H., others lightly hinged, well-centered, top left stamp and selvage to left small staple holesVERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE COMPLETE SHEET OF TEN OF THE $10.00 STATE DEPARTMENT ISSUE. A REMARKABLE SHOWPIECE.
Of the four State Department dollar values, only the $10.00 and $20.00 are known in complete sheets of ten. The only recorded multiple of the $2.00 is the block of four offered in this sale as lot 586. The $5.00 only recorded multiple is an irregular block of six with double imprint and green plate no. (ex Weill Brothers and Markovits). For the $10.00 and $20.00 there are perhaps three full sheets still in existence.
From our 1981 and 1986 Rarities of the World sales
$10.00 State (O70). Bright shade, light strike of blue "Received" favor cancel, unusually choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUIFUL AND RARE USED EXAMPLE OF THE $10.00 STATE DEPARTMENT.
Power Search contains only three used examples of the $10.00 State, including two with the "Received" favor cancel (one in magenta, one in blue) and one with a magenta manuscript cancel. The Markovits collection contained one, with perfs close or touching at top. The on-line records of the Philatelic Foundation contain three others (two with magenta manuscript cancels, the third defective). None are as well-centered as the example offered here.
With 1980 P.F. certificate
$20.00 State (O71). Original gum, deep rich color and proof-like impression, choice centering with well-proportioned marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $20.00 STATE DEPARTMENT.
This issue is difficult to obtain in such pristine condition.
$20.00 State (O71). Original gum, deep rich color and detailed impressionVERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $20.00 STATE DEPARTMENT.
Ex Hoffman. With 1991 and 2005 P.F. certificates
$20.00 State (O71). Fresh colors, neat strike of blue "Received" favor cancel with clear May 2, 1877 dateFINE AND VERY SCARCE SOUND USED EXAMPLE OF THE $20.00 STATE DEPARTMENT ISSUE.
This is a very difficult issue to obtain in used condition. Outside of this sale we have offered only five others since keeping computerized records.
With 1988 P.F. certificate. Scott Catalog states "No. O71 used is valued with a blue or red handstamp favor cancel".
$20.00 State (O71). Bright colors, wide margins, neat strike of blue "Received" favor cancel, faults including few sealed tears, otherwise Very Fine, a very difficult issue to obtain in used condition, we have offered only five others since keeping computerized records, Scott Catalog states "No. O71 used is valued with a blue or red handstamp favor cancel"