Sale 1145 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday, 14 December, 2016
Category — Special Delivery, Postage Due, Offices in China, Officials


VERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM PAIR OF THE IMPERFORATE 10-CENT 1895 WATERMARKED BUREAU SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE.
Using the logic behind including No. E3 as a part of the Columbian issues, one can argue Nos. E4 and E5 are part of the 1894 and 1895 Bureau issues. Perhaps this is why Nos. E4 and E5 are the only Special Delivery issues found imperforate. However, unlike its regular-issue counterparts, which exist in abundant quantities, Nos. E4a and E5c are very rare. We have offered only eight unduplicated pairs, one single and one block of four since keeping computerized records. Virtually all have faults, ranging from gum creases to more serious flaws.
















FRESH AND FINE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE $2.00 OFFICES IN CHINA DOUBLE SURCHARGE ERROR.
The Offices in China double surcharge error occurred during the overprinting of stamps for use at the U.S. Postal Agency in Shanghai. It has been reported that the errors were among the last stamps to be put on sale before the agency closed on December 31, 1922. The Deputy Postal Agent, Mr. E. H. Murray, knew of the error but allowed it to be put on sale, as he was retiring and the Agency was closing.







