9th Floor
New York, NY 10036
Sale 1197 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Thursday-Friday, 14-15 March, 2019
Category — Special Delivery thru Offices in China
10c 1885-1917, Special Delivery (E1-E11). Complete set, original gum, Nos. E8, E9, E10 and E11 Mint N.H., others hinged but generally not heavily, choice centering nearly throughout, a couple small flaws including tiny thins on Nos. E1 and E3, Very Fine, a most attractive set of Special Deliveries, four certificates accompany (two are copies)
10c Orange, Special Delivery (E3). Mint N.H., vivid color, Jumbo margins, Very Fine and choice, with 1992 P.F. and 2014 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85 Jumbo; SMQ $1,225.00)
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E6). Mint N.H. with wide top plate no. 1774 selvage, bright shade, Very Fine and choice, with 1997 P.F. certificate
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E8). Mint N.H., bright color, choice centering and wide margins, Extremely Fine, with 1980 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $510.00)
10c Deep Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E12a). Mint N.H., deep shade, detailed impression, perfectly centeredEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1922 10-CENT SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE IS AWARDED THE PERFECT GRADE OF GEM 100 BY P.S.E.
With 2019 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $2,100.00). Only one has graded higher (never offered in our auctions) and only two others share this grade (ex Whitman and "Hanover").
1c Deep Brown, Special Printing (J8). Original gum, deep rich color and detailed impression on bright paperVERY FINE. A RARE SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT POSTAGE DUE SPECIAL PRINTING.
The 1c, 2c and 3c are undoubtedly the rarest values of the American Bank Note Co. Postage Due Special Printings, although the sold quantities in the official records are relatively high. William E. Mooz, in an article on the 1c appearing in Chronicle No. 170, May 1996, offers evidence to support his theory that the actual number of true Special Printings sold was significantly lower than the reported figures. For the 1c, Mooz estimates 500 sold, but it is possible that as many as 400 purchased by G. B. Calman were destroyed. It is widely accepted that nearly 9,000 1c stamps sold as Special Printings were actually regular issues.
With 1999 P.F. certificate
2c Deep Brown, Special Printing (J9). Large part original gum, bright color and crisp impression, light diagonal crease, few thin spotsVERY FINE APPEARING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1879 2-CENT POSTAGE DUE SPECIAL PRINTING.
The reported sale figures for the rare 1c, 2c and 3c Postage Due Special Printings probably include orders filled with regular stamps, as all three are far rarer than the reported sales numbers would suggest. This is rarely offered with any form of original gum.
With 1995 P.F. certificate stating original gum
3c Deep Brown, Special Printing (J10). Unused (no gum), bright color and detailed impression, choice centering for this difficult issueEXTREMELY FINE. THE 3-CENT IS THE RAREST OF THE 1879 POSTAGE DUE SPECIAL PRINTINGS.
Although 436 copies were reported sold, it is believed that 100 copies were destroyed in the Calman lot. A thorough search of the marketplace, combined with conversations with dealers and collectors, has confirmed the extreme rarity of this stamp in sound centered condition. This example is one of the finest known.
With 1959 and 2018 P.F. certificates
5c Deep Brown, Special Printing (J11). Unused (no gum), rich color and detailed impression, faults including thin spots and tears, otherwise Fine, a rare stamp, it has been estimated that only 249 of the 5c Postage Due Special Printing reached the public, with 1999 P.F. certificate
2c Vermilion (J30). Choice centering with wide margins, bright color, circular datestamp cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1999 P.F. certificate
1c Deep Claret (J31). Mint N.H., rich color, detailed impression, beautifully balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 2018 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $425.00)
50c Deep Claret (J44). Mint N.H., intense color on bright paper, wide margins, fresh and Extremely Fine
10c Carmine (J74). Mint N.H., perfectly balanced margins, bright color on fresh paper, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp in every respect, with 2018 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 95), this is the highest grade awarded to a J74, with none equal
30c Carmine (J75). Mint N.H. with top plate no. 20225 selvage, brilliant color, Jumbo margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2016 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90 Jumbo; SMQ $425.00 for 90, $675.00 for 95)
Postage Due Balance. Six used stamps, Nos. J17, J21, J29, J37 (thin spot), J58 and J59, range of cancels, No. J58 with precancel, Very Fine-Extremely Fine, each with P.F. certificate
View PDF of contents of this lot
2c-$2.00 Offices in China (K1-K18). Few h.r., rich colors, few tiny faults, Fine-Very Fine set
2c-$2.00 Offices in China (K1-K18). Complete set of unused, Mint N.H. including Nos. K4-K8, K10 and K17-K18, also two used (K1 and K2), better quality than normally seen, Very Fine-Extremely Fine, the K15 and K16 are especially nice, six with certificates
2c-$2.00 Offices in China (K1-K16). Blocks of four, includes both shades of the 16c on 8c and 24c on 12c, top stamps hinged, bottom stamps Mint N.H., bright colors throughout, Nos. K5 and K7 contain some particularly well-centered stamps, No. K8a with toned spots on gumFINE-VERY FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE SET OF BLOCKS OF THE OFFICES IN CHINA.
Scott Retail as two hinged sets and two Mint Never-Hinged sets
12c on 6c Offices in China (K6). Mint N.H., brilliant color, Jumbo margins, tiny ink spot on gum (possibly from surcharge), Extremely Fine, a huge stamp, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90 Jumbo; SMQ $850.00)
2c on 1c Offices in China (K17). Top plate no. 10595 block of six, five stamps Mint N.H., short gumming at top, fresh color, small inclusion in selvage, Fine-Very Fine
4c on 2c Offices in China (K18). Top plate no. 13129 block of six, with wide selvage, top stamps Mint N.H., bottom stamps with slight mount-disturbed gum, bright color, Fine
(1c) Franklin Carrier, Large Die Essay on Glazed Card (LO1-E4). Three essays attributed to Clarence Brazer, including Brown, Green and Scarlet, each die sunk on card with full die sinkage, the first 117 x 162mm on rough card, the other two 120 x 125mm on glazed card, Very Fine and unusual, Scott Retail as the listed glazed card
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