Sale 1212 — Superb United States Stamps and Private Die Proprietary Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 20-21 November, 2019
Category — Special Delivery
10c Blue, Special Delivery, Dots in Curved Frame Above Messenger (E5a). Mint N.H. with huge bottom selvage showing a bit of the imprint, exceptionally choice centering with wide margins, rich color and fresh paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1895 10-CENT WATERMARKED SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE WITH DOTS ABOVE THE MESSENGER VARIETY. A TRUE CONDITION RARITY WITH THE LOFTY GRADE OF SUPERB 98 -- THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
The Dots in Curved Frame above Messenger variety (E5a) comes only from plate 882. It is priced in Scott at approximately double the normal E5.
With 2019 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 90). The normal Scott E5 has an SMQ value of $7,000.00 for Superb 98. Given the relative rarity of Scott E5a versus E5, the SMQ value for this stamp should be well in excess of that for E5. This is the highest grade awarded for Scott E5a and it is shared by no others. The normal E5 has two at Superb 98 with none higher
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E6). Mint N.H. with wide top selvage with trace of imprint, rich color and proof-like impression on crisp paper, gorgeous centering with Jumbo marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1902 SERIES SPECIAL DELIVERY STAMP, SCOTT E6.
With 2018 P.S.A.G. certificate (95J ogNH). For comparison purposes, only three in the P.S.E. Population Report grade higher and none share this grade
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E6). Bottom imprint and plate no. 1481 block of six, stamps lightly hinged, hinge reinforcement of separated perfs in bottom selvage, rich color, Fine
10c Green, Special Delivery (E7). Mint N.H., rich color and proof-like impression, near perfect centering with Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $1,800.00), only two grade higher (both 100J) and only two others share this desirable grade
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E9). Lightly hinged, huge Jumbo margins and mathematically perfect centering, pretty pastel color, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, Gem 100 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 100, SMQ $1,100.00 as 100), this is the only unused Scott E9 at this ultimate grade, the highest Mint N.H. grade is 98
10c Pale Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E10). Mint N.H., wide margins and essentially perfect centering, lovely pastel color on post-office fresh paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1916 PERF 10 UNWATERMARKED SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE.
Ex Merlin. With 2012 P.F. and 2010 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $3,600.00). This is one of only three at this desirable grade with just three graded higher
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E11). Mint N.H., precise centering with wide margins, deep rich color on bright paper, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2013 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $725.00), only three grade higher (highest is one example at 100)
10c Gray Violet, Special Delivery (E11b). Mint N.H., wide margins and perfect centering, deep rich color on bright paper, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp in every respect, with 2016 P.S.A.G. certificate (100 ogNH), by way of comparison, the P.S.E. Population Report lists only one Scott E11 (and no E11b's or E11c's) at the Gem 100 grade
10c Gray Violet, Special Delivery (E11b). Mint N.H., rich color on bright paper, gorgeous centering with Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a phenomenal stamp, with 2017 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $950.00 as 98), this is the highest grade awarded to Scott E11b and it is shared by no others
10c Gray Violet, Special Delivery (E12). Mint N.H., wide margins and mathematically perfect centering, beautiful color and detailed impression on crisp white paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1922 10-CENT GRAY VIOLET SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE, GRADED GEM 100 BY P.S.E.
The 1922 10c Motorcycle Special Delivery comes in two basic shades -- the main listing of Gray Violet (E12) offered here and a sub-listing of Deep Ultramarine (E12a). Both are rare in Mint N.H. condition at the Gem 100 grade, but the main listing Gray Violet has a population of only one graded 100, while E12a has four (including one 100J, offered in the following lot).
With 2010 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $2,250.00). This is the highest graded Scott E12 with no others equal.
10c Deep Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E12a). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression, perfectly centered with Jumbo marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1922 10-CENT SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE STANDS ALONE AS THE ONLY EXAMPLE TO REACH THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE P.S.E. GRADE -- GEM 100 JUMBO.
With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 100, SMQ $2,100.00 as 100). This is the only example of either E12 or E12a at this highest of grades in the P.S.E. Population Report
15c Deep Orange, Special Delivery (E13). Mint N.H., Jumbo margins and exceptionally choice centering, vivid color on post-office fresh paper, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1994 and 2001 P.F. certificates, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $550.00), incredibly this is the only Scott E13 at the 98J grade in the P.S.E. Population Report, with none higher, we are surprised that none have graded Gem 100 considering there are 100s for a number of the earlier and scarcer Special Delivery issues.
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