Sale 1231 — The James P. Myerson Collection of Superb United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 9-10 February, 2021
Category — Air Post
6c Orange, 1918 Air Post (C1). Mint N.H., vibrant color, perfectly centered with wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2012 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $2,000.00), only three grade higher
16c Green, 1918 Air Post (C2). Mint N.H., deep rich color on bright paper, gorgeous centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2011 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $1,375.00), only two grade higher (at 100)
24c Carmine Rose & Blue, 1918 Air Post (C3). Mint N.H., wonderful colors, plane shifted slightly up and to the left, gorgeous centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2012 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $1,500.00), only nine of the 406 Mint N.H. graded stamps are graded higher
24c Carmine Rose & Blue, 1918 Air Post (C3). Two blocks of four, one Mint N.H. with top arrow, bottom right stamp small natural inclusion, other top selvage with red plate no. 8492 and red "TOP", approaching "Fast Plane" variety, three Mint N.H., few natural gum skips, Very Fine, Scott value as singles
24c Carmine Rose & Blue, 1918 Air Post (C3). Top arrow, double plate nos. 8493/8492 and double "Top" block of twelve, brilliant colors, positions 3 and 6-12 Mint N.H., position 7 small gum disturbance, Very Fine, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate
24c Carmine Rose & Blue, 1918 Air Post (C3). Top arrow, double plate nos. 8493/8492 and double "Top" block of twelve, approaching the "Fast Plane" variety, stamps Mint N.H., rich colors, position 8 small perf disc inclusion, position 9 small toned spot at bottom, otherwise Fine-Very Fine
24c Carmine Rose & Blue, 1918 Air Post, Grounded Plane Variety (C3 var.). Block of four with horizontal guide line, vignette shifted down with wheels extending below the mid-point of "Cents" -- this is known as the Extreme Grounded Plane variety -- each stamp lightly hinged, right stamps with vertical gum skipEXTREMELY FINE BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE RARE GROUNDED PLANE VARIETY. FEWER THAN EIGHT BLOCKS ARE RECORDED.
The world's first regular government airmail service was inaugurated in the United States on May 15, 1918. Planes were scheduled to take off simultaneously from New York and Washington, D.C., each stopping at Philadelphia on the three-city relay route. The plane out of the nation's capital was piloted by Lieutenant George Boyle, who had limited flying experience, but whose future father-in-law was the well-connected head of the Interstate Commerce Commission. With a crowd of onlookers and dignitaries, including President Woodrow Wilson and the First Lady, the northbound flight took off from Potomac Park field, behind schedule and headed south. The young pilot, wondering why things on the ground did not look quite right, crashed the plane in a farmer's field in Maryland, and the mail was carried back to Washington on wheels for the next day's flight.
The Grounded Plane stamps, in which the wheels of the plane break through the top of "Cents", come from portions of three sheets. The discovery sheet was owned and broken up by John Klemann of Nassau Stamp Company. A second sheet was discovered in 1946 and sold in the Thomas A. Matthews sale (H. R. Harmer 11/4/1964), where it was purchased by Georges A. Medawar, publisher of Sanabria Airmail Catalogue. In Linn's 4/21/1986, specialist Joseph R. Kirker, Jr. published his research revealing the existence of a third source of this variety. All known sheets are from the first printing, which produced the world famous Inverted Jenny error. The first printing has selvage at bottom and left, and was trimmed to remove the top and right selvage; therefore, a plate block cannot exist.
The block offered here shows a strong downward shift and is extraordinarily fresh. The guideline indicates it comes from the fifth and sixth rows of a sheet. Comparing this block to the photograph of the Matthews-Medawar (Sanabria) sheet and the single on the Klemann cover, which comes from the fifth row (guideline at bottom, centered to top), we can rule out those two sources. This block must come from the third sheet.
Ex Price
24c Carmine Rose & Blue, 1918 Air Post (C3). Lightly hinged with some pencil partly erased, bright colors, better centering than normally seen for this varietyVERY FINE AND CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 1918 24-CENT FIRST AIR POST ISSUE GROUNDED PLANE VARIETY.
The Grounded Plane stamps, in which the wheels of the plane break through the top of "Cents", come from portions of three sheets. The discovery sheet was owned and broken up by John Klemann of Nassau Stamp Company. A second sheet was discovered in 1946 and sold in the Thomas A. Matthews sale (H. R. Harmer 11/4/1964), where it was purchased by Georges A. Medawar, publisher of Sanabria Airmail Catalogue. In Linn's 4/21/1986, specialist Joseph R. Kirker, Jr. published his research revealing the existence of a third source of this variety. All known sheets are from the first printing, which produced the world famous Inverted Jenny error.
With 2017 P.F. certificate.
24c Carmine Rose & Blue, 1918 Air Post (C3). Two, one the true "Fast Plane" variety with part of vignette outside of frame, other top part arrow single approaching the "Fast Plane" variety, Very Fine and desirable, especially with the plane shifted so far to the left
24c Carmine Rose & Blue, 1918 Air Post (C3). Block of four with horizontal guide line, approaching the "Fast Plane" variety with plane's wing touching inner frameline at left, bottom stamps Mint N.H., bright colors, Very Fine and choice, Scott value as normal singles $390.00
24c Carmine Rose & Blue, 1918 Air Post (C3). Bottom selvage arrow block of four, plane shifted significantly down and to the left, Very Fine and attractive, Scott value as normal block $300.00
8c Dark Green, 1923 Air Post (C4). Mint N.H., rich color on bright paper, beautiful centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2011 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $450.00)
16c Dark Blue, 1923 Air Post (C5). Mint N.H., deep rich color on bright paper, phenomenal centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2015 P.S.A.G. certificate (98 NH)
24c Carmine, 1923 Air Post (C6). Mint N.H., brilliant color, gorgeous centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $1,200.00)
10c Map, Air Post (C7). Mint N.H., crisp impression, incredible Jumbo margins and essentially perfect centering, Extremely Fine Gem, this large-format airmail stamp is rarely seen with such wide margins and precise centering, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $400.00)
5c Winged Globe, Air Post (C12). Mint N.H., rich color, fantastic Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $525.00)
65c Graf Zeppelin (C13). Mint N.H., mathematically precise centering with wide margins, bright color and detailed impressionEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 65-CENT GRAF ZEPPELIN, WITH THE PERFECT P.S.E. GRADE OF GEM 100.
The Graf Zeppelin issue is extremely difficult to obtain in Gem 100 grade. For the 65c, four are graded 100 and two are graded 100 Jumbo. For the $1.30, nine are graded 100 with none graded 100 Jumbo. For the $2.60, only one is graded 100 and one is graded 100 Jumbo.
Ex Morton. With 2013 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $4,450.00)
$1.30 Graf Zeppelin (C14). Mint N.H. with bottom plate no. 20086 selvage, rich color, wide and balanced margins, corner crease at bottom left of selvage is so minor it does not affect the gradeEXTREMELY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $1.30 GRAF ZEPPELIN ISSUE.
Blue backstamp in selvage not noted on certificate. With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $3,500.00)
$2.60 Graf Zeppelin (C15). Mint N.H. with bottom plate no. 20092 selvage, intense shade and impression, wide and balanced margins, small tear in selvage only, Extremely Fine, a stamp with great visual appeal, with 1996 P.F. certificate
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5c Winged Globe, Air Post (C16). Mint N.H., wide margins and exceptional centering, rich color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2015 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $750.00), only seven grade higher
50c Chicago Zeppelin (C18). Mint N.H., detailed impression, beautiful centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $500.00)
6c Dark Blue & Carmine, Vertical Pair, Imperforate Horizontally (C23a). Block of four, rich colors, Fine-Very Fine, each with pencil position number on gum
11c Progress in Electronics, Olive Omitted (C86c). Mint N.H., Olive color completely omitted and just showing traces of the Vermilion color where the framelines normally appear, huge margins and precise centering, Extremely Fine, with 2009 A.P.S. certificate, if any traces of Vermilion appear this is defined as Scott C86c, rather than C86a (Vermilion and Olive omitted)
31c Wright Brothers, Vertical Pair, Black, Yellow, Magenta, Blue & Brown Litho Omitted (C92d). Mint N.H., Very Fine, a striking Air Post error, Datz states only 15 pairs are reported, accompanied by normal pair for comparison
36c Sikorsky, Engraved Red, Dark Blue & Black Omitted (C119a). Mint N.H., striking appearance with only the image of Sikorsky present, Very Fine and rare, Datz records only 20 examples, accompanied by normal stamp for comparison, with 2014 P.S.A.G. certificate stating "Red and Black omitted and trace Dark Blue variety", Scott lists this only with all three colors omitted (C119a) and it is offered as such