Sale 1289 — 2023 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Tuesday, 27 June, 2023
Category — Canal Zone
CANAL ZONE, 1947, 6c Yellow Brown, Air Post Official, "Panama Canal" 19-20mm long, Inverted Ovpt. (CO14a). Roller precancel as always, Position 27 as noted in pencil, original gum rich color, Very Fine, only one pane of 50 reached the public and only 36 stamps are perforated on all four sides, Kessler backstamp
CANAL ZONE, 1962, 4c Thatcher Ferry Bridge, Silver (Bridge) Omitted (157a). Position 44, Mint N.H., nicely balanced marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE THATCHER FERRY BRIDGE ERROR. ONLY ONE PANE OF 50 WAS EVER ISSUED.
According to Canal Zone Stamps, one sheet, consisting of four panes of 50, was printed. Three panes were caught by postal authorities, while the fourth pane of 50 was sent to H. E. Harris & Co. as part of a larger order from the Canal Zone Philatelic Agency. At the same time this error was printed, the U.S. had issued the Dag Hammarskjold error in huge quantities. The Canal Zone authorities made plans to do the same, but were successfully sued by H. E. Harris, and the larger printing never took place. Two of the three other panes were laminated and presented to the National Postal Museum. The third was destroyed. The one pane available was broken up in 1969.
Many copies of this error have been hinged over the years. A Power Search review found that approximately half the examples we have offered since 1993 retain their Mint N.H. gum, including this choice example, which came from the previously unique bottom right corner margin block of four.
With 1970 (copy) and 2005 P.F. certificates for the bottom right corner margin block of four (this the top left stamp).