Sale 1289 — 2023 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Tuesday, 27 June, 2023
Category — Postal Stationery, including Further Selections from the Porter W. Venn II Collection
3c Red on White entire, Die 2 (U3; UPSS 5A). Size 7, knife 20, watermark 1, UPSS Type 1 die, unused, with red Nesbitt seal on backflap, bright and freshVERY FINE. A RARE MINT EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT RED ON WHITE DIE 2 NESBITT ENTIRE, UPSS NO. 5A.
The UPSS Catalog records three mint entires of the No. 5A entire with Nesbitt seal and three mint entires of No. 5 (without the seal). The "Saddleback" and "Scarsdale" collections did not contain any mint examples of Scott U3.
3c Red on White, Die 3, Cut Square (U5; UPSS 8). Unused, 33 x 34mm, small waterstain at bottom is not noticeable from the front, still Very Fine and scarce, only two entires are recorded, with 1992 P.S.E. certificate
3c Red on Buff, Die 3, Cut Square (U6; UPSS 9). Unused, 36 x 39mm, bright and freshVERY FINE CUT SQUARE OF THE RARE 3-CENT RED ON BUFF DIE 3 NESBITT ISSUE, WHICH DOES NOT EXIST AS A MINT ENTIRE.
This issue is unattainable as a mint entire (there is one addressed and uncancelled entire recorded). With 2012 P.F. certificate.
3c Red on White, Die 4, Full Corner (U7). Unused, 42 x 41mm, inconsequential tiny nick top right corner not mentioned on accompanying certificateVERY FINE. A RARE UNUSED FULL CORNER OF THE 3-CENT RED ON WHITE DIE 4 NESBITT ISSUE.
This an extremely rare issue with no mint entires known. Consequently, a cut square or full corner is the only way to complete an unused set of the 1853 first Nesbitt issue.
Ex Todd, "Scarsdale" and Cook. With 2000 and 2013 P.F. certificates
3c Red on Buff entire, Die 4 (U8; UPSS 12). Size 7, knife 20, watermark 1, hand-written address but unused without postmarks, additional contemporary manuscript at bottom leftVERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE UNUSED ENTIRE OF THE 3-CENT RED ON BUFF DIE 4 NESBITT ISSUE. ONLY ONE FULLY MINT ENTIRE IS KNOWN.
The UPSS Catalog states that there are no known fully mint entires for No. U8 (UPSS 12). However, one has surfaced since the 2018 version of the Catalog was published and is now in a major Midwest postal stationery collection. Even cut squares of this issue are very rare. A Power Search review lists only two sold in our sales over the past 30 years.
Ex Cook. With 2020 P.F. certificate. Scott lists the entire but does not price it. UPSS value for the unused entire is $5,000.00. Scott value for a cut square
1c Blue on Orange Star Die wrapper, Wove Paper, Die 12 (W22; UPSS 40a). Knife W1A, watermark 0, 151 x 257mm, unused, deep rich color on brilliant paperFRESH AND VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE MINT EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT BLUE STAR DIE 12 WRAPPER ON ORANGE PAPER.
The UPSS Catalog states fewer than ten of this rare Star Die wrapper exist.
1c Blue on Orange Star Die, Die 12, Cut Square (W22). 36x 35mm, unused, deep rich color on glowing paperVERY FINE. AND RARE MINT CUT SQUARE OF THE ONE-CENT BLUE STAR DIE 12 WRAPPER ON ORANGE PAPER.
Ex Schiller and Cook. With 2002 and 2012 P.F. certificates.
6c Red on Buff, Die 10, Cut Square (U31; UPSS 63). Unused, 36 x 41mm with additional part of top flap, Very Fine and scarce, fewer than five mint entires are recorded of UPSS No. 63, which is the only number under the Scott U31 umbrella, this is the only sound cut square with large margins we have offered in at least 30 years, with 2004 P.F. certificate
2c Black on Buff entire, Die 23 (U48; UPSS 106). Size 7, knife 24u, watermark 1, unused, freshVERY FINE AND RARE MINT ENTIRE OF THE 2-CENT DIE 23 BLACK JACK ON BUFF.
The Die 23 on Buff or Orange are among the few rarest of all Black Jack entires. The UPSS Catalog states a maximum of 15 mint entires are known between Scott U48 (Buff) and U49 (Orange).
2c Brown on Orange entire, Die 48, Centennial Special Printing (U125; UPSS 299). Size 7, knife 30u, watermark 2, unused, intense shade and sharp impression characteristic of the Centennial Special PrintingEXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF SIX RECORDED ENTIRES OF THE 2-CENT BROWN ON ORANGE CENTENNIAL SPECIAL PRINTING, AND ONE OF THREE RECORDED OF UPSS NO. 299. A GREAT RARITY IN THE FIELD OF POSTAL STATIONERY COLLECTING.
Reproductions of the Plimpton Manufacturing Company stamped envelope issues were specially made for display at the 1876 Centennial Exposition. They were likely made from new dies with extreme care and show fine impressions and clearer ink than the regular issues. None are known used. The 2c Die 48 was also used on regular issues but the impressions from this die on Orange paper are exclusively Centennial Special Printings. Only three full entires are recorded of No. 299 and six total among the three UPSS numbers under the umbrella of Scott U125.
Ex Barkhausen with his backstamp. With 2003 P.F. certificate.
2c Brown on Orange entire, Die 48, Centennial Special Printing (U125; UPSS 300-2). Size 7, knife 53u, watermark 2, unused, detailed embossing characteristic of the Centennial Special Printing, fresh paperEXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF SIX RECORDED ENTIRES OF THE 2-CENT BROWN ON ORANGE CENTENNIAL SPECIAL PRINTING, AND ONE OF TWO RECORDED OF UPSS NO. 300-2. A GREAT RARITY IN THE FIELD OF POSTAL STATIONERY COLLECTING.
Reproductions of the Plimpton Manufacturing Company stamped envelope issues were specially made for display at the 1876 Centennial Exposition. They were likely made from new dies with extreme care and show fine impressions and clearer ink than the regular issues. None are known used. The 2c Die 48 was also used on regular issues but the impressions from this die on Orange paper are exclusively Centennial Special Printings. Only two full entires are recorded of No. 300-2 and six total among the three UPSS numbers under the umbrella of Scott U125.
Ex White, Wampler and "Saddleback". With 1979 and 2007 P.F. certificates.
2c Vermilion on Manila wrapper, Die 48 (W127; UPSS 302). Knife W2, watermark 2, 161 x 242mm, unused, vibrant colorEXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 2-CENT DIE 48 VERMILION ON MANILA WRAPPER. THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST CONDITION EXAMPLES WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED.
The UPSS Catalog states there may be as many as ten unused examples known, with "some in poor condition", though that number seems high to us. We have encountered only three others -- from our "Saddleback" sale (with creases), from our "Scarsdale" sale (with pinhole and creases) and from our recent Porter Venn sale (sound and Extremely Fine).
Ex White with his backstamp.
3c Green on Fawn entire, Die 58 (U171; UPSS 452). Size 10, knife 54, watermark 5, lightly cancelled with "Guthrie Centre Ioa. Oct. 23?" duplex datestamp, addressed to Adamstown Pa., E.C. Mount return address corner card, original enclosure on same letterhead dated Oct. 20, 1882, small inconsequential tear at leftVERY FINE. THE DIE 58 3-CENT GREEN ON FAWN ENTIRE IS NOT KNOWN UNUSED AND IS VERY RARE USED WITH FIVE RECORDED.
The UPSS catalogue records only five used entires, each with a different corner card, and no mint entires. With 2001 P.F. certificate. Scott value $14,000.00
3c Green on Fawn entire, Die 58 (U171; UPSS 452). Size 10, knife 54, watermark 5, cancelled by target with "Evansville Ind. Dec. 29 3PM" duplex datestamp, addressed to Marion Kentucky, Leich & Carlstedt return address corner card, 1881 docketing across face, slightly reduced at right and light horizontal crease which passes thru the indiciaVERY FINE APPEARANCE. THE DIE 58 3-CENT GREEN ON FAWN ENTIRE IS NOT KNOWN UNUSED AND IS VERY RARE USED WITH FIVE RECORDED.
The UPSS catalogue records only five used entires, each with a different corner card, and no mint entires. With 1996 P.F. certificate. Scott value $14,000.00
5c Blue on Cream entire, Die 60, Centennial Special Printing (U178A; UPSS 482). Size 21, knife 98, watermark 2, unused, rich color and beautiful impression of the Centennial Special Printing, faint spot of gum residue at top not affecting indicia and not noted on accompanying certificateVERY FINE AND EXTREMELY RARE MINT ENTIRE OF THE 5-CENT BLUE ON CREAM CENTENNIAL SPECIAL PRINTING. ONLY THREE EXAMPLES ARE RECORDED.
Reproductions of the Plimpton Manufacturing Company stamped envelope issues were specially made for display at the 1876 Centennial Exposition. They were likely made from new dies with extreme care and show fine impressions and clearer ink than the regular issues. The die produced for the U178A Centennial Special Printing differs slightly in the right "5" from the regular production Die 60, and it was used only for the Special Printings. The UPSS Catalog records only three mint entires, one full corner and one cut square. No Centennial Special Printing entires are known used.
With clear 2002 P.F. certificate. Scott value $17,500.00
1c Blue on Oriental Buff, Die 83, Cut Square (U298). Unused, 42 x 45mm, bright and freshVERY FINE AND RARE MINT CUT SQUARE OF THE DIE 83 ONE-CENT BLUE ON ORIENTAL BUFF.
The UPSS catalogue states only three mint entires are reported under the umbrella of Scott U298. This cut square is also a great rarity.
With 2007 P.F. certificate
5c Blue on Buff, Die 126(B), Error of Paper, Cut Square (U418b; UPSS 2002). Unused, 42 x 43mm, small backstamp, fresh and Very Fine, an extremely rare error, we have offered several examples of the Die 126(B) error of paper on Blue paper (U418c), but this is the first we have offered on Buff (U418b) paper since keeping computerized records 30 years ago, the UPSS Catalog states that no entires of this issue are known, so collectors should carefully consider this cut square, UPSS value $3,500.00
5c Blue on Blue entire, Die 125(A), Error of Paper (U418d; UPSS 2003). Size 10, knife 57, watermark 15, unused, very slight discoloration which is typical of this paperVERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE DIE 125(A) BLUE ENTIRE ERROR OF PAPER. ONLY ABOUT A HALF-DOZEN ARE KNOWN.
As an indication of its rarity, this entire was missing from our recent sale of the Porter Venn collection.
With 2005 P.F. certificate.
2c on 2c Carmine on White, Die 118(C), Surcharge Ty. 3, Full Corner (U453; UPSS 2812). Unused, 43 x 43mm, brilliantly freshVERY FINE AND CHOICE. THIS IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL SURCHARGED ISSUES.
We have offered only one U453 mint entire since keeping computerized records, in our recent sale of the Porter Venn collection. During that time we have offered only one other full corner. None in any format were contained in the "Saddleback", "Scarsdale" or other of our name sales since 1994.
With 1960 P.F. certificate
2c on 3c Dark Violet, Die 146(H), Violet Surcharge Ty. 7, Full Corner (U480; UPSS 3038). Unused, 43 x 43mm, rich colorsVERY FINE AND RARE FULL CORNER OF THE 2-CENT ON 3-CENT VIOLET ON WHITE, WITH VIOLET SURCHARGE ISSUED AT DAYTONA, FLORIDA.
The Type 7 surcharge was a handstamp applied at Daytona, Florida, on envelopes that had been sent to Jacksonville for revaluing and were either poorly done or skipped. Some examples show clear partial Type 4 overprints (see Sale 1217, lot 1355 for a cut square) and some show a trace or none at all, like the full corner offered here. It is reported that only 29 were surcharged.
With 1998 P.F. certificate
1-1/2c on 1c Blue on Manila, Die 83, Surcharge Ty. 9, Full Corner (U507B; UPSS 3182B). Unused, 60 x 47mm, Very Fine and rare, with 2004 P.F. certificate
1-1/2c on 1c Green on White, Die 106, Surcharge Ty. 9, Full Corner (U508A). Unused, 47 x 45mm, rich color and clear surcharge, Very Fine, a rare issue with only 18 believed to have been surcharged, with 2000 P.F. certificate
3c Black on White entire, Official, Die PD5 (UO8; UPSS PD42). Size 10, knife 54, watermark 5, unusedVERY FINE ENTIRE OF THE RARE 3-CENT POST OFFICE OFFICIAL ON WHITE PAPER. NO MORE THAN FIVE ARE KNOWN.
The UPSS Catalog estimates that no more than five exist. With 2004 P.F. certificate
1c Black on Buff, Full-Face McKinley Postal Card (UX17; USPCC S21). With printed Booth Dailey & Ivins address and so-called "garbage card" text on back, Very Fine, desirable example of the Full-Face McKinley postal card
1c Green, Die I, Gray Rough-Surfaced Postal Card (UX27C; USPCC S38). Mint card without printed address or printing on back, absolutely pristine, Extremely Fine example of this scarce card, in 1916 during a war-time paper shortage, this substandard grade of card stock was used temporarily, for a period of about two months, they were not sold singly, but were supplied to printers, which accounts for their rarity without printed addresses
1c on 2c Red on Cream, Die II, Postal Card, "1 CENT" Washington D.C. Canceling Machine One-Line Surcharge (UX31; USPCC S43). Mint, bright and freshVERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE WASHINGTON D.C. ONE-LINE BLACK SURCHARGE. ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL NON-ERROR POSTAL CARDS.
With 2007 P.F. certificate. USPCC value $3,500.00