Sale 1289 — 2023 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Tuesday, 27 June, 2023
Category — Worldwide Stamps and Postal History - Argentina thru French Offices in China, including selections from the Magnolia collection
ARGENTINA, 1862, 15c Blue (7). Vertical strip of three, large margins to touching at right, used with 1862, 5c Rose (5), sheet margin at top, other sides large, tied by two strikes of blue "Correo Nacional del Rosario" oval cancels with corresponding "Correo del Rosario, 6 ENE 63" double-circle datestamp at right on registered cover front only to Montevideo, Uruguay, two strikes of blue "CERTIFICADO" straightline handstamp, one ties the strip to front, Montevideo Jan. 8 arrival datestamp, signed by recipient on reverseVERY FINE AND EXCEPTIONALLY RARE REGISTERED COVER FRONT FROM ROSARIO, ARGENTINA, TO MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY. WE ARE UNAWARE OF ANOTHER REGISTERED USE LIKE THIS FROM ARGENTINA.
Uruguayan postal regulations stated that incoming registered covers from outside Uruguay were to have their fronts removed, the back signed by recipient, and were kept at the post office as receipt of delivery. For this reason, it is unlikely many, if any, other examples still exist.
From the Magnolia collection. Ex Alemany.
FRANCE, 1849, 1fr Carmine (9; Yvert 6). Horizontal strip of five and two horizontal pairs, mostly ample to full margins, tied by multiple strikes of diamond grid cancel, red "Paris 8 Aout '49" (1849) double-circle datestamp on cover to Philadelphia, bold red London transit datestamp of Aug. 9, red "PD" handstamp, carried on Cunarder Canada, departing Liverpool Aug. 11, 1849, and arriving New York Aug. 25, blue manuscript "20" cents due for quadruple 5c U.S. inland postage, a few condition issues including some expert repairs, also top left stamp in strip with scissors-cut, right stamp in strip with internal tear, left stamp in bottom pair with some creases, none of these flaws are obviousVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE SIX-TIMES FRANKING OF THE ONE-FRANC 50-CENTIMES RATE VIA BRITISH PACKET TO PHILADELPHIA, PREPAID WITH MULTIPLES OF THE ONE-FRANC 1849 ISSUE.
This cover was sent only one week after French postal regulations began to allow covers to the United States to be prepaid with postage stamps. The nine copies of the 1fr Carmine paid six-times the rate for French inland and British Packet postage (1fr50c per rate).
FRANCE, 1868, 80c Rose (36; Yvert 32). Tied by dotted star cancel, "Paris Pl de la Bourse 4E/29 Sept. 70" double-circle datestamp and red "PD" framed handstamp on folded cover carried across the lines by Ballon Monte during the siege of Paris and sent by mail to Calcutta, India, presumably carried on the Celeste (the fourth flight out of Paris) departing Sep. 30, sender's directive "via Bombay (par Ballon monte)", part strike of French Oct. 7 and "Sea Post Office 15 10 70" oval transit and red Calcutta Nov. 3 arrival backstamps, cover with couple mild file folds which cross stampVERY FINE. A TRULY REMARKABLE BALLON MONTE COVER CARRIED FROM THE BESIEGED CITY OF PARIS DURING THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR AND ONWARDS TO CALCUTTA, INDIA. ONLY TWO OR THREE BALLON MONTE COVERS ARE RECORDED WITH INDIA AS THE DESTINATION.
The Celeste was piloted by Gaston Tissandier (1843-99), a French chemist, editor and aviator. He departed Paris around 9:30 a.m. on Sep. 30, 1870, carrying approximately 80kg of mail and three carrier pigeons. He safely landed near Dreux at 11:50 a.m., traveling around 80km and over the Prussian army surrounding Paris.
From the Magnolia collection. Signed Calves and J-F Brun. With photocopy of 2019 Calves & Jacquart certificate.
FRANCE, Offices in China, Canton, 1903, 75c Deep Violet on Orange, "Indo-Chine" Inverted (28a; Yvert 30a). Block of nine, center stamp the error, original gum slightly disturbed with inclusions, outer stamps lightly hinged or minor h.r., center error stamp Mint N.H., exceptionally fresh colorVERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK WITH THE INVERTED "INDO-CHINE" TABLET. A MAJOR RARITY OF THE FRENCH OFFICES IN CANTON.
This is the key rarity of the French Post Office in Canton, and this block with the error in the center position is especially desirable. Many collectors are unaware that the inverted tablet error occurs on the stamps of Canton, Hoi Hao, Mongtseu, Pakhoi, and Yunnan Fou. Remarkably, the Magnolia collection contains examples of each of these major French Offices rarities, including stamps that are thought to be unique.
From the Magnolia collection. Signed Calves and with his 2004 certificate. Scott $55,000.00. Yvert €55,000.
FRANCE, Offices in China, Hoi Hao, 1903, 75c Deep Violet on Orange, Black Overprint, "Indo-Chine" Inverted (29a; Yvert 29a). Block of ten from the bottom two rows of the upper left pane of the sheet, with sheet selvage at sides and interpanneau gutter selvage at bottom, position 3 the error, unused (no gum), wonderfully well-centered, bold colors, few minor split perfsVERY FINE. ONLY SIX EXAMPLES OF THE 75-CENTIMES WITH THE HOI HAO OVERPRINT AND INVERTED "INDO-CHINE" TABLET ARE RECORDED.
This is the key rarity of the French Post Office in Hoi Hao, and this sheet-margin block with the error is especially desirable. Many collectors are unaware that the inverted tablet error occurs on the stamps of Canton, Hoi Hao, Mongtseu, Pakhoi, and Yunnan Fou. Remarkably, the Magnolia collection contains examples of each of these major French Offices rarities, including stamps that are thought to be unique.
From the Magnolia collection. Signed Calves and with his 2004 certificate (stating with gum). Scott $45,000.00. Yvert €55,000
FRANCE, Offices in China, Mongtseu, 1903, 75c Deep Violet on Orange, Black Overprint, "Indo-Chine" Inverted (13a; Yvert 14a). Original gum, h.r., deep rich color on fresh paperFINE AND A MAJOR FRENCH OFFICES IN CHINA ERROR RARITY. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE 75-CENTIMES WITH THE INVERTED "INDO-CHINE" TABLET AND THE BLACK MONGTSEU OVERPRINT. ONE OF THE KEYS TO A COMPLETE FRENCH COLONIES COLLECTION.
The terms "unique" or "only recorded example" should be cautiously used when describing stamps of any country. In this case, despite the fact that the stamps were issued 120 years ago, the stamp offered here is the only example of the inverted tablet error with the black Mongtseu overprint to come to light, as far as we are aware. This is confirmed in both the Yvert catalogue and on the accompanying Calves certificate. Possession of this stamp is possible for just one individual at a time, which means there can be only one truly complete collection of French Offices in China.
Many collectors are unaware that the inverted table error occurs on the stamps of Canton, Hoi Hao, Mongtseu, Pakhoi, and Yunnan Fou. Remarkably, the Magnolia collection contains examples of each of these major French Offices rarities, including stamps that are thought to be unique.
From the Magnolia collection. With 2004 Calves certificate. Scott $67,500.00. Yvert €75,000.
FRANCE, Offices in China, Mongtseu, 1906, 75c Deep Violet on Orange, Red Overprint, "Indo-Chine" Inverted (28a; Yvert 29a). Se-tenant horizontal pair, right stamp the error, original gum, h.r., wonderfully fresh colors, couple truly insignificant corner perf creasesFINE SE-TENANT ERROR PAIR. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE INVERTED "INDO-CHINE" TABLET WITH THE RED MONGTSEU OVERPRINT. A CELEBRATED RARITY OF THE FRENCH POST OFFICES IN CHINA AND FRENCH COLONIES AS A WHOLE.
The terms "unique" or "only recorded example" should be cautiously used when describing stamps of any country. In this case, despite the fact that the stamps were issued 117 years ago, the se-tenant pair offered here is the only example of the inverted tablet error with the red Mongtseu overprint to come to light, as far as we are aware. This is confirmed in both the Yvert catalogue and on the accompanying Calves certificate. Possession of this stamp is possible for just one individual at a time, which means there can be only one truly complete collection of French Offices in China.
Many collectors are unaware that the inverted table error occurs on the stamps of Canton, Hoi Hao, Mongtseu, Pakhoi, and Yunnan Fou. Remarkably, the Magnolia collection contains examples of each of these major French Offices rarities, including stamps that are thought to be unique.
From the Magnolia collection. With 2004 Calves certificate. Scott $67,500.00. Yvert €75,000
FRANCE, Offices in China, Pakhoi, 1903, 75c Deep Violet on Orange, Black Overprint, "Indo-Chine" Inverted (14a; Yvert 14a). Se-tenant block of eight with sheet selvage at left, position 2 the error, positions 1-2 with barest trace of disturbed original gum, others with backing paper adhering, well-centered, bold colorsVERY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING MULTIPLE CONTAINING THE PAKHOI 75-CENTIMES WITH THE "INDO-CHINE" TABLET INVERTED. ONLY THREE EXAMPLES ARE RECORDED.
This is the key rarity of the French Post Office in Pakhoi, and this se-tenant block containing the inverted tablet error is especially desirable. Unlike the 75c "Indo-Chine" inverted tablet from Mongtseu, which is recorded with Black and Red overprints (each unique), the error is only found with the Black Pakhoi overprint.
Many collectors are unaware that the inverted table error occurs on the stamps of Canton, Hoi Hao, Mongtseu, Pakhoi, and Yunnan Fou. Remarkably, the Magnolia collection contains examples of each of these major French Offices rarities, including stamps that are thought to be unique.
From the Magnolia collection. With 2018 Calves & Jacquart certificate. Scott $47,500.00. Yvert €55,000.
FRANCE, Offices in China, Yunnan Fou, 1903, 75c Deep Violet on Orange, Black Overprint, "Indo-Chine" Inverted (13a; Yvert 13a). Bottom left corner selvage se-tenant block of six, position 2 the error, slightly disturbed original gum which accompanying certificate notes as colonial gum, bold colorsVERY FINE. AN IMPRESSIVE MULTIPLE CONTAINING THE INVERTED "INDO-CHINE" TABLET WITH THE YUNNAN FOU OVERPRINT. ONLY THREE EXAMPLES ARE RECORDED.
This is the key rarity of the French Post Office in Yunnan Fou, and this sheet-margin block containing the inverted tablet error is especially desirable. Unlike the 75c "Indo-Chine" inverted tablet from Mongtseu, which is recorded with Black and Red overprints (each unique), the error is only found with the Black Yunnan Fou overprint.
Many collectors are unaware that the inverted table error occurs on the stamps of Canton, Hoi Hao, Mongtseu, Pakhoi, and Yunnan Fou. Remarkably, the Magnolia collection contains examples of each of these major French Offices rarities, including stamps that are thought to be unique.
From the Magnolia collection. Non-error stamps signed Gilbert in pencil. With 2012 Roumet certificate. Scott $47,500.00. Yvert €44,000.
INDO-CHINA, 1892, 25c Black on Rose, "Indo-Chine" Omitted (13a; Yvert 10a). Original gum, lightly hinged, fresh color, minor corner perf creaseFINE. A RARE AND VISUALLY STRIKING ERROR WITH "INDO-CHINE" TABLET OMITTED ON THE 25-CENTIMES STAMP.
From the Magnolia collection. Signed Calves. With 2009 Roumet certificate. Scott $7,500.00. Yvert €11,500.
INDO-CHINA, 1892, 75c Deep Violet on Orange, "Indo-Chine" Inverted (19b; Yvert 14a). Se-tenant horizontal pair, right stamp the error, original gum, minor h.r., well-centered, strong colors, left normal stamp with shallow thin spotVERY FINE. A RARE AND IMPRESSIVE SE-TENANT PAIR WITH "INDO-CHINE" TABLET UPRIGHT AND INVERTED.
While the Dallay catalogue notes three examples recorded, the actual number of surviving copies is slightly higher than that.
From the Magnolia collection. Signed A. Brun, Roumet, and Calves. Scott $10,000.00. Yvert €10,500.
COCHIN CHINA, 1887, 5c on 25c Black on Rose, Double Surcharge of Ty. b & c (4a; Yvert 4A). Original gum, h.r., wonderfully fresh colorFINE. A RARE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1897 5-CENTIMES DOUBLE SURCHARGE WITH DIFFERENT SURCHARGE TYPES.
From the Magnolia collection. With 2009 Roumet certificate. Scott $3,750.00. Yvert €5,500