Sale 1093 — The Curtis Collection: U.S. 20th Century and Air Post
Sale Date — Monday-Tuesday, 23-24 February, 2015
Category — 1902-03 Issue (Scott 300-313)
Lot
Symbol
Photo/Description
Cat./Est. Value
Realized
1
E
1c, 10c 1902-03 Issue, Ink Drawing Essays on Manila (300-E3, 307-E1). Two-sided manila paper measuring 136 x 190mm, front depicts ink drawing in blue of frame for 5c design which was adopted for the 1c, back with drawing for 10c frame design, corner nicks do not affect any part of the design, Very Fine and unique, an outstanding double-sided hand-illustrated essay for the 1902-03 Bureau Issue, illustrated in Scott and priced as the combination
2,000
1,800
2
E
5c 1902-03 Issue, Pencil and Ink Drawing Essay on Onion Skin (304-E3). 107 x 110mm design on 141 x 128mm paper, hand-illustration depicting frame with partly nude figures (which were draped in the adopted design), other design differences but similar to the issued 5c stamp, bends as normal for this fragile paper, Very Fine and unique, attributed to Bureau designer Raymond Ostrander Smith, pictured in the Scott Catalogue
3,250
2,100
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E
2c Washington, Photographic Essays of Unaccepted Designs (301-E unlisted). Three, on approximately 45 x 50mm photo-sensitive paper, significant differences including lettering and use of laurels around portrait instead of flags on first two, third with flags but differences in lettering, one with slight crease above image, others with tiny pinholes, unnoticeable and otherwise Very Fine, extremely rare trio, ex Cheshire
E. 500-750
800
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S
1c-$5.00 1902-03 Issue, Specimen Ovpts. Ty. E (300S-313S-E). Complete set plus No. E6S-E, affixed to inside of leather-backed folder, other side with mounted letter from Post Office Dept. dated March 23, 1903 and addressed to Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Ailes, stating these came from the first sheets printed, folder with wear and split, binding reinforced with old tape, Fine and historic set of 1902 Specimens, Scott Retail as normal with original gum
2,950
1,800
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1c Blue Green (300). Mint N.H. wide top imprint and plate no. 2030 block of six, fresh, Very Fine and choice wide top plate block, ex Gray, with 2006 P.F. certificate
350
450
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1c Blue Green, Booklet Pane of Six (300b). Deep rich color and proof-like impression on bright paper, three clear strikes of Cambridge Station double oval cancel and one strike of double-circle datestamp, missing tab at topVERY FINE. A RARE USED BOOKLET PANE OF THE ONE-CENT 1902 ISSUE. VERY FEW ARE KNOWN.
The normal 1c stamp of the 1902 series (Scott 300) was issued in early 1903. However, the booklets were not issued until March 6, 1907. Little interest in them was shown by collectors at the time. This was the first 1c booklet pane issued by the U.S and it was quickly superseded by the 1c 1908 series booklet, Scott 331a, in December of 1908.
Our census of Scott 300b in used condition is available at our website at http://siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/300b/300b.pdf and includes only three intact panes with tabs plus three others without tab (including the example offered here and one on cover).
Census No. 300b-CAN-05. With 2001 P.F. certificate
11,500
2,600
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2c Carmine (301). Mint N.H., brilliant color on post-office fresh paper, Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $450.00 as 95, $2,000.00 as 98), only three have graded higher
37
600
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2c Carmine (301). Top imprint and plate no. 1532 block of six, lightly hinged, extraordinarily choice centering for a plate block of this difficult issue, Extremely Fine
275
200
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3c Bright Violet (302). Mint N.H., brilliant color on bright paper, choice centering with unusually wide margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, a stamp of great visual appeal, ex Odeneal, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $350.00)
130
375
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3c Bright Violet (302). Bottom imprint and plate no. 1589 block of six, barely hinged, incredibly deep shade, Very Fine and choice, ex Silver Lake
800
275
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3c Bright Violet (302). Bottom imprint and plate no. 1589 block of six, barely hinged, grayish purple shade, Fine-Very Fine
800
225
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4c Brown (303). Mint N.H. left imprint and plate no. 4214 block of eight, brilliant color, choice centering, fresh, Very Fine-Extremely Fine, with 2004 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as plate block and two singles
1,705
1,300
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5c Blue (304). Bottom imprint and plate no. 3158 block of six, top center stamp slightly disturbed original gum, vivid color, outstanding centering, Extremely Fine
825
275
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6c Claret (305). Bottom imprint and plate no. 1600 block of six, lightly hinged, rich color, perf separations in selvage and between top center and right stamps, light gum bend, Very Fine
900
250
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6c Claret (305). Perfect centering with wide margins, gorgeous fresh color on bright paper, neat wavy-line machine cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp in every respect, ex Kirke, with 2011 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $720.00), for nine years this has stood as the sole 6c 1902 Issue graded Superb 98, with no others equal to or higher
5
700
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8c Violet Black (306). Mint N.H., Jumbo margins and choice centering, Extremely Fine, with 1989, 2003 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90 Jumbo; SMQ $275.00 as 90, $725.00 as 95)
100
375
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8c Violet Black, 13c Purple Black (306, 308). Bottom imprint and plate no. blocks of six, bright colors, attractive margins and centering, 8c with some minor perf separations, Very Fine pair of plate blocks
1,425
450
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10c Pale Red Brown (307). Mint N.H. wide right imprint and plate no. 2826 block of six, bright shade, some perf separations mostly confined to selvage, fresh and Fine
1,850
375
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13c Purple Black (308). Mint N.H. wide top imprint and plate no. 3835 block of six, choice centering on post-office fresh paper, small natural inclusion in margin of top left stamp, Extremely Fine, a beautiful wide top plate block of this challenging issue, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate
1,150
800
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15c Olive Green (309). Top imprint and plate no. 3206 block of six, lightly hinged with several stamps Mint N.H., top selvage reduced, deep rich color, the bottom row with extra wide margins, Fine-Very Fine, a rare top plate block and the first we have offered since 2004 (Power Search contains no Mint N.H. top examples)
3,400
1,900
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15c Olive Green (309). Essentially perfect centering, huge Jumbo margins, deep rich color and crisp impression, New York oval registry cancels, Extremely Fine Gem, a stunning and superb stamp in every respect, ex Kirke, with 2011 P.F. and 2010 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $750.00 as 98, unpriced in any higher grade), this is one of only two examples to achieve this desirable grade
14
850
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50c Orange (310). Lightly hinged, fiery color on bright paper, balanced Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp, with 2004 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $1,000.00 as 95, $2,000.00 as 98), only four have been graded higher
375
950
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50c Orange (310). Bottom imprint and plate no. 1602 block of six, four stamps h.r., intense shade and impression, perf separations sensibly reinforcedFINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF THE 50-CENT 1902 ISSUE.
As an indication of rarity, none was offered in our sales of the MLG or Saddleback collections. This is the only example we have offered since 2000.
7,500
3,750
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50c Orange (310). Block of 20 in 4 x 5 format, each stamp with neat cork cancel, most with attractive margins and centering, extensively rejoined, still Fine-Very Fine, a remarkable used block of this issue which is the largest we have encountered and may well be the largest in existence, Scott Retail as singles $750.00
E. 500-750
600
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50c Orange (310). Tied by "Hoboken N.J. Jan. 6, 1908 6:30 PM" duplex datestamp and oval grid cancel on cover to Saxony, Germany, receiving backstamp on flap alongside blue anchor crest, fresh and Very Fine, a scarce on-cover use, with 1998 P.S.E. certificate noting the obvious "overpayment"
700
425
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$1.00 Black (311). Mint N.H., intense shade and detailed impression on crisp paper, wide and balanced margins, long and full perforations all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 1902 ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $10,000.00). Only three have graded higher (at 98)
2,100
9,500
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$1.00 Black (311). Mint N.H., intense shade and proof-like impression, unusually wide and balanced margins, long and full perforations all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 1902 ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $10,000.00). Only three have graded higher (at 98)
2,100
8,500
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$1.00 Black (311). Bottom imprint and plate no. 1629 block of six, stamps have never been hinged except for tiny sliver reinforcements between perfs, beautifully centered and extraordinarily fresh, tiny scuff in margin at upper left, few rejoined perfs in lower right selvageEXTREMELY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING AND EXCEEDINGLY RARE PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF THE $1.00 1902 ISSUE.
Lewis Kaufman records only seven plate blocks for the $1.00 1902 Issue, including six from the top position and this example from the bottom. This is one of the best-centered and choicest plate blocks of the few extant.
From our 1967 and 1981 Rarities sales (realized $15,500 hammer) and ex Wampler (where it realized $15,400 in the 1998 Shreves sale).
27,500
15,500
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$1.00 Black (311). Perfectly centered with unusually wide and balanced margins, long and full perforations, detailed impression, face-free oval registry cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a stunning stamp in every respect, ex Natalee Grace, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $1,000.00), only one used example has graded higher
95
1,400
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$1.00 Black (311). Horizontal block of eight, bold oval registry cancels, multiple reinforced perf separations, still Fine-Very Fine, a rare large used multiple, believed to be the largest extant -- Power Search could not locate even one other used block of four, Scott Retail as two blocks of four
1,200
1,500
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$1.00 Black (311). Tied by "New York Sep. 8 10 PM" 1912 duplex datestamp and oval grid cancel on bank cover from Heidelbach, Ickelheimer & Co. to Banque J. Allard & Co. in Paris, France, "Philadelphia" straightline handstamp struck on line for "Steamer", opened at left by French Military Postal Control and closed with adhesive tape tied by their control handstamp, stamp with corner tear at top right, otherwise Very Fine, a rare solo use of the $1.00 1902 Issue on cover
1,500
850
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$2.00 Dark Blue (312). Lightly hinged, beautifully centered with nicely proportioned margins, deep rich color, Extremely Fine, with 1992 P.F. certificate
850
0
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$2.00 Dark Blue (312). Essentially perfectly centered with wide margins, three strikes of double-oval cancel nicely frame Madison's portrait, remarkably rich color, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful stamp, with 1981 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,500.00), only two stamps have been graded higher
200
900
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$2.00 Dark Blue (312). Block of four, rich color, unusually light cancel, expertly rejoined perfs at left, top right stamp with small surface scrape at bottom (not noted on certificate), otherwise Very Fine-Extremely Fine, a scarce used block, ex Twigg-Smith, with 2001 P.F. certificate
1,900
1,100
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$5.00 Dark Green (313). Wide margins and almost mathematically perfect centering, deep rich color and proof-like impressionEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SPECTACULAR EXAMPLE OF THE 1902 ISSUE TOP VALUE WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
With 2006 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, Superb 98; SMQ $6,250.00). Only two examples have been graded higher (at 98J and 100)
2,100
5,000
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$5.00 Dark Green (313). Rich color, attractive centering, thin speck lower right corner, reperfed at right, appears Fine
2,100
650
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$5.00 Dark Green (313). Well-centered with wide margins, rich color and detailed impression, oval registry cancel, Very Fine, with 1995 P.F. certificate
700
350
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$5.00 Dark Green (313). Block of four, nice centering, deep rich color, neat strikes of Manchester Conn. May 1910 registry double-circle datestampVERY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE USED BLOCK OF THE $5.00 1902 ISSUE.
Used blocks of the $5.00 1902 Issue are extremely rare and seldom obtainable with neatly-struck datestamp cancellations. The block offered here is certainly among the finest extant.
6,000
3,000
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