Sale 1085 — The Curtis Collection: U.S. Officials
Sale Date — Thursday, 6 November, 2014
Category — War Department (Scott O83-O93)
Lot
Symbol
Photo/Description
Cat./Est. Value
Realized
4148
1c War (O83). Bottom left imprint and plate no. 48 block of twelve, original gum, all but one stamp Mint N.H., other stamp lightly hinged, vivid color and remarkably fresh, trivial small perf separation at bottom and light crease in bottom left selvageFINE. AN INCREDIBLY SCARCE PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF THE ONE-CENT WAR DEPARTMENT.
The 1c War Department was not extensively remaindered after Officials were discontinued, and plate number blocks are extremely rare.
3,750
2,400
4149
1c War (O83). Block of four with selvage at left, bright color, few minor perf separations, otherwise Fine
1,050
130
Back to Top4150
1c War (O83). Incredibly strong strike of Fort Leavenworth Honeycomb fancy cancel remarkably well-centered amid Jumbo margins, trivial corner perf tip creases, still an Extremely Fine stamp and beautiful strike of this desirable cancel
E. 500-750
1,700
Back to Top4151
2c War (O84). Block of four, original gum, h.r. at top, small hinge reinforcement between right vertical pair, leaving the bottom left stamp Mint N.H. with Jumbo margins, soft pastel shade, Very Fine and choice
1,025
0
Back to Top4152
2c War (O84). Bottom margin imprint and plate no. 35 block of fourteen, natural s.e. and guide arrow at left, six stamps Mint N.H. (one with natural gum skip), fresh color, some perf separations reinforced incl. small piece of scotch tape in selvageFINE-VERY FINE. A VERY SCARCE PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF THE 2-CENT WAR DEPARTMENT.
Plate blocks of the 2c and 3c consist of fourteen stamps, whereas other denominations are ten or twelve. The 2c War Department was not extensively remaindered after the discontinuance of Officials; therefore, plate blocks are rare.
3,750
2,700
Back to Top4153
2c War (O84). Horizontal strip of three cancelled by "Fort Totten, Dakota, Sept 25, 1883" double-circle circular datestamp with two bold strikes of a Star fancy cancel, also a violet manuscript cancel over two stamps, Very Fine and scarce, ex Markovits
E. 200-300
110
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2c War (O84). Horizontal strip of three cancelled by two strikes of "Fort Buford, D.T., Apr 7, 1880" circular datestamp and negative Star in Circle fancy cancel, fresh color, Very Fine and attractive, ex Markovits
E. 200-300
110
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3c War (O85). Block of four, original gum, lightly hinged (if at all), soft shade, well-centered and choice, Fine-Very Fine, with 2003 P.F. certificate
1,025
225
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6c War (O86). Block of four with partial imprint in bottom selvage, original gum, fresh color, multiple hinge reinforcements, Fine, a scarce unused block not often encountered
3,000
0
Back to Top4157
6c War (O86). Bottom imprint and plate no. 60 irregular block of eleven, selvage at left folded back, heavily reinforced with hinges, faults, a desirable block regardless of condition, as we have been unable to locate a complete plate block
6,875
2,900
Back to Top4158
7c War (O87). Mint N.H., deep rich color, almost perfectly centered with Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a huge stamp, ex Silver Lake, with copy of 1992 P.F. certificate for plate no. block of fourteen from which this came and 2004 P.F. certificate
360
450
Back to Top4159
7c-12c, 24c-30c War (O87-O89, O91-O92). Blocks of four, original gum, h.r., 12c Mint N.H., fresh colors, Fine, an attractive set of blocks
3,475
550
Back to Top4160
10c War (O88). Bottom left imprint and plate no. 79 block of sixteen, original gum, hinge reinforcements in the selvage only with stamps being Mint N.H., bottom left stamp and selvage with blind perfs (really partly imperforate), bright color, small cut at bottom left corner in selvage, minor perf separation, Fine, Scott Retail as plate block and block of four
2,600
1,100
Back to Top4161
10c War (O88). Horizontal pair cancelled by well-struck and nearly complete "Fort Washakie, Wyoming Terr." double-line circular datestamp, hinge reinforcement and trivial small stamp faults, Fine, ex Markovits
E. 200-300
225
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10c War (O88). Horizontal strip of three cancelled by bold Fort McKinney, Wyoming Terr. circular datestamp and duplex target cancel, trivial fault on right stamp, Fine, ex Markovits
E. 200-300
300
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10c War (O88). Horizontal strip of three cancelled by clear Fort Bridger, Wyoming Terr. duplex cancel, Fine strike of this scarce cancel, ex Markovits
E. 200-300
300
Back to Top4164
12c War (O89). Horizontal block of eight, bottom four with quartered cork cancels, top four uncancelled except for trace at bottom of pos. 2, rich color, some hinge reinforcement, pos. 4 right perfs trimmed, couple others small faults, otherwise Fine, only two larger blocks known, Scott Retail as two used blocks of four
1,100
250
Back to Top4165
15c War (O90). Block of four, original gum, top pair lightly hinged, bottom pair Mint N.H. and particularly well-centered, rich color, choice centering, Extremely Fine, with 2002 P.F. certificate
375
300
Back to Top4166
15c War (O90). Bottom margin imprint and plate no. 87 block of 20, the bottom two rows of the sheet, original gum, at least twelve Mint N.H., few h.r. reinforcing perf separations, Fine-Very Fine, Scott Retail as plate block and two blocks of four
1,850
500
Back to Top4167
24c War (O91). Mint N.H., handsomely centered with lovely bright color, Very Fine, with 1991 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (VF 80; unpriced in SMQ in Mint N.H. condition, SMQ $90.00 as hinged), only two stamps grade higher
190
130
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24c War (O91). Top margin imprint and plate no. 86 block of ten, slightly disturbed original gum, warm pastel color, Fine
1,300
170
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24c War (O91). Bottom left corner imprint and plate no. 86 block of twelve, original gum, few h.r., bright color, attractive centering, Very Fine, ex Wampler, Scott Retail for a plate block and two singles
1,470
600
Back to Top4170
24c War (O91). Block of four, beautiful strong color, bold circle of wedges cancels, Fine and handsome, this is the only recorded used block of this denomination, with 1993 P.F. certificate, ex Mainberger
2,250
1,700
Back to Top4171
30c War (O92). Bottom imprint and plate no. 81 block of twelve, original gum, three Mint N.H., few h.r., rich color, Very Good
1,850
1,100
Back to Top4172
30c War (O92). Used vertical block of six, quartered cork cancels, bright color, pos. 1 few trivial perf flaws, otherwise Fine-Very Fine, this is the second largest known used multiple of this denomination
E. 500-750
550
Back to Top4173
90c War (O93). Block of four, original gum, lightly hinged, fresh color and fairly well-centered, small hinge reinforcement, Fine-Very Fine
975
150
Back to Top4174
90c War (O93). Block of six, original gum, lightly hinged except for two stamps which are Mint N.H., deep shade and strong impression, Fine, Scott Retail as singles
1,900
170
Back to Top4175
90c War (O93). Block of four, wide exterior margins, especially right and bottom suggesting this is from a corner position in the sheet, light cork cancels, top right few short perfs, some minor staining between left pair due to strengthening, otherwise Fine-Very Fine, this is the second known used block of the 90c War, the other is ex Lobdell (Siegel Sale 1003), ex Diamond
1,400
850
Back to Top4176
3c War (O85). Circular cork cancel and "Fort Leavenworth, Kan., Aug 9" circular datestamp on legal-size "War Department, Headquarters Department of the Missouri" imprint cover with penalty clause, printed "Army and Navy Journal" address, couple light cover file folds, Very Fine, with 2011 P.F. certificate
E. 200-300
170
Back to Top4177
6c War (O86). Tied by well-struck oval grid cancel, "Saint Paul, Minn., Jul 27" circular datestamp on "Headquarters, Department of Dakota, Saint Paul, Minn." imprint cover to Fort Keough, Montana Territory, slightly reduced at right, Very Fine and attractive, ex Markovits
E. 300-400
325
Back to Top4178
6c War (O86). Horizontal strip of four tied by segmented cork cancels and "Washington, D.C., Sep. 17" circular datestamp on "Office of the Chief Signal Officer, Official Business" imprint legal-size cover to Lake View, N.Y., reduced at left, part of backflap missing and some edge faults, Fine, paying the eight-times 3c domestic rate, ex Markovits
E. 300-400
225
Back to Top4179
12c War (O89). Tied by cork cancel, lightly struck "St. Paul, Minn. Jun. 21 7AM" circular datestamp on "Headquarters, Department of Dakota, St. Paul, Minn." imprint cover to Fort Totten, Dakota Territory, some light soiling, Fine, ex Markovits
E. 300-400
160
Back to Top4180
1c and 10c War (O83, O88). 10c horizontal pair, wide margins, used with single 1c (few pulled perfs at top), all tied by segmented circular cork cancels, "Washington D.C. Apr. 20 4PM" circular datestamp on legal-size cover with "War Department, Office Commissary-General of Subsistence, Official Business" imprint and printed address to "Captain William H. Nash, Commissary of Subsistence, U.S. Army, Cheyenne, Wyoming Territory", slightly reduced and couple small tears at right, light toning band at leftVERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY SCARCE WAR DEPARTMENT FRANKING FOR THE SEVEN-TIMES DOMESTIC RATE.
The supply depot in Cheyenne, Wyoming Territory, was one of the country's largest until the removal of Native Americans from surrounding areas eliminated the need for many of the territorial forts.
Ex Starnes.
E. 2,000-3,000
1,200
Back to Top4181
15c War (O90). Rich color and proof-like impression, tied by quartered cork cancel, partly struck "Washington D.C. Jan. (?)" circular datestamp on legal-size "War Department, Adjutant General's Office, Official Business" imprint cover to Baltimore, receiving backstamp, a bit aged and brittle around edges, reinforced in placesONE OF THREE REPORTED 15-CENT WAR DEPARTMENT COVERS.
The Markovits sale catalogue (Bennett 2004) reports three 15c War covers, but it is uncertain if this is one of the three (some of the census figures exclude Starnes covers) or if this is the only solo use.
Ex Hughes and Starnes.
E. 2,000-3,000
1,500
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