Sale 1164 — The Grant Inman Collection, Part 6: Wine, Beer and Silver Tax Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday, 20 September, 2017
Category — Beer Stamps - 1878 Issue
1878, 12-1/2c Blue on Green Silk, -1/8bbl., Beer (REA37b; Priester 38A). Large and even margins, rich colors and detailed impressions, neat strike of blue "C. Heurich. Washington D.C., Apr. 20, 1878" double-oval datestamp, light creases and faint thin spotsVERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN ATTRACTIVE EXAMPLE OF THE 1878 ONE-EIGHTH BARREL ISSUE ON GREEN SILK PAPER. VERY FEW ARE KNOWN.
The Priester census records a total of 14 of this issue. We have offered only one other since keeping computerized records, which was badly damaged. The example offered here was used at the C. Heurich Brewing Co., which was at one time the largest brewer in Washington D.C. Its owner was also the largest landowner in Washington D.C. (aside from the Federal government). His brewery burned down three times, prompting him to build both a fireproof brewery and mansion in 1894.
Ex "Scarsdale". With 2012 P.F. certificate
1878, 25c Green on Green, -1/4bbl., Beer, Inverted Center (REA39a; Priester 40bB). Position 8 in the pane, large margins, rich colors on deep green paper, neat 1878 manuscript cancel leaves the design clearly visible, vertical crease, thins, two small holes, small surface scuff at bottom centerVERY FINE APPEARANCE. THIS STAMP IS THE UNIQUE 1878 QUARTER-BARREL BEER ISSUE WITH INVERTED CENTER. ONE OF THE MOST WIDELY RECOGNIZED BEER STAMP RARITIES AND A HIGHLIGHT OF THE INMAN COLLECTION.
Considering the large number of bicolored stamps and the era in which they were printed, we are surprised there are not more Beer stamp inverts. There were 24 different bicolored Beer stamps issued between 1871 and 1878, not counting different paper types or printing varieties. Only three inverts are known, each of which is represented by a single example (REA32a, REA36a and REA39a). Two of the three are the same denomination -- the 25c quarter-barrel (the third is a $2.00) -- but they have different frames and vignettes. One depicts Bacchus serving the first fermented brew to man (offered in lot 557); the example offered here shows Thomas "Old Bullion" Benton, who was the first member of the Senate to serve five terms (he was also John C. Fremont's father-in-law).
The first recorded owner of this one-of-a-kind invert was noted Revenue collector and prolific philatelic author Henry Holcombe (1897-1973), who was most active in the 1930's through the 1950's. It is uncertain if this stamp was acquired by Philip H. Ward and then by the Weill Brothers., but the late Robert H. Cunliffe purchased it from the Weills and owned it for several decades. Cunliffe's Invert collection was sold after his death by Spink Shreves in 2009. We believe this is the stamp's second appearance at auction.
Ex Henry Holcombe, Weill and Robert H. Cunliffe (possibly Ward). Weill backstamp. With 2009 P.F. certificate
1878, 33-1/3c Violet on Pale Green, -1/3bbl., Beer (REA40c; Priester 41C). Large margins to barely touched including sheet margin at bottom, faint red crayon cancel, horizontal and vertical creases, some small staining on back shows thru at upper right, otherwise Fine, scarce as only 14 are recorded in the Priester census and we have offered only one other since keeping computerized records, ex "Scarsdale", with 2005 P.F. certificate
1878, 33-1/3c Violet on Dark Blue, -1/3bbl., Beer, No Plate/Position Number or Letter (REA40f; Priester 41F). Unused (no gum), large to huge margins including bottom right corner sheet margin, rich colors, small tears in margin only at right, small blue ink mark just affects design, otherwise Very Fine, ex "Scarsdale" unlisted in Scott as unused, Scott Retail as used
1878, $1.00 Red on Pale Green, 1bbl., Beer (REA42c; Priester 43C). Unused (no gum), large margins to clear, few flaws including tear and tape stain, otherwise Fine, only 27 are recorded in the Priester census, ex "Scarsdale", unlisted in Scott as unused, Scott Retail as used
1878, $1.00 Red on Light Blue, 1bbl., Beer (REA42d; Priester 43D). With plate no. 2651 and position no. 2, unused (no gum), large margins to ample at left, trivial crease and tear at bottom left corner, Very Fine and attractive, ex Tolman and "Scarsdale", unlisted in Scott as unused, Scott Retail as used
1878, $2.00 Brown on Green Silk, 1hhd., Beer (REA43b; Priester 44A). Large margins to clear, some staining and thin spots, otherwise Fine, only 24 are recorded in the Priester census on silk paper, ex "Scarsdale"
1878, $2.00 Brown on Pale Green, 1hhd., Beer (REA43c; Priester 44C). Huge margins to clear including sheet margin at top, faint strike of purple handstamp cancel, few faults including soiling and pinhole, otherwise Very Fine, scarce, only 15 are recorded in the Priester census, ex "Scarsdale"
1878, $2.00 Brown on Blue, 1hhd., Beer, No Plate/Position Number or Letter (REA43e; Priester 44E). Full margins to clear, rich color, light strike of purple handstamp cancel, few trivial toned spots, Fine, only 37 are recorded in the Priester census, ex "Scarsdale"