Sale 1145 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday, 14 December, 2016
Category — Modern Errors (Scott 557a thru 832f)
5c Dark Blue, Imperforate (557a). Horizontal pair, rich color, large even margins, Very Fine, only one or two panes of 100 are believed to exist
5c Dark Blue, Horizontal Pair, Imperforate Between (557b). Errant vertical perfs just touch left edge of left stamp, imperforate sheet margin at right, deep rich color, vertical crease in selvage, light gum crease at top of right stampVERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1922 ISSUE HORIZONTAL PAIR, IMPERFORATE VERTICALLY.
The only other example contained in Power Search was from our 1991 Rarities sale and is similar to this one, though the left vertical perfs cut further in. The Datz book states only ten pairs are recorded. Listed but unpriced in Scott. Given the $2,250.00 Scott Retail value for No. 557a, of which at least 50 are known plus two plate blocks, it is safe to assume that Scott Retail on this pair would be much higher were it priced
10c Orange, Vertical Pair, Imperforate Horizontally (562a). With large top sheet margin, top stamp Mint N.H., bottom lightly hinged, brilliant color, Pos. 5/15 lightly noted in pencil on gum (by Ward), minor gum bend bottom stamp, fresh and Fine, the Datz book states one pane is known, all of the examples we have seen of this error are centered to the right, many quite strongly
10c Orange, Imperforate Pair (562b). Horizontal pair, unused (no gum) as are all known examples, vivid color, ample to large margins, light blue crayon on right stamp, Very Fine, according to United States Stamps 1922-26 by Gary Griffith, dealer Philip Ward purchased a pane in 1925 in Oklahoma, large areas were marked for destruction with a blue crayon
12c Brown Violet, Horizontal Pair, Imperforate Vertically (564a). Large part disturbed original gum, rich color, hint of a shallow thin spot left stampVERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE PAIR OF THE 12-CENT 1922 ISSUE IMPERFORATE VERTICALLY.
According to Gary Griffith, this was first listed in the Scott Catalogue in 1936, based on a find reported by Spencer Anderson. Apparently, one pane was discovered in which the top three rows showed no vertical perforations. Assuming no others were found, this would make only 15 pairs of the variety.
The Datz book notes that Scott value is for an "impaired pair" as many are without gum, with government splicing paper or faulty.
20c Carmine Rose, Horizontal Pair, Imperforate Vertically (567a). Deep rich color, choice centering and margins, Very Fine, according to Gary Griffith, a complete pane of 100 was found in Pasadena Cal. in 1929 and was divided between two collectors, this would mean there are 50 pairs total, at least one of the panes was broken into pairs and blocks, with 1982 P.F. certificate
25c Yellow Green, Vertical Pair, Imperforate Horizontally (568b). Vertical strip of three with selvage at right, top and bottom stamps h.r., unusually well-centered for this error with nicely balanced margins, center stamp horizontal creaseVERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF THE BEST CENTERED EXAMPLES OF THE RARE 25-CENT 1922 ISSUE IMPERFORATE HORIZONTALLY.
Apart from the unique plate number block offered in our 2013 Rarities sale, every example found using Power Search has perfs touching the design at left. This centered example is a rarity among rarities.
With clear 1963 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as a pair in the grade of Fine $3,250.00. Datz value for a strip of three
2c Harding, Horizontal Pair, Imperforate Vertically (610a). Strip of three, original gum, center and left stamps Mint N.H., right stamp small trace of hinging, intense shade, beautifully centered, Very Fine and choice, an outstanding and rare strip of three of this error, only one pane of 100 was discovered and most have a strong downward shift, this strip is far better centered than usual, small pencil notation on gum of left stamp, Scott Retail for a pair in the grade of "Fine", without premium for the extra stamp
2c Von Steuben, Imperforate (689a). Horizontal pair, Positions 82-83, lightly hinged, large margins, bright color, Very Fine and choice, three panes of 100 were originally discovered, the first was returned and destroyed, some stamps from the second pane were used on covers and the remainder was returned, the third pane was discovered in Washington state and purchased intact at the post office, all known examples come from this third pane, ex Floyd, with 1998 P.F. certificate
5c Kosciuszko, Horizontal Pair, Imperforate Vertically (734a). With left interpane margin and guide line, bright color, tiny scuff at bottom left, Fine-Very Fine appearance, one pane of 100 was discovered meaning only 50 pairs are known, of those some have faults and four are in the unique plate block of eight
3c Nicolet's Landing, Vertical Pair, Imperforate Horizontally (739a). Block of four with misplaced vertical perforations, small h.r., Very Fine, an eye-catching error, with 1973 A.P.S. certificate, Scott Retail as two pairs
3c Nicolet's Landing, Horizontal Pair, Imperforate Vertically (739b). Mint N.H., beautifully balanced margins, brilliant color, Extremely Fine, a scarce error pair in Mint N.H. condition with choice centering
1c Yosemite, Vertical Pair, Imperforate Horizontally (740a). Block of six, Positions 4-5/14-15/24-25 noted on gum, bright color, nice centering and marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE LARGER MULTIPLE OF THE ONE-CENT PARKS ISSUE IMPERFORATE HORIZONTALLY.
Datz states sixteen pairs or strips of three known. Each stamp signed "S.A." (Spencer Anderson). Scott Retail as two pairs without premium for the extra two stamps
2c Grand Canyon, Pairs, Imperforate Horizontally, Vertically (741a, 741b). First Mint N.H., better centering than typically seen, bright color on fresh paper, small natural inclusion, Very Fine and choice, second with sheet margin at right, small h.r., perforated horizontally at a slight angle touching design at top right, Fine, only 2-3 panes recorded of each
3c, 5c, 7c National Parks, Pairs, Imperforate Horizontally, Vertically (742a, 744a, 746a). 3c with sheet margin at right, brown Kraft paper on part of back, Fine, 5c nice margins and Fine, 7c with gum loss and stain on one corner, otherwise Very Fine, 3c and 7c with 1960's P.F. certificates
3c Presidential, Horizontal Pair, Imperforate Between (807b). Mint N.H., rich color, three wide margins to clear at bottom, Fine and seldom offered error, Datz book states "several pairs known", Scott Retail as hinged
3c Presidential, Imperforate Pair (807c). Bottom right corner margin pair from a booklet pane (3mm vertical spacing), lightly hinged, huge to clear margins with significant portions of adjoining stamps at top, rich colorEXTREMELY FINE AND RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT PRESIDENTIAL IMPERFORATE PAIR.
The Scott Specialized and Datz catalogues both state "No. 807c (pair) is believed to be unique and has two certificates of authenticity. Some Specialists question the existence of No. 807c as a genuine error and believe the documented pair to be from counterfeit stock." It further warns that the postal counterfeits of the 3c Presidential were lithographed and without gum ridges. This pair is clearly engraved and has obvious gum ridges so it does not come from the counterfeit stock. We presume this is the pair mentioned in the Scott footnote, though Datz pictures a pair with much smaller margins, so we are not certain if the catalogues are referring to this or a different example. In any case this pair and the block offered in the following lot are among the greatest rarities of the popular Presidential Issue.
With 1958, 1983 and 2016 P.F. certificates. Unpriced in Scott or Datz
3c Presidential, Imperforate Pair (807c). Mint N.H. block of four (2.3mm vertical spacing), top pair huge margins, bottom pair large to irregular at bottom right, faults including creases, bottom right stamp with small tear and surface scrapeVERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT PRESIDENTIAL IMPERFORATE BLOCK OF FOUR.
The Scott Specialized and Datz catalogues both state "No. 807c (pair) is believed to be unique and has two certificates of authenticity. Some Specialists question the existence of No. 807c as a genuine error and believe the documented pair to be from counterfeit stock." It further warns that the postal counterfeits of the 3c Presidential were lithographed and without gum ridges. This block and the pair offered in the previous lot are clearly engraved and have obvious gum ridges so they do not come from the counterfeit stock. These are among the greatest rarities of the popular Presidential Issue.
With 1964 and 2016 P.F. certificates. Unpriced in Scott or Datz
$1.00 Presidential, 1938 and 1954 Printings, Vertical Pairs, Imperforate Horizontally (832a, 832d). Pairs of each, first lightly hinged, second Mint N.H., lovely colors showing the strong contrast between the wet and dry printings when side-by-side, also very different gum, latter with natural gum creases, Very Fine
$1.00 Presidential, 1938 Printing, Vertical Pair, Imperforate Horizontally (832a). Mint N.H. with "TOP" selvage, light natural gum creases, Very Fine and desirable with the "TOP" marker, pencil position notations on back
$1.00 Presidential, 1938 Printing, Vertical Pair, Imperforate Horizontally (832a). Mint N.H. block of four, rich color, nice centering, pencil Positions 67-68/77-78 and signatures on back, Very Fine and scarce block of this error, Scott Retail as two pairs
$1.00 Presidential, 1954 Printing, Vertical Pair, Imperforate Horizontally (832d). Two Mint N.H. pairs, one with selvage at right, fresh color, Very Fine, Datz book states 1-2 panes reported
$1.00 Presidential, 1938 Printing, Vertical pair, Imperforate Between (832e). Lightly hinged, rich Purple and Black color of the 1938 printingVERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THIS RARE PERFORATION ERROR OF THE ONE-DOLLAR PRESIDENTIAL ISSUE. VERY FEW ARE KNOWN.
This is the second rarest of the $1.00 Presidential Issue perforation errors. Only the 1954 printing imperforate between is rarer (offered in lot 508). Datz does not specify how many pairs are reported but states "very rare". A Power Search review found no others offered in our auctions.
With 1972 A.P.S. certificate
$1.00 Presidential, 1954 Printing, Vertical Pair, Imperforate Between (832f). Lightly hinged, deep rich colors in the distinct Red Violet and Black shade of the 1954 printingVERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE RAREST PERFORATION ERROR OF THE ONE-DOLLAR PRESIDENTIAL ISSUE. ONLY 10 IMPERFORATE-BETWEEN PAIRS ARE KNOWN.
This is a key item for the Presidential Series collector/exhibitor or error collector. The last example we sold, in our Sale 1133 in July 2016, realized $20,000.00.
Ex Wilbur Schilling. With 1973 P.F. certificate