Sale 1201 — The Dr. William H. Johnson Collection of the U.S. 1890 Small Bank Note Issue
Sale Date — Tuesday, 21 May, 2019
Category — Early Dates
Lot
Symbol
Photo/Description
Cat./Est. Value
Realized
2085
1c Dull Blue (219). Straight edge at bottom, used with horizontal pair of 2c Green (213), s.e. at left, tied by "Cincinnati O. Feb. 26 5PM 1890" duplex datestamp on cover to Barmen, Germany, New York and receiving backstamps, some overall toning also affects stamps, 1c stamp small tear at lower right, still Very Fine, this is the earliest documented use of the 1c 1890 Issue -- one day earlier than the listed date in Scott Catalogue -- with 2015 P.F. certificate
E. 300-400
150
2086
2c Carmine, Cap on Left "2" (220a). Used with 10c Blue, Special Delivery (E2), tied by "Minneapolis, Minn. Sep 9 92" duplex datestamp on legal-size cover to Duluth Minn., docketed at left, fresh and Very Fine, this is the earliest documented use of the cap on left "2" variety, ex Berkun, with 2003 A.P.S. certificate
E. 300-400
0
Back to Top2087
2c Carmine, Cap on Both "2"'s (220c). Tied by "Vineland N.J. Jul. 7 6:30PM 1892" duplex datestamp on cover to Erminna Pa., Philadelphia transit backstamp, slightly reduced at left, some slight edgewear and some toning also affects stamp, stamp with small flaw at left, otherwise Fine, this is the earliest documented use of the cap on both "2"'s variety, ex Berkun, with 2003 A.P.S. certificate
E. 300-400
160
Back to Top2088
1c Dull Blue, 2c Lake, Carmine (219, 219D, 220). 16 covers, all are early uses, the 1c used on Feb. 27, 1890 (former EDU, there is now one a day earlier), several early 219D including Feb. 25, Feb. 26 (2), Feb. 29 plus a few in early March, No. 220 includes Mar. 11, 1890 use (EDU as of 2004, now there is one earlier, offered in lot 2085), few faults, most Fine-Very Fine, a scarce group
E. 400-500
250
Back to Top2089
2c Shades and Early Uses (219D, 220). Six covers, each with an especially dark shade and each an early 1890 use, dates of use include Feb. 24 (two days after issue), Feb. 27, Feb. 29, Apr. 9, May 31 and June 3 (former EDU of No. 220), shades include a Deep Lake and a range of different shades between Carmine and Lake, few faults, Fine-Very Fine group and an excellent study of the early shades on the 2c
E. 500-750
325
Back to Top2090
3c Purple (221). Used with 1c Ultramarine (212), 4c Carmine (215) and 5c Indigo (216), tied by target cancels, "Paterson N.J. Feb. 28 6:30PM 1890" circular datestamp on 2c Green entire to Wellington, New Zealand, San Francisco and receiving backstamps, stamps with few toned perfs, entire with faint vertical crease at rightFINE APPEARANCE. A BEAUTIFUL FIVE-COLOR FRANKING TO NEW ZEALAND, WITH THE EARLIEST DOCUMENTED USE OF THE 3-CENT 1890 ISSUE.
Ex Markovits and Berkun. With 2004 A.P.S. certificate
E. 1,500-2,000
1,300
Back to Top2091
4c Dark Brown (222). Used with 5c Chocolate (223), 6c Brown Red (224) and 10c Green (226), tied by registry oval cancels, purple "Philadelphia Pa. Registered Jul. 16, 1890" boxed datestamp on stamp dealer's corner card cover to Narbonne, France, New York, transit and receiving backstamps, some edgewear and some toned spots also affect stamps, otherwise Fine, this is the earliest documented use of the 4c Lincoln 1890 Issue, release of the 4c and 5c were delayed as ABN Co. worked on new designs, with 2015 P.S.A.G. certificate
E. 300-400
250
Back to Top2092
5c Chocolate (223). Rich color, cancelled by four-bar grid, "Haddonfield N.J. Jun. 14, 1890" circular datestamp on cover to London, England, Philadelphia and receiving backstamps, slight edgewear, Fine, this is the earliest documented use of the 5c Grant 1890 Issue, the 4c and 5c were issued later than others in the series as their designs had not yet been finalized
E. 750-1,000
400
Back to Top2093
5c Chocolate (223). Intense color, cancelled by open grid, "Haddonfield N.J. Jun. 14, 1890" circular datestamp on cover to London, England, Philadelphia and receiving backstamps, fresh and Very Fine, this is the earliest documented use of Scott 223, the 4c and 5c were issued later than others in the series as their designs had not yet been finalized
E. 750-1,000
550
Back to Top2094
6c Brown Red (224). Horizontal pair, tied by New York registry ovals and used with 1c Dull Blue (219) on 2c Green on Oriental Buff entire (U313) to Hamburg, Germany, May 8, 1890 oval and purple boxed registry datestamps on back, registry label and pencil "5" also ties pair, receiving backstamp, Very Fine, this is the earliest documented use of both the 6c 1890 Issue and the 2c entire, ex Berkun, with 2004 A.P.S. certificate
E. 300-400
425
Back to Top2095
8c Lilac (225). Used with vertical pair of 1c Columbian (230) and 3c Columbian (232), tied by New York registry ovals, purple "Registered May 4, 1893 Branch P.O. Station G New York P.O." boxed backstamp on large size 10c Columbian entire (U351) to Bavaria, Germany, transit and receiving backstamps, minor wear, Very Fine, this is the earliest documented use of the 8c, the registry fee was reduced to 8c effective Jan. 1, 1893, so the 8c denomination was added to the regular issue, ex Berkun, with 2005 A.P.S. certificate
E. 400-500
200
Back to Top2096
15c Indigo (227). Deep rich color, tied by "New York Apr. 8 5:30PM P 90" duplex datestamp on hop merchant's corner card cover to Bamberg, Bavaria, Germany, receiving backstamp, minor edgewear, Very Fine, this is the earliest documented use of the 15c 1890 Issue, and this predates the EDU date listed in Scott Catalogue by over a month, Scott Catalogue lists the EDU as May 16, Dr. Johnson discovered this rarity just a few years ago, with 2015 P.F. certificate
E. 750-1,000
650
Back to Top2097
15c Indigo (227). Rich color, tied by cork cancel, "Alice Tex. May 15, 1890" circular datestamps, used with horizontal strip of three of 1c Ultramarine (212) tied by target cancels on back of registered 2c green on blue entire (U321) to Baden, Germany, receiving backstamp, some slight edgewear, still Very Fine, a very early use, until 2015 this was the earliest documented use, ex Berkun, with 2005 A.P.S. certificate
E. 300-400
300
Back to Top2098
30c Black (228). Tied by target cancel, purple "Registered Apr. 14, 1890 Charleston, S.C." three-line datestamp on legal-size cover to South Creek N.C., slightly reduced at right, cover with light creases, stamp with few lightly toned perfsFINE. THIS IS THE EARLIEST DOCUMENTED USE OF THE 30-CENT 1890 ISSUE.
Ex Berkun. With 2001 P.F. certificate
E. 1,500-2,000
2,100
Back to Top2099
90c Orange (229). Horizontal pair, vibrant color, neat strikes of "New York Reg. Div. 5-16 1890" oval datestamps, each strike is incomplete but together they display the entire date, right stamp single short perf at top right, left stamp small tear at top right (latter not mentioned on certificate), Fine-Very Fine, this is the earliest documented use of the 90c 1890 Issue
E. 750-1,000
0
Back to Top2100
90c Orange (229). Vibrant color, neat strike of "New York Sep. 12 9PM 90" circular datestamp, small flaws, still Very Fine, a very early date, 1890-dated cancels are rare on the 90c, with 2015 P.F. certificate
E. 200-300
110
Back to Top2101
90c Orange (229). Horizontal strip of three, straight edge at left, used with 15c Indigo (227) and 30c Black (228), tied by New York registry ovals, "New York N.Y. Reg'y. Div. 10-4 1890" oval datestamp on large part of blue linen lined cover which has been refolded to Berlin, Germany, receiving backstampVERY FINE. THIS IS THE EARLIEST DOCUMENTED USE OF THE 90-CENT 1890 ISSUE ON A PIECE OF SUBSTANTIAL SIZE.
The $3.15 postage pays 61 times the 5c U.P.U. rate plus the 10c registry fee. This is one of the two pieces counted in our census of 90c 1890 covers, because despite being reduced, they still have clearly dated postmarks and part of the address. It also has the largest number of 90c stamps of the 18 items in the census
E. 1,500-2,000
800
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