Sale 1239 — 2021 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Thursday, 24 June, 2021
Category — 1902 Pan-American Issue Stamps, First Day Covers and Inverts
1c Pan-American (294). Pair, beautifully centered with rich color, tied by "Buffalo N.Y. May 1, 1901 11:30 PM" Pan-American Exposition First Day machine cancel on "The Ivanhoe" corner card cover with typed address to Edward Miller & Co. in Meriden Conn., May 2 receiving backstamp, Pan-American Exposition label affixed below corner cardEXTREMELY FINE. AN ABSOLUTELY PRISTINE AND VERY RARE COVER. ONE OF ONLY TWO KNOWN ONE-CENT PAN-AMERICAN FIRST DAY COVERS FRANKED WITH A PAIR. THIS IS THE FINER OF THE TWO.
Apart from the complete set covers, only fourteen First Days are documented for this issue, of which six are on card and eight are on cover.
Ex Dr. Martin. With 1974 AFDCS certificate.
2c Pan-American (295). Superb centering with wide right sheet margin, tied by "Seattle Wash. May 1, 1901 8 AM" First Day machine cancel on National Association of Letter Carriers advertising cover addressed to Mr. Wm. L. Lindsley, Sec. Carrier No. 18 in Seattle Wash., handwritten note (in same hand) on front of the cover reads "The first letter cancelled in the Seattle office with Pan American Stamp.", with original contents on beautifully engraved stationery with four different notes by members of the Lindsley family noting the new stamps and the first day of the Exposition opening, etc.AN EXTREMELY FINE AND FANTASTIC FIRST DAY COVER OF THE 2-CENT PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE, MAILED BY A LETTER CARRIER IN SEATTLE, WASHINGTON. A WONDERFUL EXHIBIT ITEM.
The hand-written note is unique to this Pan-American First Day Cover and adds a rarely encountered degree of postal significance. Ex Dr. Martin.
1c Pan-American, Center Inverted (294a). Original gum, rich colors and sharp detailed impressions, excellent centeringEXTREMELY FINE. A REMARKABLY FRESH AND BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT.
According to Johl, the 1c Pan-American Inverts were found in at least four different post offices around the country soon after release of the issue in May 1901, including Bessemer Ala., Richmond Va., Utica N.Y. and Connecticut.
Ex "Millwood" and Dr. Morris. With 1992 P.F. and 2015 P.S.E. certificates (OGh, VF-XF 85; SMQ $19,500.00)
1c Pan-American, Center Inverted (294a). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich colors, choice centeringVERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT.
According to Johl, the 1c Pan-American Inverts were found in at least four different post offices around the country soon after release of the issue in May 1901, including Bessemer Ala., Richmond Va., Utica N.Y. and Connecticut.
With 1996 P.F. certificate
1c Pan-American, Center Inverted (294a). Unused (regummed), choice centering, two sealed tears at right, appears Very Fine, a presentable example of this popular invert, which was found in at least four different post offices around the country soon after release of the issue in May 1901, with 1990 P.F. certificate, Scott value as original gum
1c Pan-American, Center Inverted (294a). Block of four, original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich colors and proof-like impressions, choice centering, bottom right stamp trivial crease not mentioned on accompanying certificateEXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE ONE-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT, WITH EXTRAORDINARY CENTERING. RARE WITH SUCH CHOICE CENTERING
The Pan-American inverts were the first bicolored postage stamps produced by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and the first invert postage errors issued by the Post Office since the 1869 Pictorials. According to Johl, the 1c Pan-American Inverts were found in at least four different post offices around the country soon after release of the issue in May 1901, including Bessemer Ala., Richmond Va., Utica N.Y. and Connecticut. Thirteen blocks of four, a block of six and a block of 20 are recorded in our Levi records -- the large block offered in our 2018 sale of the William H. Gross United States Stamp Treasures. Some of the blocks may have been broken into singles.
Ex Crocker. With 1989 P.F. certificate as sound. For a history of the 1c Pan-American inverts see https://siegelauctions.com/2018/1188/101.pdf
1c Pan-American, Center Inverted (294a). Block of four, original gum, rich colors, small hinge-reinforced perf separations, few insignificant toned perf tips at bottom right not mentioned on accompanying certificateFINE AND RARE BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE ONE-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT.
The Pan-American inverts were the first bicolored postage stamps produced by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and the first invert postage errors issued by the Post Office since the 1869 Issue. The 1c Pan-American Inverts were found in several post offices around the country. Thirteen blocks of four, a block of six and the block of 20 offered in our 2018 sale of the William H. Gross collection are recorded in our Levi records. Some of the multiples may have been broken into singles by now.
Ex Whitman and Middendorf. With 2001 P.F. certificate. Scott value $75,000.00. For a history of the 1c Pan-American inverts see https://siegelauctions.com/2018/1188/101.pdf
1c Pan-American, Center Inverted (294a). Rich colors, neat machine cancel, thinned and with pinholeVERY FINE APPEARING AND RARE USED EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT.
The 1c Pan-American Inverts were found in at least four different post offices around the country, soon after release of the issue in May 1901. According to the revised Johl-King book (p.7) "The first known copies of this error were discovered at Bessemer, Alabama, by the Carrell Jewelry Company on some circulars just prior to mailing them. When they realized the find they had made they lost no time in removing the stamps from the circulars and thus saved them to philately."
The 1c Pan-American Invert in used condition is considerably scarcer than unused. Our census, available at our website at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/294a , records 54 used examples (two on piece and a pair) plus three on covers, for a total of 57 copies. Only seven singles are confirmed as sound.
Census no. 294a-CAN-18. With 1947 P.F. certificate
2c Pan-American, Center Inverted (295a). Original gum, choice centering with wide and even margins at sides, attractive colors, tiny trivial corner crease at lower rightEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT.
A survey of the Levi records produced 64 single unused stamps (excluding the block of four and rejoined block of four). Many of these were described in auction catalogues more than 40 years ago; therefore, the determination of soundness is uncertain. However, assuming the old descriptions were reaffirmed today, approximately 45% of singles across all centering categories have faults. The centering on the example offered here is far better than normally seen.
With 1968 and 2001 P.F. certificates
4c Pan-American, Center Inverted (296a). Unused (regummed), small repairs including diagonal sealed tearFINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT.
The 4c stamp portrays an electric automobile, known at the time as the "Electric Vehicle Service," as depicted on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad brochure from which the engraving was made. In the background one can see the dome of the Capitol. One of the two men seated at the front was Samuel B. Hege, B&O's passenger agent, so this stamp actually depicts a living person in violation of the law.
The 4c Pan-American Invert was a special printing and not regularly issued. Examples were distributed through two official channels, and the gum on the majority of stamps without "Specimen" overprint was disturbed. In fact, because 97 of the stamps were removed from an album page, they are generally thinned or have seriously disturbed or no gum.
With 2019 P.F. certificate. Scott value as original gum is $85,000.00
4c Pan-American (296). Mint N.H. bottom imprint and plate no. 1145 block of six, strong colors and excellent centeringEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK OF THE 4-CENT PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE.
With 1998 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85)
5c Pan-American (297). Mint N.H. bottom right corner imprint and plate no. 1140 block of eight, gum is barely short of the perfs at bottom but harshly called "short gummed" on accompanying certificate, rich colorVERY FINE. A LOVELY MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK OF EIGHT OF THE 5-CENT PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE FROM THE BOTTOM CORNER OF THE PLATE.
With 2018 P.S.E. certificate. Scott value as Mint N.H. plate block of six plus two singles
5c Pan-American (297). Mint N.H. bottom imprint and plate no. 1140 block of eight, rich colors, well-balanced marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK OF EIGHT OF THE 5-CENT PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE.
Scott value as Mint N.H. plate block of six plus two singles
8c Pan-American (298). Top imprint and plate no. 1150 block of eight, stamps Mint N.H., h.r. in ungummed selvage at center where few perf separations sensibly reinforced, deep rich colors, unusually choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL TOP POSITION PLATE BLOCK OF THE 8-CENT PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE.
The selvage could be trimmed or soaked to produce a Mint N.H. plate block. Scott value as Mint N.H. plate block and two Mint N.H. singles
10c Pan-American (299). Top imprint and plate no. 1151 block of eight, with pressman's initials in selvage and part arrow at right, original gum, few stamps Mint N.H., small hinge slivers applied as a preventive measure, bright colorsVERY FINE TOP PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF EIGHT OF THE 10-CENT PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE.
Scott value as plate block of six plus two singles
10c Pan-American (299). Bottom imprint, plate nos. 1151 and 1144 and arrow block of fifteen, original gum, ten stamps Mint N.H., rich colorsFRESH AND FINE LARGE PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF FIFTEEN OF THE 10-CENT PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE.
Scott value as hinged plate block of ten, four Mint N.H. and one hinged single