Sale 1283 — Commemoratives, Featuring Morton Trans-Mississippi, Brody Jamestown and Haber 1909 Issues
Sale Date — Wednesday, 19 April, 2023
Category — 1909 Alaska-Yukon Issue
2c Alaska-Yukon, Photo Essay (370-E var). 112 x 166mm card with photo of wash drawing of vignette essay, depicting a seal on iceberg as originally approved, Very Fine, this is similar to the design of the Scott-listed 370-E1 essay
2c Alaska-Yukon, Model Essay (370-E3). 93 x 70mm, with photo of seal on iceberg as originally approved and with hand-drawn frame as approved, engraved portrait of Seward at bottom, red "#3" in circle at upper left, typed "Approved, April 3, 1909, Postmaster-General" and signed by F. H. Hitchcock, some minor soilingVERY FINE. A PHENOMENAL ESSAY FOR THE 2-CENT ALASKA-YUKON EXPOSITION, COMBINING A DRAWING OF THE FRAME AS ADOPTED WITH A PHOTOGRAPHIC VIGNETTE WHICH WAS REJECTED AND A SEPARATE ENGRAVING OF THE VIGNETTE AS ADOPTED, ON A CARD MARKED APPROVED.
According to Johl, the backers of the Exposition prevailed on the Post Office Department to issue a stamp for the event. The design with a seal at center was acceptable to postal officials, but the backers of the Exposition did not think the theme of a seal on a block of ice would encourage travel to Alaska. The vignette was changed to Seward's portrait.
Ex Johl (illustrated in his book, Vol. I, p. 48) and Dr. Lobdell. Illustrated in Scott U.S. Specialized Catalogue, where the price has remained unchanged despite this realizing $4,000 hammer the last time it was sold.
2c Carmine, Alaska-Yukon, Small Die Proof on Wove (370P2). Rich color on crisp paper, Extremely Fine and very scarce, as noted in other lots in this sale containing Roosevelt album proofs, issues after the 1903 release of the albums are much rarer than the issues prior to 1903
2c Carmine, Alaska-Yukon, "Ultramar" (Overseas) Specimen Ovpt. (370S). Two, with purple handstamps applied by Portuguese Postal Authorities upon receipt from U.P.U. headquarters in Berne, Switzerland for distribution to their Colonial Post Offices, one affixed to piece of ledger page, the other no gum and shallow thin spot, Very Fine appearance, these are the only two surviving 2c Alaska-Yukon Specimen stamps outside official archives, latter used to have a 1990 P.F. certificate with a pencil note suggesting this came from the Postal Archives of Mozambique (certificate no longer accompanies), ex Dr. Lobdell
2c Carmine, Alaska-Yukon (370). Tied by "Boston Mass. May 29 4-PM 1909" pre-First Day wavy-line machine cancel on cover to Mr. Chas. Powers in Dorchester Centre, Mass., the stamp has exceptionally choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE. A RARE PRE-FIRST DAY USE OF THE 2-CENT ALASKA-YUKON ISSUE. THIS MAY 29, 1909 COVER IS THE EARLIEST KNOWN USE.
The Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition opened on June 1, 1909, which was a Tuesday and the first official day of use for this stamp. This cover was postmarked on the preceding Friday, four days before it was supposed to be used. Only four pre-First Day covers are known.
Ex Dr. Martin and Dr. Lobdell. A normal First Day cover catalogues $3,000.00 in Scott
2c Carmine, Alaska-Yukon (370). With bottom imprint, tied by "Seattle, Wash. Jun. 1, 1909 5:30 P.M." Exposition First Day machine cancel on beautiful multicolored postcard of "1865 - Mines Building, Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, Seattle, Washington.", serviced by Fred Lindsley with exceptional original content "June 1 - 1909 The great fair is opening this morning at 8:30, Pres. Taft officially opened the fair at 12...", also with multicolored label at bottom right from the ExpositionVERY FINE AND RARE FIRST DAY USE OF THE 2-CENT ALASKA-YUKON ISSUE ON AN EXPOSITION POSTCARD WITH STATION CANCEL. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE DUE TO THE CONTENTS, EXPOSITION LABEL, AND PARTIAL IMPRINT ON THE STAMP.
Fewer than ten First Day Exposition postcards with the Station cancel are known to exist. Ex Dr. Martin. With 1985 A.P.S. certificate.
2c Carmine, Alaska-Yukon (370). Tied by "Seattle Wash. Jun. 1, 1909 5:30 P.M." Exposition First Day machine cancel on beautiful multicolored postcard of "Entrance to Manufacturer's Building. Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition. Seattle Wash. 1909", serviced by Fred Lindsley with original content "June 1st 1909 opening day of P. E.", vertical crease at left of card which is insignificant given the rarity of this cardA BEAUTIFUL AND RARE FIRST DAY USE OF THE 2-CENT ALASKA-YUKON ISSUE ON AN EXPOSITION POSTCARD WITH STATION CANCEL. FEWER THAN TEN ARE KNOWN TO EXIST.
This is the actual card illustrated in Planty (#2). Ex Dr. Martin
2c Carmine, Alaska-Yukon, Diagonal Half Used as 1c (370 var). Bottom right diagonal half, tied by "Seattle Wash. Jun. 1 5-PM 1909 World's Fair Seattle 1909" First Day of Issue machine cancel on postcard with elaborate birthday greetings to St. Louis Mo.VERY FINE AND LIKELY UNIQUE USE OF A 2-CENT ALASKA-YUKON BISECT STAMP ON A FIRST DAY COVER.
Bisects in this period are philatelic but this is still a very rare use of one on an Alaska-Yukon First Day cover. Haber records only this single example. Scott value $3,000.00 for ordinary First Day cover.
2c Carmine, Alaska-Yukon (370). Choice centering with wide margins, brilliant color, tied by clear "Milwaukee Wis. Jun. 1 11-30 PM 1909" First Day of Issue wavy-line machine cancel on jewelers corner card cover addressed locally, bright and freshEXTREMELY FINE. A VERY CHOICE QUALITY FIRST DAY COVER OF THE 2-CENT ALASKA-YUKON ISSUE.
With 2001 A.P.S. certificate
2c Carmine, Alaska-Yukon (370). Choice centering, tied by "Cambridge Mass. Jun. 1 5-PM 1909" First Day of Issue waving flag machine cancel on cover addressed locally, slight toning along bottom of cover and additional toning at left lightened, backflap tear, otherwise Very Fine and attractive First Day use with the flag machine cancel, 1998 P.F. certificate no longer accompanies
2c Carmine, Alaska-Yukon (370). Tied by bold "Richmond. Va. Jun. 1, 1-PM 1909" First Day of Issue wavy-line machine cancel on cover to Greenwood Va., receiving backstamp of the same day, stamp with some slightly gum-soaked perfs, otherwise Very Fine First Day use
2c Carmine, Alaska-Yukon (370). Tied by bold "Philadelphia Pa. Jun. 1 8-30 PM 1909" First Day of Issue wavy-line machine cancel on buff cover addressed locally, top right corner of cover torn which also clips the top right margin of the stamp, otherwise Very Fine First Day use
2c Carmine, Alaska-Yukon (370). Vertical pair, tied by "Omaha Neb. Jun. 1, 9:30PM 1909" First Day of Issue wavy-line machine cancel on oversize cover to South Omaha, illustrated corner card for Nebraska Grand Chapter P.E.O. (philanthropic and educational organization for women), tear at left and some slight edgewear, still Fine and scarce, one of only five recorded 2c Alaska-Yukon First Day covers franked with more than one stamp, ex Dr. Lobdell, with 1973 A.F.D.C. certificate
2c Carmine, Alaska-Yukon (370). Used with 2c Carmine, Hudson-Fulton (372) tied by South Norwalk Conn. wavy-line machine cancel on Cuba, 1c Green on Amber entire (U10) to Grolanda, Sweden, Sorby (Sweden) backstamp dated 1910, Very Fine and most unusual, this is a 5c UPU use but an illegal use of the Cuba entire
2c Carmine, Alaska-Yukon (370). Tied by indistinct oval grid cancel and used as forwarding postage on The Literary Digest magazine dated Sep. 11, 1909, small printed address label is crossed out and forwarding address written below, the magazine has some slight edgewear but overall is in good condition, Very Fine and a rare use of this stamp, Haber records only two examples used to pay second-class forwarding