Sale 920 — United States Rarities
Sale Date — Tuesday, 17 October, 2006
Category — 1893 Columbian Issue
3c Columbian (232). Mint N.H. bottom imprint, plate no. 57 and letter "L" block of eight, rich color, choice centering throughoutEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK OF EIGHT OF THE 3-CENT COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
A scarce plate block with such choice centering and in such pristine condition.
4c Columbian (233). Bottom imprint, plate no. 16 and letter "D" block of eight, original gum, barely hinged, radiant color, unusually choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM PLATE BLOCK OF THE 4-CENT COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
The centering and overall freshness of this plate block are truly amazing.
4c Columbian, Error of Color (233a). Original gum with hinge mark, deep rich color in the more intense of the two error shades, fresh and bright paper, beautifully centered with well-balanced margins, small vertical crease at bottom centerVERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 4-CENT COLUMBIAN ERROR OF COLOR.
With 1995 P.F. certificate
5c Columbian (234). Top imprint, plate no. 10 and letter "B" block of eight, Mint N.H. except for few perfs expertly reinforced in ungummed part of selvage, deep rich color and proof-like impression, Very Fine and choice, Scott Retail as hinged
6c Columbian (235). Bottom imprint, plate no. 104 and letter "Z" block of eight, original gum, barely hinged, intense color and impression, fresh and Very Fine, an attractive plate block
8c Columbian (236). Mint N.H. bottom imprint, plate no. 129 and letter "I I" block of eight, deep rich color, sharp proof-like impression, choice centeringVERY FINE. A RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK OF EIGHT OF THE 8-CENT COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
This plate block is remarkable for its freshness.
8c Columbian (236). Tied by "San Francisco Cal. 2" oval registry cancel and used with Samoa, horizontal pair of -1/2p , 1-1/2p and 3d surcharge stamps, tied by blue "Apia, Samoa Apr. 18, 1895" double-circle datestamp on registered cover to W.A. Cooper in San Francisco, red "Registered May 9, 1895 San Francisco Cal." three-line handstamp with registry nos. 4983 and 7410, back of cover with ms. "PM Apia Samoa"VERY FINE. A NEW DISCOVERY, THIS REMARKABLE SAMOA-U.S. MIXED FRANKING IS BEING OFFERED TO THE MARKET FOR THE FIRST TIME.
The Odenweller book lists the two registry nos. before the one offered here, which was sent on the same date as the others.
10c Columbian (237). Mint N.H. top imprint, plate no. 99 and letter "Y" block of ten with selvage at right, rich color, proof-like impression, top row with unusually wide perforation setting and second row with choice centeringVERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN ATTRACTIVE AND SCARCE MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK OF THE 10-CENT COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
A review of our computerized records shows that we have only sold one other Mint N.H. plate block of eight or larger in the past ten years. This Mint N.H. plate block of eight was in the Silver Lake collection (Sale 866) and realized $10,000 hammer.
15c Columbian (238). Bottom imprint, plate no. 58 and letter "M" block of ten with selvage at right, original gum, barest trace of hinging, pretty shadeFINE-VERY FINE PLATE BLOCK OF TEN OF THE 15-CENT COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
This plate block is surprisingly scarce. Since we started keeping computerized records over ten years ago, we have never offered a Mint N.H. multiple larger than a plate block of six (except for in a pane of 100) and we have only offered one hinged plate block of six and one hinged plate block of eight in that time (plus the plate block in the following lot).
Scott Retail as hinged plate block of eight and two Mint N.H. singles
15c Columbian (238). Bottom imprint, plate no. 58 and letter "M" block of twelve, Mint N.H., intense proof-like shade and impression, every stamp superbly centered, as bright and fresh as the day it was issuedEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A TRULY SPECTACULAR MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK OF THE 15-CENT COLUMBIAN. WITHOUT QUESTION OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE.
With 2006 P.S.E. certificate
30c Columbian (239). Bottom imprint, plate no. 59 and letter "N" block of eight, original gum, barely hinged, intense color and impression, light natural gum bendsFINE. A RARE PLATE BLOCK OF EIGHT OF THE 30-CENT COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
The 30c Columbian is more frequently found in plate blocks of six -- we have offered eight since keeping computerized records. However, plate blocks of eight or larger are significantly scarcer -- this is the first we have offered since keeping computerized records.
50c Columbian (240). Block of four, original gum, deep rich color, Very Fine, with 1989 P.F. certificate
50c Columbian (240). Bottom imprint, plate no. 77 and letter "S" strip of four, original gum, lightly hinged, intense color and impression, few minor perf separations expertly reinforced at top center (not mentioned on accompanying certificate)FINE-VERY FINE IMPRINT AND PLATE NO. STRIP OF FOUR OF THE 50-CENT COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
With 1995 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Columbian (241). Original gum, lightly hinged, brilliant color, almost perfectly centeredFRESH AND EXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 COLUMBIAN.
With 2003 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Columbian (241). Block of four, slightly disturbed original gum, h.r., radiant color, small thin spot at bottom right, appears Fine-Very Fine, with 1988 P.F. certificate
$2.00 Columbian (242). Bottom imprint, plate no. 105 and letter "A A" strip of four, original gum, lightly hinged, rich color and crisp impression, left stamp tiny and insignificant natural paper wrinkle, two perfs sensibly reinforced in bottom left selvageVERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM IMPRINT, PLATE NO. AND LETTER STRIP OF FOUR OF THE $2.00 COLUMBIAN.
The centering on this strip is unusually choice for this difficult issue.
$3.00 Columbian (243). Original gum, barest trace of hinge, deep shade on bright white paper, perfectly centered with wide even marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $3.00 COLUMBIAN.
The $3.00 is one of the most difficult values of the series to obtain in such choice condition.
With 2002 P.F. certificate
$3.00 Columbian (243). Bottom imprint, plate no. 106 and letter "B B" strip of four, original gum, barely hinged, bright colorFRESH AND FINE IMPRINT AND PLATE NO. STRIP OF FOUR OF THE $3.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
The $3.00 Columbian is extremely difficult to find in any form of plate number multiple. Perhaps three or four plate blocks are known. We have only sold one other imprint and plate no. strip of four since keeping computerized records.
$4.00 Columbian (244). Mint N.H., brilliant color on bright paper, wide marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A SCARCE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $4.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
With 1981 P.F. certificate
$4.00 Rose Carmine, Columbian (244a). Block of four with "C C" at bottom left, original gum, lightly hinged, brilliant color, unusually choice centering with wide and balanced margins throughoutVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A REMARKABLY FRESH ORIGINAL-GUM SHEET-MARGIN BLOCK OF THE $4.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE IN THE ROSE CARMINE SHADE.
With 1993 P.F. certificate
$5.00 Columbian (245). Mint N.H., bright shade and detailed impression showing every detail of the design, wide marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
With 2005 P.F. certificate
$5.00 Columbian (245). Bottom selvage with letter "D D", original gum, lightly hinged, unusually detailed impression on bright paper, wide marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 COLUMBIAN. AN UNUSUALLY FRESH STAMP.
With 1992 P.F. certificate
$5.00 Columbian (245). Original gum, very lightly hinged, exceptionally well-centeredVERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
With 2006 P.S.E. certificate