Sale 941 — The John F. Odeneal Collection of Superb Mint U.S. Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday, 3 October, 2007
Category — 1879-88 American Bank Note Co. Issues
1c Dark Ultramarine (182). Mint N.H., rich color, choice centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A SCARCE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1879 ONE-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE
With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $1,850.00). Scott Retail as hinged
2c Vermilion (183). Mint N.H., brilliant color as fresh as the day it was printed, gorgeous centering with evenly-proportioned Jumbo margins all around, post-office freshEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1879 2-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE, IN THE FINEST CONDITION ATTAINABLE. WE HAVE NEVER SEEN ITS EQUAL. THIS REMARKABLE STAMP HAS BEEN BESTOWED WITH THE GRADE OF 95 JUMBO BY P.S.E.
With 1996 and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $3,450.00 as 95, unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 95). This is the only example to achieve this grade, which is the highest awarded to date. We offered one graded 95 in the Scarsdale Collection, which realized $3,000 hammer. Scott Retail as hinged
3c Green (184). Mint N.H., brilliant color, almost perfectly centered with well-balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine Gem, with 2000 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as hinged
5c Blue (185). Mint N.H., rich color on bright paper, huge margins, Very Fine and choice, a beautiful stamp, with 1990 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as hinged
6c Pink (186). Mint N.H., radiant color on crisp paper, choice centering for this difficult issue with well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1879 6-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE. THIS IS THE FIRST MINT NEVER-HINGED SINGLE WE HAVE OFFERED SINCE KEEPING COMPUTERIZED RECORDS FOURTEEN YEARS AGO. A GREAT CONDITION RARITY
The only other Mint N.H. examples we have offered were in a block of nine with Fine-Very Fine centering. This is the first Mint N.H. single we have offered, and is far superior to any in the block.
With 1996 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $9,700.00). This is the first and only Mint N.H. example certified by P.S.E., although the SMQ prices a 90 at $9,700 and 95 at $21,700 (on what basis we do not know).
10c Brown, Without Secret Mark (187). Original gum, lightly hinged, brilliant color on crisp paper, proof-like impression, choice centering with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIUL LIGHTLY-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1879 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE WITHOUT SECRET MARK.
Scott 187 without secret mark is significantly more difficult than Scott 188 to find in such superb condition. Collectors waiting for a Mint N.H. example may have a long wait -- we have not offered one since keeping computerized records.
With 1984 and 2000 P.F. certificates
10c Brown, With Secret Mark (188). Original gum, lightly hinged, Jumbo margins all around, deep rich color and proof-like impressionEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THE 10-CENT 1879 AMERICAN BANK NOTE ISSUE IS RARELY SEEN WITH SUCH UNIFORMLY WIDE MARGINS.
With 2000 P.F. certificate
15c Red Orange (189). Mint N.H., stunning color, well-proportioned margins, trivial natural inclusion at bottom center not mentioned on accompanying certificate, Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp, with 1996 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as hinged
30c Full Black (190). Original gum, which was considered Mint N.H. by the P.F. experts in 1991 but judged previously hinged by P.S.E. in 2007, intense shade and impression, unusually choice centering with wide margins all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1879 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE. SCARCE IN SUCH WONDERFUL CONDITION.
With 1983 and 1991 P.F. certificates (the latter stating that "it is genuine" (implying Mint N.H.). With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $3,950.00). Only one has graded higher to date, and only one other shares this grade.
90c Carmine (191). Original gum, which the P.F. describes as "previously hinged" but is probably Mint N.H. with tiny natural irregularities (several Mint N.H. copies of the 90c 1879 were harvested from blocks), brilliant color on post office-fresh paper, wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1879 AMERICAN BANK NOTE ISSUE.
With 2007 P.F. certificate
5c Yellow Brown (205). Mint N.H., bright shade and crisp impression, light diagonal bend at bottom right not mentioned on accompanying certificate, Very Fine, with 1992 P.F. certificate
1c Gray Blue (206). Mint N.H., radiant color on bright paper, well-balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, a pretty stamp, with 1997 P.F. certificate
3c Blue Green (207). Mint N.H., bright shade on post office-fresh paper, Very Fine and choice, with 1996 P.F. certificate
6c Deep Brown Red (208a). Mint N.H., vibrant color on bright paper, detailed impression, Very Fine and choice, with 1990 P.F. certificate
10c Brown (209). Mint N.H., intense shade and proof-like impression, gorgeous centering with well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1882 10-CENT RE-ENGRAVED ISSUE.
With 1995 P.F. certificate for block of four.
2c Red Brown (210). Mint N.H., radiant color, huge margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1996 P.S.E. certificate for block of nine
4c Blue Green (211). Mint N.H., intense shade on bright paper, three huge margins, Very Fine
2c Pale Red Brown, Special Printing (211B). Mint N.H., bright shade on crisp paper, tiny natural inclusion at bottom center, Very Fine and choice, light backstamp not mentioned on accompanying certificates, with 1999 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85; SMQ $1,700.00)
1c Ultramarine (212). Original gum, barest trace of hinging, brilliant color on bright paper, well-proportioned margins, fresh and Extremely Fine
2c Green (213). Mint N.H., bright shade, well-balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1995 P.F. certificate
3c Vermilion (214). Mint N.H., vibrant color, bright paper, Very Fine and choice, a stamp of uncommon beauty
4c Carmine (215). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 1999 P.F. certificate
5c Indigo (216). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression nicely contrasted by bright paper, beautiful centering with wide margins all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1888 5-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE. THIS REMARKABLE STAMP HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E., WHICH IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE. ONLY ONE OTHER HAS ACHIEVED THIS GRADE.
The 5c Garfield was first issued in 1882 in shades of Brown. When the colors were changed in 1888, the 5c was released in a beautiful Indigo shade. Although unused copies are by no means scarce, Mint N.H. examples are very scarce, and higher grades in Mint N.H. condition are exceedingly rare. For the collector assembling a Superb Mint N.H. set of the 1888 American Bank Note Issue, the stamp offered here is a key component.
With 2001 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $6,550.00). Only two other Mint N.H. stamps have achieved this coveted P.S.E. grade.
30c Orange Brown (217). Original gum, barest trace of hinging, radiant color, Very Fine and choice, with copy of 1984 P.F. certificate for block of four
90c Purple (218). Mint N.H., bright color, detailed impression, wide marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1888 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE.
With 1990 P.F. certificate