Sale 1093 — The Curtis Collection: U.S. 20th Century and Air Post
Sale Date — Monday-Tuesday, 23-24 February, 2015
Category — 1913-15 Issue (Scott 424-440)
Lot
Symbol
Photo/Description
Cat./Est. Value
Realized
292
1c Green, Vertical Pair, Imperforate Horizontally (424c). Block of four, few small h.r., attractive shade, typical centering for this scarce variety, Fine, this is the first block we have offered since keeping computerized records, with 1964 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as two pairs
6,000
1,200
293
5c Blue (428). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression, perfectly centered, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $1,850.00), this is the highest grade awarded and only four others share it
75
1,700
Back to Top294
5c Blue (428). Mint N.H., pretty shade, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $600.00)
75
500
Back to Top295
5c Blue (428). Tied by "New York N.Y. Dec. 2 9:30 AM 1914 Sta. O." machine cancel on cover to Yokohama, Japan, Very Fine, this is the earliest documented use of Scott 428, ex Berkun, with 2002 A.P.S. certificate
E. 500-750
400
Back to Top296
6c Red Orange (429). Mint N.H., rich color, wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $750.00)
105
450
Back to Top297
6c Red Orange (429). Mint N.H. wide top imprint, star and plate no. 5430 block of six, vivid color on bright paper, post-office fresh and intact, Very Fine, a scarce wide top plate block in exceptionally fine quality
725
0
Back to Top298
6c Red Orange (429). Mint N.H. left imprint, star and plate no. 5430 block of six, vivid color on bright paper, post-office fresh and intact, few usual natural gum skips, Very Fine, ex Silver Lake, with 2004 P.F. certificate
725
180
Back to Top299
7c Black (430). Lightly hinged, intense shade and impression, perfectly centered with Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2010 P.S.A.G. certificate (Superb 98)
90
225
Back to Top300
7c Black (430). Left plate no. 6936 block of six, crisp impression, light natral gum bend at lower right, Very Fine and choice
1,000
550
Back to Top301
8c Pale Olive Green (431). Wide top imprint, plate no. 5725 and "A" block of six, two stamps at top right lightly hinged, others Mint N.H., pretty shade, fresh and Very Fine, an attractive plate block, ex Saddleback
450
275
Back to Top302
8c Pale Olive Green (431). Perfectly centered, pretty shade, face-free cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2013 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $425.00 as 98), this is the highest grade awarded and the only stamp to achieve it
3
1,300
Back to Top303
9c Salmon Red (432). Mint N.H., vibrant color, Jumbo margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $750.00 as 95, $2,500.00 as 98)
105
700
Back to Top304
9c Salmon Red (432). Mint N.H. left plate no. 6915 block of six, rich color, post-office fresh, Very Fine
1,150
425
Back to Top305
11c Dark Green (434). Mint N.H., deep rich color on bright paper, perfectly centered, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $1,150.00), only four have graded higher
55
1,300
Back to Top306
12c Claret Brown (435). Mint N.H., detailed impression, wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $1,375.00), only one has graded higher
60
1,300
Back to Top307
15c Gray (437). Left plate no. 5850 and letter "A" block of six with wide selvage, brilliant color, five stamps Mint N.H., bottom right stamp lightly hinged, Fine-Very Fine, Scott Retail as singles
1,525
425
Back to Top308
20c Ultramarine (438). H.r., pretty shade on bright paper, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 1998 P.S.E. certificate
190
275
Back to Top309
20c Ultramarine (438). Bottom plate no. 6908 block of six with unusually wide selvage, five stamps Mint N.H., top center stamp lightly hinged, brilliant color, Very Fine and choice, an attractive plate block
3,250
1,500
Back to Top310
30c Orange Red (439). Mint N.H., brilliant color on bright paper, choice centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1914 30-CENT PERF 10 SINGLE-LINE WATERMARKED ISSUE.
With 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $3,000.00). Only six have graded higher (the highest is a 98) and only five others share this grade.
500
2,300
Back to Top311
30c Orange Red (439). Mint N.H., well-centered within wide margins, rich color, Extremely Fine, with 1996 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $1,050.00)
500
950
Back to Top312
30c Orange Red (439). Bottom plate no. 6917 block of six, lightly hinged, vibrant color, fresh and Very Fine
4,000
1,300
Back to Top313
50c Violet (440). Lightly hinged, brilliant color, choice centering with Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $1,000.00 as 95, $2,250.00 as 98)
450
650
Back to Top314
50c Violet (440). Huge margins and perfectly centered, vibrant color, face-free cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, an outstanding stamp, ex Kirke, with 1995 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $700.00), only one has graded higher (at 98J) and this is the only example graded Superb 98
20
950
Back to Top315
50c Violet (440). Left plate no. 7042 block of six, Mint N.H. and unpriced as such in Scott, vivid color, beautifully margined and centered, light gripper marks on left stampsVERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE. AN INCREDIBLY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK OF THE 1915 50-CENT PERF 10 WITH SINGLE-LINE WATERMARK.
This plate block is extremely rare in any gum condition -- this and the example offered in the following lot are only the second and third plate blocks we have offered in eight years. We have not offered a Mint N.H. plate block in all of our sales since 1993 and our Rarities sales dating back to 1964.
With 2006 P.S.E. certificate. Unpriced in Scott as Mint N.H. Scott Retail as hinged
15,000
13,000
Back to Top316
50c Violet (440). Right plate no. 7049 block of six, pos. 3, 5 and 6 Mint N.H., other stamps lightly hinged, rich color on bright paper, choice margins and centeringVERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE PLATE BLOCK OF THE 1915 50-CENT PERF 10 WITH SINGLE-LINE WATERMARK.
This is and the example offered in the previous lot are only the second and third plate blocks we have offered in eight years.
With 2006 P.F. certificate
15,000
6,750
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