Sale 1135 — The Grant Inman Collection, Part 2: U.S. Officials
Sale Date — Thursday, 15 September, 2016
Category — Official Special Printings - Justice Department
1c Justice, Specimen Ovpt., Ribbed Paper, Small Dotted "i" in Specimen (O25Sc). Without gum as issued, rich color, fresh and Fine, scarce, the small dotted "i" occurs only on the second printing on ribbed paper and is found on Positions 7 and 26
3c Justice, Specimen Ovpt. (O27S). Without gum as issued, brilliant color, fresh and Very Fine, only 178 sold
6c Justice, Specimen Ovpt. (O28S). Without gum as issued, incredibly well-centered, scissors-separated at sides but with full perforations, beautiful color, fresh and Extremely Fine, scarce with such choice centering, only 163 sold, ex Golden
10c Justice, Specimen Ovpt. (O29S). Without gum as issued, detailed impression on bright paper, gorgeous centering, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful stamp, only 163 sold
12c Justice, Specimen Ovpt. (O30S). Without gum as issued, rich color, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine, only 154 sold
15c Justice, Specimen Ovpt. (O31S). Without gum as issued, radiant color, almost perfectly centered, Extremely Fine Gem, a stunning example of this "Specimen" overprint, only 157 sold
24c Justice, Specimen Ovpt. (O32S). Without gum as issued, intense shade on bright paper, fresh and Very Fine, only 150 sold
30c Justice, Specimen Ovpt. (O33S). Without gum as issued, radiant color, wide margins, Very Fine and choice, only 150 sold, small purple backstamp
90c Justice, Specimen Ovpt. (O34S). Without gum as issued, bright shade, fresh and Fine, only 150 sold
1c Justice, "Sepcimen" Error (O25Sa). Without gum as issued, radiant color, wide margins, perfs scissors-separated but essentially intact, Very Fine and choice, with 2004 P.F. certificate
2c Justice, "Sepcimen" Error (O26Sa). Without gum as issued, rich color on bright paperVERY FINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SPECIAL PRINTING WITH "SEPCIMEN" ERROR.
Although the volume of sales of the 2c Justice Special Printing (3,395) indicates that stamps from 34 sheets were sold, including 34 "Sepcimen" errors, we actually do not know how sheets were separated or if an entire sheet was sold before the next sequential sheet. The rarity of the 2c Justice "Sepcimen" error -- with perhaps six or seven examples known -- does not accord with the quantity of stamps sold. Combs was perplexed by its rarity (see page 38) and wondered if the error was corrected during the press run, as it was for the 2c Interior, based on the report of a sheet with Position 21 showing the corrected error.
3c Justice, "Sepcimen" Error (O27Sa). Without gum as issued, brilliant color, small thin spot at top leftVERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONLY THREE EXAMPLES OF THE 3-CENT JUSTICE WITH "SEPCIMEN" SPELLING ERROR WERE RECORDED BY MARKOVITS. A GREAT RARITY.
Only 178 copies of the 3c Justice Special Printing were sold, but it is not known how the stamps were taken from the sheets or if full sheets were exhausted before breaking a subsequent sheet. If full sheets were used, then only two can possibly exist. Robert Markovits recorded three examples of this rarity (2004 Bennett sale). One other is ex Lewenthal and Lockyear.
Ex Markovits. With 2004 P.F. certificate
12c Justice, "Sepcimen" Error (O30Sa). Without gum as issued, radiant color, tiny perf tear at top leftFINE APPEARANCE. THE 12-CENT JUSTICE WITH "SEPCIMEN" SPELLING ERROR IS ONE OF THE RAREST OFFICIAL SPECIAL PRINTINGS. THIS IS THE ONLY EXAMPLE WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO LOCATE.
Only 154 copies of the 12c Justice Special Printing were sold, but it is not known how the stamps were taken from the sheets or if full sheets were exhausted before breaking a subsequent sheet. If full sheets were used, then only two can possibly exist. None was offered in the Markovits or Golden sales, and the Combs book does not record any.
Ex Stone, Sheriff and Lockyear. With 2004 P.F. certificate
15c Justice, "Sepcimen" Error (O31Sa). Without gum as issued, brilliant color, choice centeringFRESH AND VERY FINE. THIS IS THE FINER OF THE TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE 15-CENT JUSTICE DEPARTMENT WITH THE "SEPCIMEN" SPELLING ERROR. A BEAUTIFUL STAMP.
Only 157 copies of the 15c Justice Special Printing were sold, but it is not known how the stamps were taken from the sheets or if full sheets were exhausted before breaking a subsequent sheet. If full sheets were used, then only two can possibly exist. One other is known (ex Hays, Lewenthal and Sheriff) which is centered to top right with scissors-separated perfs that are intact.
Ex Stone and Lockyear. With 2004 P.F. certificate
24c Justice, "Sepcimen" Error (O32Sa). Without gum as issued, bright color, perfs scissors-separated but mostly intact except for a few at topFINE. THIS EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT JUSTICE DEPARTMENT WITH "SEPCIMEN" SPELLING ERROR MAY WELL BE UNIQUE. A PHENOMENAL RARITY.
Only 150 copies of the 24c Justice Special Printing were sold, but it is not known how the stamps were taken from the sheets or if full sheets were exhausted before breaking a subsequent sheet. If full sheets were used, then only two can possibly exist. The Combs book does not record any, and this is the only example known to us.
Ex Pickard, Stone, Sheriff and Lockyear. With 2004 P.F. certificate