Sale 983 — The Hampshire Collection of United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday, 23 February, 2010
Category — Columbian Issue
3c Columbian (232). Mint N.H., incredible Jumbo margins and perfectly centered, vibrant color on crisp paper, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2004 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $625.00 for 95, $2,300.00 as 98)
4c Columbian (233). Mint N.H., brilliant color on crisp paper, gorgeous centering with wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,200.00)
4c Columbian, Error of Color (233a). Mint N.H., deep rich color in the darker of the two recognized shades, bright paper, centered to bottom left but with perfs clear of designFINE AND PRISTINE. ONE OF THE FEW AVAILABLE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLES OF THE RARE 4-CENT COLUMBIAN ERROR OF COLOR.
The 4c Columbian color error was caused by the use of a wrong batch of ink, and spectrographic analysis has shown that the blue inks of the 4c error and 1c Columbian have the same components.
Stamps from at least two panes reached collectors, and the few cancelled examples indicate that stamps used by the public came from additional panes. It is likely that a number of full sheets were printed using the wrong ink, and most of the stamps have simply been lost to philately.
Ex Hoffman. With 2002 P.S.E. certificate. With copy of 1967 (for block of four) and 2008 P.F. certificates. We have offered only five other Mint N.H. examples since keeping computerized records.
6c Columbian (235). Mint N.H., intense shade, well-proportioned margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $400.00)
10c Columbian (237). Original gum, lightly hinged, intense shade and impression, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $315.00)
15c Columbian (238). Mint N.H., bright shade and crisp impression, fresh and Fine
30c Columbian (239). Original gum, lightly hinged, almost perfectly centered, bright color and crisp impression, Very Fine and choice
50c Columbian (240). Original gum, lightly hinged, intense shade and impression, well-proportioned margins, Very Fine and choice, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, VF-XF 85; SMQ $620.00)
$1.00 Columbian (241). Original gum, nicely centered, bright color, tiny natural inclusion, Very Fine and choice
$1.00 Columbian (241). Block of four, original gum, lightly hinged, rich fiery color, top right stamp tiny natural inclusion, Fine-Very Fine, an attractive and scarce block in fresh and sound condition
$2.00 Columbian (242). Block of four, top pair lightly hinged, bottom pair imperceptibly hinged, appears Mint N.H., wonderfully fresh and exceptionally well-centered for a block of fourVERY FINE AND CHOICE. EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST SURVIVING $2.00 COLUMBIAN BLOCKS OF FOUR.
Due to the ever-increasing demand for choice singles, virtually every known block of the dollar-value Columbians has been broken. This remarkable $2.00 block has managed to avoid that fate.
$4.00 Rose Carmine, Columbian (244a). Original gum, lightly hinged, brilliant color in this distinctive sub-shade, wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $4.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE IN THE ROSE CARMINE SHADE.
With 1991 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF 90; SMQ $3,600.00)