Sale 1135 — The Grant Inman Collection, Part 2: U.S. Officials
Sale Date — Thursday, 15 September, 2016
Category — Official Special Printings - Navy Department
3c Navy, Specimen Ovpt. (O37S). Without gum as issued, radiant color, scissors-separated at top and bottom but all perfs are intact, choice centering, Extremely Fine, scarce in such choice condition, only 126 sold
6c Navy, Specimen Ovpt. (O38S). Without gum as issued, brilliant color, perfs scissors-separated at top and bottom but completely intact, Very Fine, a rare example of the 6c Navy Special Printing, only 116 were sold but they rarely make an appearance at auction, the Markovits collection did not contain one and only two are contained in Power Search
7c Navy, Specimen Ovpt. (O39S). Without gum as issued, crisp impression, Very Fine and choice
10c Navy, Specimen Ovpt. (O40S). Without gum as issued, brilliant color, well-balanced margins, perfs scissors-separated at top and bottom affecting those at top, still Extremely Fine, only 112 sold
12c Navy, Specimen Ovpt. (O41S). Without gum as issued, bright color, perfs scissors-separated at unusual angles, Fine, only 107 sold
15c Navy, Specimen Ovpt. (O42S). Without gum as issued, deep shade on bright paper, perfs scissors-separated but intact on all sides, fresh and Fine, only 107 sold
24c Navy, Specimen Ovpt. (O43S). Without gum as issued, rich color, detailed impression, Fine, only 106 sold
30c Navy, Specimen Ovpt. (O44S). Without gum as issued, intense shade and impression on bright paper, gorgeous centering with unusually wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT NAVY DEPARTMENT SPECIAL PRINTING.
Only 104 sold.
90c Navy, Specimen Ovpt. (O45S). Without gum as issued, pretty shade, perfs scissors-separated but intact, fresh and Fine, only 102 sold
1c Navy, "Sepcimen" Error (O35Sa). Without gum as issued, rich color and detailed impression, beautiful centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN ABSOLUTELY STUNNING EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT NAVY DEPARTMENT WITH THE "SEPCIMEN" SPELLING ERROR.
10,000 examples of the 1c Navy Special Printing were sold. This means at most that 100 examples of the "Sepcimen" error can exist. Power Search located fewer than a dozen, and this is the finest we have encountered.
2c Navy, "Sepcimen" Error (O36Sa). Without gum as issued, bright color, perfs scissors-separated but mostly intact as seen in accompanying photo, two tiny toned spots, minor surface rub, otherwise Fine, scarce, although the sold quantity of the 2c Navy Special Printing would suggest a fair number of "Sepcimen" errors were sold (1,748 stamps, or 18 sheets), the truth is this error is very rare, most of the handful of copies available to collectors have faults to varying degrees (two additional copies are in the Miller collection on extended loan by The New York Public Library to the Smithsonian National Postal Museum), Admiral Combs observed its rarity in his book and commented that "there should be some more copies around some place" (page 39) -- apparently not
7c Navy, "Sepcimen" Error (O39Sa). Without gum as issued, brilliant color, perfs scissors-separated affecting a few at bottomVERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 7-CENT NAVY DEPARTMENT WITH THE "SEPCIMEN" SPELLING ERROR. ONLY FOUR ARE RECORDED.
Only 501 copies of the 7c Navy 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 five can possibly exist. Robert Markovits recorded only four examples of this rarity (2004 Bennett sale). This is the first we have sold since our 1993 Sheriff sale.
Ex Lewenthal and Sheriff. Illustrated in Combs pamphlet on p. 39. With 1999 P.F. certificate.
12c Navy, "Sepcimen" Error (O41Sa). Without gum as issued, deep rich color, perfs scissors-separated but intact, tiny perf hole tear at topVERY FINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE 12-CENT NAVY DEPARTMENT WITH THE "SEPCIMEN" SPELLING ERROR. ONE OF THE GREATEST RARITIES OF THE ISSUE.
Only 107 copies of the 12c Special Printing was sold. 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 no more than two can exist. The Combs book (p. 39) notes that the Worthington collection contained one with a dot in the "1" of "12" and a break in the fifth line of the upper right corner, traits that are exhibited on the example offered here. The book also notes a second example, centered to top right, was offered in a 1946 Harmer sale -- it has traits that match the Sheriff copy.
Ex Worthington and Pickard. With 2016 P.F. certificate
15c Navy, "Sepcimen" Error (O42Sa). Without gum as issued, radiant color, perfs scissors-separated but mostly intact, tiny thin spot at top left and small tears at rightFINE APPEARANCE. THIS EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT NAVY DEPARTMENT WITH "SEPCIMEN" SPELLING ERROR IS REPORTEDLY UNIQUE. ONE OF THE GREATEST RARITIES OF THE ISSUE.
Only 107 copies of the 15c Navy 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 no more than two can exist. This is the only recorded example.
Ex F. W. Gilbert (according to Combs book), Lewenthal (where illustrated on front cover) and Sheriff. With 1999 P.F. certificate