Sale 1089 — The Curtis Collection: U.S. Revenues, Part 1
Sale Date — Tuesday, 16 December, 2014
Category — Proprietary Issues, Violet and Green Papers
2c Green & Black on Violet Paper, Proprietary (RB2a). Block of 101, deep rich colors, Sept. 21, 1872 manuscript cancels, few faults to be expected including some perf separations reinforced, creases and toned spots, Fine-Very Fine appearance, this is the largest recorded multiple, the next largest is a block of 24, Scott Retail as blocks and pairs $1,066.75
3c Green & Black on Violet Paper, Proprietary (RB3a). Block of 30, original gum, few h.r. or adherences, second vertical row light crease, few thin spots, few minor perf separations, still Fine-Very Fine, this is the largest recorded multiple, the next largest multiple is a block of nine, ex Eagle and Joyce, Scott Retail as used blocks of four and pairs $1,185.00
6c Green & Black on Violet Paper, Proprietary (RB6a). Block of 36 with bottom imprint and plate no. selvage with both plate nos., original gum, few h.r. including some perf separations sensibly reinforced, few adherences, few small faults as often seen on large multiples, Fine-Very Fine appearance, this is the largest recorded multiple for this issue, the next largest is a block of 24, ex Joyce and Wampler, Scott Retail $3,050.00 as used blocks of four and pairs with no premium for the plate block
10c Green & Black on Violet Paper, Proprietary (RB7a). Unused (no gum) horizontal strip of three with left sheet selvage, few sensibly reinforced perf separations, small thin spots, Very Fine appearance, this is the only recorded multiple for this issue, ex Joyce, Scott Retail as used pair and single
50c Green & Black on Violet Paper, Proprietary (RB8a). Original gum, h.r., bright colors, fresh and Fine, rare in original-gum condition, only two others are in Power Search (one from our 1974 Rarities sale), ex DePriest, with 2003 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as used
50c Green & Black on Violet Paper, Proprietary (RB8a). Bright colors, choice centering, blue "Starkey & Palen Nov. 18, 1880 D.O.T. Phila." handstamp, choice centering, thinned at top right, Extremely Fine appearance, purple backstamp
50c Green & Black on Violet Paper, Proprietary (RB8a). Horizontal pair, bright colors, April 15, 1876 manuscript cancels, right stamp repaired along split/fold, otherwise Very Fine, only two pairs and a strip of four are known as multiples, ex Cunliffe
$1.00 Green & Black on Violet Paper, Proprietary (RB9a). Original gum which is brownish in places, detailed impressions, small thin spot, small toned spot on Washington's neck, still Fine and rare in original-gum condition, this is the first we have offered since keeping computerized records, ex Cunliffe, Scott Retail as used
$1.00 Green & Black on Violet Paper, Proprietary (RB9a). Horizontal pair, rich colors, faintly cancelled, few sensibly reinforced perf separations, left stamp few small tears and small thin spot at topVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE PAIR OF THE $1.00 PROPRIETARY ON VIOLET PAPER. THIS IS THE LARGEST RECORDED MULTIPLE AND ONLY TWO ARE KNOWN.
Ex Joyce. Listed but unpriced as a pair in Scott. Scott Retail as singles
$1.00 Green & Black on Violet Paper, Proprietary (RB9a). Deep rich colors, neat manuscript cancel, few faults including sealed tear at bottom, Very Fine appearance
$5.00 Green & Black on Violet Paper, Proprietary (RB10a). Large part original gum, superb centering and wide margins, proof-like impression, small thin and couple small sealed tears at topEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A REMARKABLE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE RARE $5.00 PROPRIETARY ON VIOLET PAPER, OF WHICH A MERE 74 WERE ISSUED.
The $5.00 Proprietary Issue almost invariably has faults, often to a degree far more severe than the trivial flaws in this stamp, due to the stamp's large size and the nature of its use.
With 1960 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail for a cancelled stamp with small faults
$5.00 Green & Black on Violet Paper, Proprietary (RB10a). Rich colors, detailed impressions, neat "JHB Feb. 18, 1879" manuscript cancel, tiny corner crease at top left, small horizontal crease at top rightVERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE SCARCE $5.00 PROPRIETARY ISSUE ON VIOLET PAPER.
Only 74 of the $5.00 Proprietary were issued on Violet paper. The vast majority of known examples have faults, due to the stamp's large size and the nature of its use. The example offered here is in better condition than a significant majority of ones we have encountered.
Ex Lyons and Mayer. With 2002 P.F. certificate.
$5.00 Green & Black on Violet Paper, Proprietary (RB10a). Rejoined horizontal pair, with bottom part imprint selvage below right stamp, each with "JHB Feby. 18/79" manuscript cancel (same initials and date as the single offered in lot 551), light creases, left stamp tiny thin speck at topVERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE MULTIPLE OF THE $5.00 PROPRIETARY ISSUE ON VIOLET PAPER, WITH BOTTOM SELVAGE.
Only 74 examples of the $5.00 on violet paper were issued. For multiples, only two pairs and a strip of three are recorded. The other pair does not have the selvage.
Ex Cunliffe. Scott Retail as pair $26,000.00. Scott Retail as singles
3c Green & Black on Green, Proprietary (RB3b). Bottom imprint and plate no. 18 block of ten with both plate numbers, original gum, few minor h.r., few small adherences, couple flaws including staining on one and few vertical creases, Very Fine appearance, this is the only multiple that shows both plate numbers, ex Wampler, Scott Retail $800.00 as used blocks of four and pair with no premium for for position
5c Green & Black on Green Paper, Proprietary (RB5b). Block of four, lightly cancelled, deep rich colors, small thin spots, Fine appearance, this is the only recorded multiple of this issue, ex Joyce
50c Green & Black on Green Paper, Proprietary (RB8b). Original gum, h.r., bright colors, well-balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp and especially desirable in original-gum condition, this is the first we have offered with gum since keeping computerized records, with 2008 P.F. certificate (XF 90), Scott Retail as used
50c Green & Black on Green Paper, Proprietary (RB8b). Choice centering, rich colors, blue "Starkey & Palen Mar. 14, 1883, D.O.T. Phila." handstamp, small corner crease and small filled thin spot at bottom left, Extremely Fine appearance, only 247 were issued (a smaller quantity than the $1.00, which catalogues $12,500.00), ex Mayer, with 2002 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Green & Black on Green Paper, Proprietary (RB9b). Bright colors, crisp impressions, neat manuscript cancel, completely soundVERY FINE. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION THE FINEST USED EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 PROPRIETARY ON GREEN PAPER. FEWER THAN TEN ARE RECORDED, AND THIS IS ONE OF ONLY TWO SOUND COPIES.
Larry Lyons lists seven used examples in his census. We are aware of one additional example, which is sound and with original gum (offered in our Sale 902, realized $32,500 hammer).
Ex Lyons. With 1990 P.F. certificate