Sale 1089 — The Curtis Collection: U.S. Revenues, Part 1
Sale Date — Tuesday, 16 December, 2014
Category — Proprietary Inverts
1c Green & Black on Green Paper, Proprietary, Center Inverted (RB1d). Deep rich colors and detailed impressions, Oct. 23, 1871 manuscript cancel, small thin spotFINE APPEARANCE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT PROPRIETARY INVERT ON GREEN PAPER.
Approximately 24 are known. Ex Cunliffe.
2c Green & Black on Violet Paper, Proprietary, Center Inverted (RB2c). Rich colors, single horizontal penstroke cancel, small translucency at bottom, small thin spots, light corner creaseFINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS ONE OF ONLY TWO EXAMPLES OF THE 2-CENT PROPRIETARY ISSUE ON VIOLET PAPER WITH CENTER INVERTED. ONE OF THE GREATEST RARITIES OF UNITED STATES REVENUE COLLECTING.
Only two examples of this invert are recorded: 1) the example offered here, and 2) heavy handstamp cancel, crease and thin, ex Lyons.
Ex Cunliffe. With 1964 P.F. certificate as sound
2c Green & Black on Green Paper, Proprietary, Center Inverted (RB2d; formerly RB2bc). Unused (no gum), detailed impressions, light bend at topVERY FINE. A RARE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT PROPRIETARY ON GREEN PAPER WITH INVERTED CENTER. ONLY THIRTEEN EXAMPLES ARE KNOWN.
In his privately published census, Larry Lyons records twelve copies of the 2c Proprietary invert on green paper. Of these, five appear to be used, and twelve have at least one fault. One additional example has come to light since his census, offered in our Sale 1037.
Ex Joyce. With 1992 P.S.E. certificate
3c Green & Black on Violet Paper, Center Inverted (RB3ad). Rich color, neat manuscript "X" cancel, right margin addedFINE APPEARANCE. ONLY SEVEN EXAMPLES OF THE 3-CENT PROPRIETARY ON VIOLET PAPER WITH INVERTED CENTER ARE RECORDED. A GREAT RARITY.
In his privately published census of the 3c Proprietary inverts, Larry Lyons records only seven examples (none is known on green paper). Of these seven, one has a missing corner, two others have repaired corners, one has thins and is stained and one has creases and nibbed perfs.
With 1992 P.S.E. certificate
4c Green & Black on Violet Paper, Center Inverted (RB4ac). Lightly cancelled, deep rich colors and detailed impressions, reperfed at right, trivial corner perf crease at bottom left not mentioned on accompanying certificateVERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF ONLY SIX RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE 4-CENT PROPRIETARY INVERT. AN OUTSTANDING RARITY.
In his privately published census, Larry Lyons records six examples of the 4c Proprietary invert on violet paper (none is known on green paper). Of the five stamps other than this, one is defective, one has a piece missing, one has a repaired corner, one has a tear and abrasions, and one has a light horizontal crease. The example offered here is one of the finest.
With 1992 P.S.E. certificate