Sale 978 — The Beverly Hills Collection of Outstanding United States Stamps
Sale Date — Friday, 4 December, 2009
Category — Special Delivery
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E2). Mint N.H., exceptionally wide margins and nearly perfectly centered, vivid color on post office fresh paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MARVELOUS MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE SECOND SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE OF 1888. GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.--THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE
P.S.E. encapsulated (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $10,400.00).This is the highest grade awarded to date in the P.S.E. Population Report and only three others share this grade.
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E4). Mint N.H., deep rich color nicely contrasted by bright white paper, beautifully centered with wide and balanced margins all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THE 10-CENT 1894 UNWATERMARKED SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE IS A NOTORIOUSLY CHALLENGING ISSUE TO OBTAIN IN THIS SUPERIOR GRADE.
The 1894 series, being the first printed by the Bureau, encountered many production problems. Most stamps were poorly centered and have small margins.
P.S.E. encapsulated (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $18,400.00). This is one of only three to achieve this grade in the P.S.E. Population Report. Only two have graded higher to date.
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E6). Mint N.H., beautiful bright color on fresh paper, wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1902 10-CENT SPECIAL DELIVERY, SCOTT E6.
P.S.E. encapsulated (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $4,950.00). Only two have graded higher to date and only two others share this grade.
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E8). Mint N.H., brilliant color, perfectly centered with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT SPECIAL DELIVERY, SCOTT E8, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
P.S.E. encapsulated (Superb 98; SMQ $2,600.00). This is the only example to achieve this grade, and only two others have graded higher to date.
10c Pale Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E10). Mint N.H., rich color on bright paper, magnificent centering with unusually wide and balanced margins all around, post-office freshEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THIS SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
P.S.E. encapsulated (Superb 98; SMQ $4,400.00). Only two examples have graded higher in the P.S.E. Population Report and no others share this desirable grade.