Sale 1084 — The Curtis Collection: 1847-1901 Stamps and Covers
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 5-6 November, 2014
Category — 1879 American Bank Note Co. Issue (Scott 182-191)
Lot
Symbol
Photo/Description
Cat./Est. Value
Realized
3444
1c Dark Ultramarine (182). Top imprint and plate no. 336 block of twelve, original gum, eight stamps Mint N.H., others barely hinged, radiant color, choice centering, pos. 4 tiny scuffVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A SCARCE AND BEAUTIFUL PLATE BLOCK OF THE ONE-CENT 1879 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE WITH MANY STAMPS MINT NEVER-HINGED.
With 2003 P.S.E. certificate. Scott Retail as hinged plate block of ten and pair
4,725
7,500
3445
1c Dark Ultramarine (182). Enormous Jumbo margins, lovely pastel color, cork cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $200.00 as 95, $600.00 as 98)
6
150
Back to Top3446
2c Vermilion (183). Top imprint and plate no. 296 block of 14, original gum, lightly hinged, narrow h.r. in ungummed portion of selvage, bright color, few minor reinforced perf separationsVERY FINE. ONE OF ONLY THREE TOP PLATE BLOCKS AMONG THE EIGHT RECORDED OF THE 1879 2-CENT VERMILION ISSUE.
There are eight plate blocks of Scott 183 recorded in the Chapin census. Among these there are only three recorded top plate blocks.
2,710
3,750
Back to Top3447
3c Green (184). Bottom imprint and plate no. 310 block of 20, comprising the two bottom rows of the pane with selvage at left, original gum, plate block lightly hinged, four stamps outside the plate block Mint N.H., deep rich color, Fine-Very Fine, a rare large format plate block, this is the largest we have offered since a complete pane in 2001, Scott Retail as hinged plate block, four Mint N.H. singles and two hinged singles
3,400
2,300
Back to Top3448
5c Blue (185). Block of fourteen, rich color, each stamp with neat cork cancel struck over portrait, few faults including perf separations sensibly reinforced, few light creases, Fine-Very Fine appearance, a scarce large used multiple, Scott Retail as three blocks of four and pair
605
250
Back to Top3449
6c Pink (186). Original gum, lightly hinged, fresh bright color, reperfed at left, Very Fine appearance, with 2013 P.F. certificate
900
225
Back to Top3450
6c Pink (186). Block of four, original gum, h.r., bright and fresh, one stamp with tiny natural inclusion on back, Fine-Very Fine, a scarce block with original gum
4,000
750
Back to Top3451
6c Pink (186). Block of ten, radiant color, each stamp with bold cork cancel, hinge rejoined along second vertical row, pos. 1 and left block of four with small faults, otherwise Fine-Very Fine, this is the largest recorded used multiple (Linn's Stamp Facts states a block of six is largest known), with 2011 P.F. certificate
E. 300-400
400
Back to Top3452
10c Brown, With & Without Secret Mark (187-188). Horizontal pair, right stamp without secret mark, small flaws including thins and repaired perf top right, Fine appearing and scarce combination pair
725
0
Back to Top3453
10c Brown, Without Secret Mark (187). Block of four, rich color, unobtrusive cork cancels, top left stamp small thin spot, Very Fine and rare block, the largest recorded multiples are blocks of four and two strips of five on piece, ex Todd, unpriced in Scott as a block of four
E. 500-750
300
Back to Top3454
15c Red Orange (189). Block of four, original gum, gorgeous color, outstanding centering throughout, Extremely Fine Gem block, ex Klein, with 1989 and 1998 P.F. certificates
1,250
700
Back to Top3455
15c Red Orange (189). Bottom imprint and plate no. 31 strip of six, original gum, h.r. or adherences including where some perf separations reattached, light horizontal crease and few small thin spots, Fine appearance, Scott Retail as three pairs with no premium for the position
1,275
150
Back to Top3456
15c Red Orange (189). Bottom imprint and plate no. 31 block of 12, original gum, several h.r. reinforcing perf separations including between two right stamps and in left block, small tear in pos.1, thin spot pos. 3, also slightly toned, still appears Fine, a collectible example of this scarce plate block, Scott Retail $8,500.00
E. 1,000-1,500
650
Back to Top3457
30c Full Black (190). Choice centering with wide and balanced margins, intense shade and impression, bold strike of New York registry oval cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2011 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $800.00)
95
375
Back to Top3458
30c Full Black (190). Block of six, natural s.e. at left, choice centering, intense shade, cork cancels, few small faults, Extremely Fine appearance, Scott Retail as block of four and pair
785
130
Back to Top3459
30c Full Black (190). Horizontal block of ten, intense shade and impression, cancelled by ovals which leave the designs clearly visible, small thin spot in one stamp in top row from hinge removal, otherwise Extremely Fine, this is the largest recorded used block of this issue, illustrated in Chronicle, Nov. 1997, p. 229
1,360
1,100
Back to Top3460
90c Carmine (191). Block of four, radiant color, neat strikes of New York registry oval cancels, well-balanced margins, Very Fine-Extremely Fine, an attractive and scarce used block, with 1994 P.F. certificate
2,000
750
Back to Top3461
90c Carmine (191). Block of 15 (5 x 3), bright color, oval N.Y registry cancels, pos. 1 small thin, pos. 5 slight wrinkle, a few narrow h.r. reinforcing perf separationsFINE. A RARE LARGE USED MULTIPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1879 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE.
The package to which this block was originally affixed cost at least $13.50 to mail, so it must have been quite heavy. Oversize or heavy items tended to damage stamps during transit. This intact multiple is in much better condition that might be expected given its use. This is likely the second or third largest used multiple (a block of 20 exists).
With clear 1984 A.P.S. certificate. Scott Retail as blocks, pairs and single
6,700
2,500
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