Sale 1135 — The Grant Inman Collection, Part 2: U.S. Officials
Sale Date — Thursday, 15 September, 2016
Category — Official Special Printings - War Department
1c, 2c, 7c War, Specimen Ovpt. (O83S, O84S, O87S). Without gum as issued, bright colors, fresh and Fine-Very Fine
3c War, Specimen Ovpt. (O85S). Without gum as issued, radiant color, fresh and Fine, only 118 sold, light Ebel backstamp
6c War, Specimen Ovpt. (O86S). Without gum as issued, brilliant color, Fine, only 111 sold
10c War, Specimen Ovpt. (O88S). Without gum as issued, brilliant color, well-balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, only 119 sold
12c War, Specimen Ovpt. (O89S). Without gum as issued, rich color with some faint toning, otherwise Very Fine, only 105 sold
15c War, Specimen Ovpt. (O90S). Without gum as issued, bright color, choice centering, few minor soiling spots on cheek, otherwise Extremely Fine, only 105 sold, small red backstamp
24c War, Specimen Ovpt. (O91S). Without gum as issued, rich color, three wide margins, Fine, only 106 sold
30c War, Specimen Ovpt. (O92S). Without gum as issued, brilliant color, well-balanced margins, Very Fine and choice, the 104 sold represents the fewest of any War Department denomination
90c War, Specimen Ovpt. (O93S). Without gum as issued, brilliant color, wide margins, fresh and Very Fine, only 106 sold
1c War, "Sepcimen" Error (O83Sa). Rich color, remarkably choice centering, fresh and Extremely Fine, it is estimated only 96 were sold
2c War, "Sepcimen" Error (O84Sa). Without gum as issued, natural s.e. at left, single pulled perf at right, tiny thins at top, otherwise Very Fine, ex Brazer and Burrows, it is estimated that only 16 exist, the 2c War Department Special Printing was made from printed sheets of 200 (Plate 35), which were divided into panes of 100 before overprinting, Position 21, the "Sepcimen" error, is found on stamps with and without a straight edge, depending on whether the underlying stamp was in the left or right pane (Position 21 Right has a straight edge at left), with 2004 P.F. certificate
3c War, "Sepcimen" Error (O85Sa). Without gum as issued, s.e. at left, color slightly faded (not noted on accompanying certificate), the certificate does note perfs trimmed at left (which we believe to be incorrect)VERY FINE. THIS IS ONE OF TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE 3-CENT WAR DEPARTMENT WITH THE "SEPCIMEN" ERROR. A PHENOMENAL RARITY.
The 3c War Department Special Printing was made from printed sheets of 200, which were divided into panes of 100 before overprinting. Position 21, the "Sepcimen" error, could conceivably come with or without a straight edge, depending on whether the underlying stamp was in the left or right pane (Position 21 Right has a straight edge at left).
The other recorded example, from the Framingham Find and ex Sheriff, has perfs on all sides and was most recently offered in our Sale 1003 of 2010 (lot 5548, realized $21,000 hammer).
Ex Markovits. With 2004 P.F. certificate
6c War, "Sepcimen" Error (O86Sa). Without gum as issued, pretty pale shade, three wide marginsVERY FINE. THIS IS THE DISCOVERY COPY OF THE 6-CENT WAR DEPARTMENT WITH THE "SEPCIMEN" SPELLING ERROR. IT IS REPORTEDLY UNIQUE.
Markovits (2004 Bennett sale) stated this is one of possibly two recorded. The other has never been seen, and what they probably meant is that this is one of two possible examples.
From the Framingham Find and ex Markovits. With 2004 P.F. certificate
7c War, "Sepcimen" Error (O87Sa). Without gum as issued, rich color, three wide margins, in at top, light horizontal crease and few ink stained perfs at topFINE APPEARING AND RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 7-CENT WAR DEPARTMENT SPECIAL PRINTING WITH THE "SEPCIMEN" OVERPRINT ERROR.
Only 539 copies of the 7c War 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 seven can possibly exist (five or six from sheets plus the Framingham Find example). Perhaps two or three are known. None was offered in the Combs, Sheriff or Markovits sales and this is the only example contained in Power Search or the online records of the P.F.
From the Framingham Find and ex Dr. Lobdell. With 2010 P.F. certificate
10c War, "Sepcimen" Error (O88Sa). Without gum as issued, bright color, choice centering, two small thins at centerEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT WAR DEPARTMENT WITH THE "SEPCIMEN" OVERPRINT SPELLING ERROR. WE ARE AWARE OF ONLY ONE OTHER EXAMPLE.
Only 119 copies of the 10c War 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 from sold sheets (plus the Framingham Find example). The Framingham Find example was offered in our December 2010 sale (Sale 1003, lot 5551, realized $21,000 hammer).
With 2016 P.F. certificate
12c War, "Sepcimen" Error (O89Sa). Without gum as issued, deep rich color, margins wide to clear at right, toned spot on back does not show through on frontVERY FINE AND EXTREMELY RARE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT WAR DEPARTMENT ISSUE WITH THE "SEPCIMEN" OVERPRINT ERROR.
Only 105 copies of the 12c War 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 from sold sheets. This stamp comes from the Framingham Find and is the only recorded example. No others have ever been seen.
From the Framingham Find and ex Dr. Lobdell. With 2010 P.F. certificate
15c War, "Sepcimen" Error (O90Sa). Without gum as issued, soft shade, choice centering, pulled perf at leftVERY FINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT WAR DEPARTMENT ISSUE WITH THE "SEPCIMEN" OVERPRINT ERROR. A PHENOMENAL RARITY.
Only 105 copies of the 15c War 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 from sold sheets. This stamp comes from the Framingham Find and is the only recorded example. No others have ever been seen.
From the Framingham Find and ex Dr. Lobdell. With 2010 P.F. certificate
24c War, "Sepcimen" Error (O91Sa). Without gum as issued, rich color, clear margins, slightly pulled perf at left and couple small tears at lower left and bottomFINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT WAR DEPARTMENT ISSUE WITH THE "SEPCIMEN" SPELLING ERROR. A GREAT OFFICIAL RARITY.
Only 106 copies of the 24c War 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 from sold sheets. This stamp comes from the Framingham Find and is the only recorded example. No others have ever been seen.
From the Framingham Find and ex Dr. Lobdell. With 2010 P.F. certificate mentioning the small tears but not the pulled perf
30c War, "Sepcimen" Error (O92Sa). Without gum as issued, rich color, centered to lower right, pulled perf at upper left and short perf at lower leftFINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT WAR DEPARTMENT ISSUE WITH THE "SEPCIMEN" OVERPRINT ERROR. AN IMPORTANT OFFICIAL RARITY
Only 104 copies of the 30c War 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 from sold sheets. This stamp comes from the Framingham Find and is the only recorded example. No others have ever been seen.
From the Framingham Find and ex Dr. Lobdell. With 2010 P.F. certificate
90c War, "Sepcimen" Error (O93Sa). Without gum as issued, light color which the P.F. calls slightly faded, nice centering for this difficult issueFINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT WAR DEPARTMENT ISSUE WITH THE "SEPCIMEN" OVERPRINT ERROR. A MAJOR OFFICIAL RARITY.
Only 106 copies of the 90c War 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 from sold sheets. This stamp comes from the Framingham Find and is the only recorded example. No others have ever been seen.
From the Framingham Find and ex Dr. Lobdell. With 2010 P.F. certificate
Official Specimens Balance. Eight, Nos. O15S, O16S, O25S, O25Sb, O26S, O35S, O36S and O35xS, without gum as issued, generally fresh and Very Fine