Sale 1212 — Superb United States Stamps and Private Die Proprietary Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 20-21 November, 2019
Category — Revenues
10c Certificate, Imperforate (R33a). Horizontal pair, unused (no gum), large to huge margins including bottom sheet margin showing edge of printing plate, radiant color, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Bulkley, with 2006 P.F. certificate
1c Dark Yellow Green, Chapman Overprint (R158A). Bold color, neat "Aug. 3 1898" handstamp cancel, additional manuscript and cork cancels, few faults including margin nick at top, sealed diagonal tear at bottomFINE APPEARANCE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT CHAPMAN OVERPRINT. ONLY TWENTY COPIES ARE RECORDED IN TOTAL.
According to Scott Catalogue, the 1c Trans-Mississippi was overprinted by the Purvis Printing Company with federal government approval. They were ordered by L. H. Chapman of the Chapman Steamboat Line, which operated freight-carrying steamboats along the Erie Canal. Only 250 stamps were produced; additionally, 250 were printed reading "I.R./P.I.D. & Son", for P.I. Daprix & Son, which served different ports along the same waterway.
In his privately published census, Larry Lyons records fourteen used and one unused copies of Scott R158A. Our records contain three additional used and two additional unused, for a total of 20.
Purple backstamp. With 2016 P.S.E. and 2019 P.F. certificates
$100.00 Green, "Series 1940" Handstamped Ovpt. in Green (R284 var). Serial number 499407, "Series 1940" handstamped in green on Washington's head, in nearly the same shade as the stamp, excellent centering, Jun. 26, 1940 manuscript cancel, a couple thin spotsEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE $100.00 "SERIES 1940" OVERPRINT - MADE EVEN RARER BY THE HANDSTAMP STRUCK IN GREEN INSTEAD OF BLUE.
The $60.00-$1,000.00 Documentary stamps of 1940 were handstamped "Series 1940", usually in blue or green. However, they were not supposed to be overprinted in the same color as the stamp, since it might be difficult to see the overprint (this stamp illustrates that problem perfectly). So the $100.00 Green stamp should have been handstamped in blue, and the $500.00 Blue stamp was handstamped in violet. This is the only example of the $100.00 with a green overprint we have encountered.
It should also be noted that Scott R284 is a rarity in its own right, especially with a manuscript cancel. We have offered only four others since keeping computerized records. Only two of those had manuscript cancels (the other two had cut cancels).
With 2019 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as the normal No. R284
80c Carmine "Series 1940", Imperforate (R299a). Block of four and pair, without gum as issued, large margins, bright colors, Very Fine