Sale 1240 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 20-21 July, 2021
Category — 1901 Pan-American Issue (Scott 294-299)
1c Pan-American, Center Inverted (294a). Attractive centering and margins, neat strike of Easthampton (Mass.) oval cancel with May month, small toned spot at bottom leftVERY FINE APPEARING AND SCARCE USED EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT.
The 1c Pan-American Inverts were found in at least four different post offices around the country, soon after release of the issue in May 1901. According to the revised Johl-King book (p.7) "The first known copies of this error were discovered at Bessemer, Alabama, by the Carrell Jewelry Company on some circulars just prior to mailing them. When they realized the find they had made they lost no time in removing the stamps from the circulars and thus saved them to philately."
The 1c Pan-American Invert in used condition is considerably scarcer than unused. Our census, available at our website at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/294a , records 55 used examples (two on piece and a pair) plus three on covers, for a total of 58 copies.
Census no. 294a-CAN-56
4c Pan-American, Center Inverted (296a). Unused (regummed), rich colors, attractive centering and margins, couple small faults including sealed corner tear at bottom right, tiny surface scuff at left, none of these flaws are particularly visible without magnificationVERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT.
The 4c stamp portrays an electric automobile, known at the time as the "Electric Vehicle Service," as depicted on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad brochure from which the engraving was made. In the background one can see the dome of the Capitol. One of the two men seated at the front was Samuel B. Hege, B&O's passenger agent, so this stamp actually depicts a living person in violation of the law.
The 4c Pan-American Invert was a special printing and not regularly issued. Examples were distributed through two official channels, and the gum on the majority of stamps without "Specimen" overprint was disturbed. In fact, because 97 of the stamps were removed from an album page, they are generally thinned or have seriously disturbed or no gum.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate stating "genuine, regummed, with tiny faults". Scott value for original gum is $85,000.00
1c, 2c Pan-American (294-295). 1c bottom imprint and plate no. 1172 block of six, few hinge marks, Very Fine, 2c Mint N.H. block of four with top arrow, Very Fine
1c Pan-American (294). Bottom imprint and plate no. 1172 block of six, original gum, three with hinge marks, deep rich colors, vignette shifted noticeably upwards, unusually choice centering, Extremely Fine "high tide" shift in a plate block
2c-10c Pan-American (295-296, 298-299). Including three 8c, 2c straight edge at bottom, few Mint N.H., Fine-Very Fine, three with certificates
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2c Pan-American (295). Mint N.H. with full bottom right corner selvage with siderographer's initials and double "2c", deep rich color, wide and beautifully balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb position single, with 2003 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $1,000.00), only five grade higher (all at 98J)
2c Pan-American (295). Bottom right corner selvage with misperf and wide pre-printing paperfold, vignette shifted significantly down and to the left, Very Fine and choice, a dramatic freak
2c Pan-American (295). Block of four, original gum, h.r., train shifted significantly downwards with part of vignette showing outside of frame, few faults including top right stamp thin spot, Fine-Very Fine appearance, this is the most dramatic "low train" shift we have ever encountered -- more like a subterranean train
2c Pan-American (295). Bottom right corner imprint and plate no. 1078 block of eight, original gum, few h.r., thin spot in plate number selvage, each shows dramatic shift of vignette upwards and to the left, Very Fine-Extremely Fine, Scott value with no premium for the shift $355.00
4c Pan-American (296). With top plate no. 1145 selvage, original gum, gorgeous centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, Superb 98; SMQ $345.00)
4c Pan-American (296). With bottom left corner selvage, several foldovers causing misperforating and gumming on the front mostly in selvage, few perf separations, Very Fine and very unusual freak
5c Pan-American (297). Mint N.H. block of four, rich colors, fresh and Very Fine-Extremely Fine, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate, Scott value as singles
5c Pan-American (297). Mint N.H. bottom imprint and plate no. 1140 block of six, rich colors on bright paper, well-balanced margins, natural short gum at bottomEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK OF THE 5-CENT PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE.
Scarce with such choice centering.
8c Pan-American (298). Mint N.H., gorgeous deep colors and detailed impressions on crisp paper, perfectly centeredEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A TRULY SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 8-CENT PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
P.S.E. encapsulated (Superb 98; SMQ $5,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded and only eight others share it out of a total graded population of 314. The population at 98 has not changed since 2014. This is the first we have offered since 2016.
8c Pan-American (298). Mint N.H. with bottom plate no. 1150 selvage, rich colors, balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 2016 P.S.E. certificate
8c Pan-American (298). Top imprint and plate no. 1150 block of six, original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich colors, choice centering, some perf separations expertly reinforcedVERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE TOP PLATE BLOCK OF THE 8-CENT PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE.
This plate block has great visual appeal.
8c Pan-American (298). Bottom imprint and plate no. 1150 block of six, original gum, hinge marks on four stamps but are not overly noticeable, rich colors, few perf separations sensibly reinforced at right, still Very Fine and attractive
8c Pan-American (298). Bottom imprint and plate no. 1150 block of six, lightly hinged, bright colors and crisp impressions, fresh and Very Fine, ex Hall
10c Pan-American, Sinking Ship (299 var). Mint N.H., with vignette shifted strongly to bottom, waves surrounding the ship obliterate the top line of text of the frame at bottom, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 2001 P.S.E. certificate noting vignette shifted 2mm downward, Scott value as normal $300.00, we recommend looking at this stamp while listening to Gordon Lightfoot's "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald"
Pan-American Issue Freaks and Shifts. Six items, four are 2c including block of four with perfs shifted strongly to right into design (affixed to piece of black paper), 2c imprint and double plate nos. 1078/1171 with vignette shifted slightly to right, similar with plate nos. 1078/1079 with vignette shifted noticeably to top, 4c with vignette shifted to upper left, 10c with vignette shifted slightly downwards, last is used 8c block of four with part imprint and plate no. with normal vignette placement (tear in selvage), few h.r., overall Fine and unusual group
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