Sale 1347 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Thursday-Friday, 6-7 March, 2025
Category — Trans-Mississippi Issue, Pan-American Issue
8c Violet Brown, Trans-Mississippi, Vertical Pair, Imperforate Horizontally (289a). Original gum, h.r., deep rich color and proof-like impression, unusually choice centering for this difficult issue, few tiny thin specks
VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE AND DESIRABLE EXAMPLE OF THE 8-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE IMPERFORATE HORIZONTALLY, WHICH IS THE ONLY MAJOR ERROR OF THE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.
According to the Neil-Rosenthal book (pp. 115-118), one pane of 50 was discovered by Robert Watts, a stamp clerk at one of the sales windows at the Philadelphia General Post Office, who found it between the wrapping paper of a bundle of stamps. He sold it for double face value ($8.00) to Herman Lewis, a locksmith in Philadelphia. Lewis soon sold it to William S. F. Pierce, who broke it into three pieces: a vertical strip of ten with sheet margin and full arrow at right, a vertical block of 20 containing both plate blocks, and a vertical block of 20 with natural straight edge at left. Each of these multiples has since been broken.
Signed by George B. Sloane in pencil.
$1.00 Black, Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, lightly hinged, almost perfectly centered, crisp impression on fresh paper, Extremely Fine, an attractive example of this popular stamp, with 1990 P.F. certificate
$2.00 Orange Brown, Trans-Mississippi (293). Original gum, h.r., deep rich color, Extremely Fine, with 1976 P.F. certificate
$2.00 Orange Brown, Trans-Mississippi (293). Original gum, rich color and choice centering, tiny diagonal crease at bottom left corner noted on most recent certificate, Extremely Fine appearance, with 1998 P.S.E. and 2024 P.F. certificates
$2.00 Orange Brown, Trans-Mississippi (293). Choice centering and rich color, duplex cancel, couple light internal creases visible when drying, Very Fine appearance
1c Green & Black, Pan-American, Center Inverted (294a). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich colors on post-office fresh paper
A FINE AND SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT.
According to Johl, 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, including Bessemer Ala., Richmond Va., Utica N.Y. and Connecticut. Most examples are off-center and/or have disturbed gum. The example offered here is remarkably fresh.
With 1979 and 2016 P.F. certificates.
2c Carmine & Black, Pan-American, Center Inverted (295a). Original gum with an area of disturbance at center from hinge removal, phenomenally bright color, as fresh as the day it was printed, choice centering with wide margins
EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT.
The 2c is the rarest of the three Pan-American Inverts. It is surmised that approximately 200 were issued through the post office, with two distinct shades known. Our Levi records contain the intact block (4), reconstructed block (4) and 64 unused singles for a total of 72 unused. There are also seven used singles. Many of the unused singles have disturbed gum or no gum, and/or are off center to top or top left. The example offered here was kept in a safe deposit box for more than 70 years (sharing space with the Mint N.H. 95-graded Inverted Jenny Position 49), before it was offered in our Sale 1192 in 2018. It is exceedingly fresh.
With 2018 P.F. certificate.
4c Pan-American, Center Inverted (296a). Original gum, crisp impressions, outstanding centering for this difficult issue, certificate states reperfed at top, but we disagree
EXTREMELY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT.
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 the stamps were removed from mounting paper, they are generally thinned or have seriously disturbed gum.
This stamp was offered in a 1942 Spencer Anderson ad and again in an 1953 Irwin Heiman auction, and it was not described as reperfed. Although we have records of a few examples with a straight edge at top, we do not agree with the P.F. certificate stating that this stamp is reperfed. We base our opinion on the width of the top margin (compared with other recorded examples), the alignment and shape of the holes, and the existence of genuinely perforated singles and multiples with somewhat irregular horizontal perforations.
With 1999 P.F. certificate.
4c Pan-American, Center Inverted, Specimen Ovpt. (296a-S). Clear purple "Specimen" overprint, unused (regummed), repaired at top left
FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT WITH SPECIMEN OVERPRINT.
A total of 173 4c Pan-American Invert stamps were distributed by the Third Assistant Postmaster General's office, and an additional 97 were traded by the National Museum. The majority of stamps distributed by the Post Office Department had the "Specimen" overprint, but some did not. Many have thin spots and/or disturbed gum.
With 2016 P.F. certificate.
1c-10c Pan-American (294-299). Attractive collection of unused and used singles, blocks and some strips, virtually all with significantly shifted vignettes, the owner sought out shifts in all directions so most have fast, slow, high and low shifts, some denominations such as 5c show subtler shifts as these are normally not known with strong shifts, other denominations such as 8c have an impressive range of shifts, few faults to be expected but overall a fresh and Fine-Very Fine group, it would be difficult to assemble this group without years of labor
1c Pan-American (294). Mint N.H. bottom left corner selvage imprint and plate no. block of eight, rising boat variety with significant upward shift of the vignette, detailed impressions, fresh and Very Fine, ex Price, Scott value with no premium for the variety $560
4c Deep Red Brown & Black, Pan-American (296). Mint N.H. bottom imprint, plate nos. 1145/1142 and half arrow block of ten, rich colors, fresh and Very Fine, an attractive and scarce Mint N.H. plate block, Scott value as plate block of plate block of six and four singles
4c Deep Red Brown & Black, Pan-American (296). Mint N.H. bottom imprint and plate no. 1145 block of six, warm colors, Fine-Very Fine
5c Ultramarine & Black, Pan-American (297). Mint N.H. top left corner selvage imprint and plate no. 1140 bock of eight with "5C" at top left and plate printers' initials, deep rich colors, h.r. in ungummed selvage, Very Fine and choice plate block, Scott value as plate block and two singles
5c Ultramarine & Black, Pan-American (297). Top imprint and plate no. 1140 block of six, deep rich colors, fresh and Fine
8c Brown Violet & Black, Pan-American (298). Top imprint and plate no. 1150 block of six, original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich colors, well-balanced margins
EXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM PLATE BLOCK OF SIX OF THE 8-CENT PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE.
Scarce with such choice centering.
10c Yellow Brown & Black, Pan-American (299). Mint N.H. top "Bureau, Engraving & Printing" imprint and plate number 1151 block of ten, long string of plate printers' initials, deep rich colors and proof-like impressions, outstanding centering throughout
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB AND EXTREMELY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED TOP PLATE BLOCK OF THE 10-CENT PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE.
Ex Zoellner as a plate block of ten. With 2006 P.F. certificate as a plate block of ten and with 2024 P.S.E. certificate as this plate block of eight (Superb 98; plate blocks unpriced in SMQ).
10c Yellow Brown & Black, Pan-American (299). Mint N.H. bottom imprint and plate no. 1151 block of six, lightly hinged in ungummed selvage, bright colors
VERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK OF SIX OF THE 10-CENT PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE.
Scarce with such choice centering and in Mint N.H. condition.
10c Yellow Brown & Black, Pan-American (299). Bottom imprint and plate no. 1151 block of six, original gum, lightly hinged mostly where few perf separations sensibly reinforced, Fine plate block