Sale 1085 — The Curtis Collection: U.S. Officials
Sale Date — Thursday, 6 November, 2014
Category — Agriculture Department (Scott O1-O9)
Lot
Symbol
Photo/Description
Cat./Est. Value
Realized
4010
1c-30c Agriculture (O1-O9). Blocks of four, original gum, 24c with h.r. and small gum loss on bottom pair, 30c with selvage at right, few with trivial small faults but overall attractive and exhibit-worthyFINE-VERY FINE. A SCARCE OFFERING OF BLOCKS OF THE AGRICULTURE ISSUE.
Scott Retail as blocks
15,200
3,250
4011
3c Agriculture (O3). Mint N.H., vivid color, wonderfully well-centered, Very Fine and choice
460
650
Back to Top4012
6c Agriculture (O4). Original gum, Jumbo margins all around, wonderfully fresh, Very Fine and choice, a huge stamp, with 1986 P.F. certificate
260
450
Back to Top4013
10c Agriculture (O5). Original gum, lightly hinged, incredibly fresh color, Very Fine and choice, with 1997 P.F. certificate
525
425
Back to Top4014
12c Agriculture (O6). Original gum, radiant color, wide margins, Very Fine and choice, with 2013 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85)
450
450
Back to Top4015
15c Agriculture (O7). Original gum, bright color, wide margins, Very Fine and choice, with 2012 P.S.E. certificate (OGh, VF 80 Jumbo; SMQ $485.00), only two others have graded higher
425
350
Back to Top4016
24c Agriculture (O8). Original gum, vibrant and rich color, fresh and Very Fine
425
450
Back to Top4017
30c Agriculture (O9). Original gum, h.r., brilliant color, almost perfectly centered, a few nibbed perfs, otherwise Very Fine and choice
550
275
Back to Top4018
30c Agriculture (O9). Block of nine with selvage at left, radiant color, original gum, center horizontal row of three Mint N.H., Very Good, quite possibly the largest block known in either unused or used condition, Scott Retail as three Mint N.H. singles and six hinged singles
6,900
1,300
Back to Top4019
1c Agriculture (O1). Single with natural s.e. at bottom, tied by segmented cork cancel on "Department of Agriculture., Official Business" imprint wrapper to Charlotte Tenn, file fold through stamp and a small facial abrasion on head, wrapper with minor paperclip rust at top, Fine, this paid the domestic circular rate of 1c per 2 oz, this is No. 4 in the Campbell census (Chronicle 194, May 2002) which lists one cover and seven wrappers (the 2004 Markovits sale catalogue reported ten covers or wrappers), ex Markovits
E. 500-750
450
Back to Top4020
2c Agriculture (O2). Tied by cork cancel on "Department of Agriculture, Official Business" imprint and obsolete free frank wrapper to Forestville Md., signed by Commissioner Frederick Watts, Very Fine, this paid the double circular rate of 1c per 2 oz, this is No. 10 in the Campbell census (Chronicle 194, May 2002), which lists six covers and four wrappers with the 2c Agriculture (the 2004 Markovits sale catalogue reports twelve examples), ex Markovits
E. 1,000-1,500
550
Back to Top4021
2c Agriculture (O2). Single with selvage at left tied by cork cancel on "Department of Agriculture, Official Business" imprint label on complete folded wrapper to Sugar Grove, Pa., with manuscript "Return April 1, 1874" on reverse, file fold thru stamp, still Fine, this example is unlisted in the Campbell census (Chronicle 194, May 2002)
E. 1,000-1,500
0
Back to Top4022
3c Agriculture (O3). Brilliant color, tied by cork cancel, "Washington, D.C. Jul 24" circular datestamp on "Department of Agriculture, Official Business" imprint cover to Brookville Md., missing top flap, Very Fine, unlisted in the Campbell census (Chronicle 194, May 2002)
E. 400-500
325
Back to Top4023
6c Agriculture (O4). Well-centered, lightly cancelled by circle of wedges, used on large part of wrapper with half of "Department of Agriculture, Official Business" label intact and an 1874 printed agricultural report listing quantities of livestock in Westover Md., stamp with small tear, an exhibit-worthy and extremely rare use of the 6c Agriculture stamp, this is not one of the four covers listed in the Campbell census of Agriculture Department covers, thus it becomes a fifth known use, ex Starnes, Scott value for a cover is $7,500.00
E. 1,500-2,000
0
Back to Top4024
10c Agriculture (O5). Incredibly well-centered, fresh color, lightly struck with cork cancel and used on "Department of Agriculture, Public Document" imprint label affixed to large part of folded package wrapper, signed by Frederick Watts (Commissioner), addressed to Webster, Me. but missent and sent to Webster Groves Mo. first, manuscript received by mail Jan. 1, 1875FINE. THE FINEST OF THE MERE THREE RECORDED USES OF THE 10-CENT AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT STAMP, ALL OF WHICH ARE ON "PUBLIC DOCUMENT" LABELS SIGNED BY FREDERICK WATTS, AND ONLY TWO OF WHICH ARE FULL LABELS.
This is No. 1 in the Campbell census (Chronicle 194, May 2002) which is also illustrated in the article on Page 141. No. 2 in the Campbell census is from the Charles J. Starnes Collection (Siegel 2007). No. 3, which is only a "piece", is from the Robert L. Markovits Collection (Bennett 2004). All examples paid the 10c "public document" rate for a single bound volume.
E. 3,000-4,000
1,900
Back to Top4025
12c Agriculture (O6). Brilliant color, tied by quartered cork cancel, "Washington D.C. Aug. 22" circular datestamp on legal-size official imprint cover to Hamilton Ga., stamp with small tear at top, cover with some toning, vertical file folds and minor edgewearVERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED 12-CENT AGRICULTURE COVERS. A GREAT RARITY.
The 12c stamp pays the quadruple 3c domestic rate. The other recorded use is on a label.
Ex Hughes, Waud and Markovits
E. 5,000-7,500
0
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