Sale 1093 — The Curtis Collection: U.S. 20th Century and Air Post
Sale Date — Monday-Tuesday, 23-24 February, 2015
Category — 1917-19 Issue (Scott 498-518)
Lot
Symbol
Photo/Description
Cat./Est. Value
Realized
439
1c Green, A.E.F. Booklet Pane (498f). Mint N.H., Position W6 with right tab and guide lines at left and bottom, deep rich color, fresh and Very Fine Mint N.H. pane
1,700
2,500
440
1c Green, 2c Rose, Ty. I, A.E.F. Booklet (498f, 499f). Single of each, 1c from bottom row of the booklet pane, 2c with guideline at left and from a booklet position with the tab at right, tied by "U.S. Army Postal Service Dec. 2, 1917" wavy-line machine cancel on cover to Philadelphia, bold blue censor's handstamp and signature of censor, very small piece out at top from opening, Very Fine, a scarce and desirable use of the 1c and 2c A.E.F. stamps, no intact used panes of the 2c are known (a partial pane is known) and so this is really the only way to collect it in used condition, with 1998 A.P.S. and 2012 P.F. certificates
E. 1,000-1,500
1,300
Back to Top441
2c Rose, Ty. I, A.E.F. Booklet Pane (499f). Position W3 or W9, lightly hinged, brilliant colorFINE-VERY FINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT A.E.F. BOOKLET PANE. IT IS BELIEVED THAT NO MORE THAN 20 EXIST IN ANY CONDITION.
The A.E.F. booklet panes were issued in September 1917, primarily for use by the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe during World War I. Only 3,000 panes were prepared of both the 1c and 2c denominations. By October they were no longer needed, as Congress voted to allow mail to be sent free of charge by active members of the Armed Forces. Many of the panes were destroyed.
With 1981 P.F. certificate
22,500
13,500
Back to Top442
2c Deep Rose, Ty. Ia (500). Mint N.H., rich color on bright paper, perfect centering with wide and balanced margins, long and full perforations all around, Extremely Fine Gem, a wonderful example of the 2c Type Ia, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $2,250.00)
550
1,600
Back to Top443
2c Deep Rose, Ty. Ia (500). Top plate no. F10208 block of six, stamps Mint N.H. (hinged in selvage), Very Good-Fine centering, Scott Retail as Mint N.H. singles
3,300
650
Back to Top444
2c Deep Rose, Ty. Ia (500). Wide margins and nicely centered, wonderful color, "Tulsa" oval cancel, Very Fine, with 2007 P.F. and P.S.E. certificates (both VF 80; SMQ $240.00)
240
180
Back to Top445
2c Deep Rose, Ty. Ia (500). Block of four, cancelled by circular datestamp and duplex oval grid, deep rich color and remarkably choice centering for a used block of this scarce issue, Very Fine, probably the finest used block extant, a Power Search review of our sales located a block cancelled in 1933 and a block of eight with Fine centering, with 1980 P.F. certificate (this certificate predates the work of the forger who applied fake cancels to 20th Century stamps to create rare used multiples)
1,500
800
Back to Top446
2c Deep Rose, Ty. Ia (500). Right plate no. 10209 block of six, Toledo O. oval cancels, toned and slight thin at lower left, Very Good-Fine centering, quite possibly the only extant used plate block of the 2c Type Ia
E. 750-1,000
950
Back to Top447
2c Deep Rose, Ty. Ia (500). Characteristic deep rich color, tied by Bonner's Ferry Id. May 9, 1920 wavy-line machine cancel on cover to Philip H. Ward Jr. in Germantown Pa., reported to be from the man who discovered 2c Type Ia in Idaho, vertical fold clear of stamp, Very Fine
650
425
Back to Top448
3c Dark Violet, Ty. II (502). Average centering, deep shade, tied by Chicago Ill. Jan. 30, 1918 slogan machine cancel on window envelope with Empire Art Co. corner card, Fine, the earliest documented use of the 3c Type II Perf 11, with 2004 A.P.S. certificate (this EDU has held up for more than 10 years)
E. 200-300
275
Back to Top449
5c Rose, Error (505). Mint N.H., bright and fresh, superb centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1999 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,950.00)
625
1,800
Back to Top450
5c Rose, Error (505). Single Mint N.H. error in block of nine, bright color, couple 2c stamps with h.r. and one with thin, the error is Fine
650
300
Back to Top451
5c Rose, Error (505). Mint N.H. double error in a block of 12, pristine gum without skips or bends, bright color, Fine
2,000
1,000
Back to Top452
5c Rose, Error (505). In horizontal pair with normal 2c stamp, tied by clearly struck "Hot Springs Va. Mar. 27, 1917" machine flag cancel on legal-size cover to New York, printed return address at top left for Virginia Hot Springs Co., minor cover wearVERY FINE. THE EARLIEST DOCUMENTED USE OF THE PERF 11 5-CENT ROSE ERROR AND ALSO OF THE 2-CENT (SCOTT 499). AN IMPORTANT 20TH CENTURY UNITED STATES COVER.
Only one other cover is known used on this date, bearing a single of Scott 505. The cover offered here -- the earliest known use for the two Scott-listed stamps -- is unique. It was apparently stamped for the double 2c rate due its weight, and the sender was unaware of the 5c error.
Ex Grunin, Twigg-Smith (realized $26,000 in our Sale 835) and Boker
E. 7,500-10,000
10,500
Back to Top453
5c Rose, Error (505). Unusually choice centering, tied by "Gary Ind. Oct. 20-17 2 PM" machine cancel on cover to Oak Park Ill., top edge with opening nick, otherwise Very Fine, 1984 BIA survey indicates that only 52 covers are known
2,250
1,300
Back to Top454
5c Rose, Error (505). Single error in block of nine, tied by multiple strikes of "Air Mail Service, Chicago, Feb. 24, 7AM 1921" duplex datestamp and bars on large-size buff airmail special delivery cover to St. Paul Minn., receiving backstamp, reduced at left, block has Very Good-Fine centering and the cover is overall Fine, Scott Retail $2,250.00 for single on cover
E. 750-1,000
2,900
Back to Top455
8c Olive Bister (508). Mint N.H., pretty shade and almost mathematical centering, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $575.00)
27
850
Back to Top456
10c Orange Yellow (510). Mint N.H. wide top plate no. 12573 block of six, vibrant color, superb centering, Extremely Fine, an elusive wide top Mint N.H. plate block of this issue
325
0
Back to Top457
10c Orange Yellow (510). Jumbo margins and precise centering, fiery color on bright white paper, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Kirke, with 2011 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $275.00 as 98, unpriced in higher grade), one of five 98J's, only two have graded higher
0
700
Back to Top458
15c Gray (514). Mint N.H., choice centering, crisp shade on bright paper, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $475.00)
80
450
Back to Top459
20c Light Ultramarine (515). Mint N.H., perfectly centered with Jumbo margins, beautiful shade and fresh paper, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $1,300.00 as 98), one of six 98J's, three others have higher grades
90
1,200
Back to Top460
20c Light Ultramarine (515). Wide bottom plate no. 10136 block of six, top center stamp lightly hinged, others Mint N.H., remarkably choice centering, bright shade, Very Fine-Extremely Fine plate block
600
500
Back to Top461
30c Orange Red (516). Mint N.H., wide margins and choice centering, bright shade, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2001 and 2006 P.F. certificates (latter graded XF-Superb 95)
70
275
Back to Top462
30c Orange Red (516). Mint N.H. top plate no. 6914 block of six, beautifully centered, vibrant color, selvage at top reduced, otherwise Very Fine and choice, with 2008 P.F. certificate
925
300
Back to Top463
50c Red Violet (517). Mint N.H., brilliant color and proof-like impression on bright white paper, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp, with 1989 and 2004 P.F. certificates and 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $550.00)
115
350
Back to Top464
50c Red Violet (517). Mint N.H. wide bottom plate no. 13653 block of six, superb centering throughout, brilliant color and remarkably freshEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A TRULY OUTSTANDING WIDE-MARGIN PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF THE 50-CENT 1917 PERF 11 FRANKLIN ISSUE.
With 2005 P.F. certificate
2,550
6,500
Back to Top465
50c Red Violet (517). Left plate no. 7040 block of six, h.r. in top pair, bright and fresh, bottom left stamp with natural gum bend, Very Fine
1,600
325
Back to Top466
$1.00 Violet Brown (518). Mint N.H., beautifully balanced margins, rich color on fresh paper, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $1,600.00)
95
900
Back to Top467
$1.00 Violet Brown (518). Mint N.H. top imprint, plate no. 5782 and letter "A" block of six, deep rich color and proof-like impression, choice centering, Very Fine, an attractive Mint N.H. plate block, with 2001 P.F. certificate
2,100
950
Back to Top468
$1.00 Violet Brown (518). Mint N.H. bottom imprint, plate no. 5782 and letter "A" block of 16, bright shade, Fine-Very Fine, the plate block is exceptionally choice and Extremely Fine, Scott Retail as plate block and singles
3,050
2,100
Back to Top469
$1.00 Violet Brown (518). Bottom imprint, plate no. 5782 and letter "A" block of 30, cancelled by multiple strikes of Washington D.C. Mar. 6, 1918 datestamp and duplex grid, a few of the strikes indent paper, a few stamps with slight creasing, perhaps another minor flaw or two, overall Fine-Very Fine, a remarkable large used multiple of this dollar-value Washington-Franklin Issue, unpriced in Scott as a used plate block
E. 500-750
500
Back to Top470
$1.00 Violet Brown (518). Used on two Federal Reserve Bank registered mail tags, first has a block of nine with three other values from Los Angeles to New York City, Jan. 8, 1919, second with single and other values incl. 30c and 50c, all with perfin initials, used from Boston to Springfield Mass., Sep. 16, 1919, Fine-Very Fine
E. 200-300
250
Back to Top471
$1.00 Violet Brown (518). Tied by Akron O. Oct. 28, 1933 wavy-line machine cancel on Graf Zeppelin Century of Progress Akron-Seville (Spain) cacheted flight cover to Baltimore, appropriate backstamps, Very Fine
E. 300-400
0
Back to Top472
$1.00 Deep Brown (518b). Lightly cancelled, well-centered, rich color in the true Deep Brown shade, light creases, Very Fine appearance, scarce in used condition, with 2001 P.F. certificate
1,250
375
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