Sale 1096 — The Robert R. Hall Collection of Outstanding United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 28-30 April, 2015
Category — 1879 American Bank Note Co. Issue (Scott 182-191)
2c-30c Washington, Lithograph Essay, Perforated and Gummed (183-E2e). Complete sheet of 16 in Deep Brown Orange, original gum, h.r., thin spot at top right, Fine-Very Fine appearance
1c Dark Ultramarine (182). Original gum, lightly hinged, rich color, choice centering, Extremely Fine, with 1997 P.F. certificate
1c Dark Ultramarine (182). Block of four, original gum, rich color on bright paper, Fine-Very Fine, with 1996 P.F. certificate
2c Vermilion (183). Mint N.H., vibrant color, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 1983, 2004 and 2006 P.F. certificates (XF 90)
3c Green (184). Block of six, bottom three stamps Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression, Fine-Very Fine, Scott Retail as singles
3c Green (184). Bottom imprint and plate no. 347 block of 14 with natural s.e. and part arrow at right, small hinge sliver at right, other 12 stamps including entire plate block Mint N.H., rich color, choice centeringVERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL PLATE BLOCK OF FOURTEEN OF THE 1879 3-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE, WITH THE PLATE BLOCK IN MINT NEVER-HINGED CONDITION.
With 1992 P.F. certificate stating it "is genuine". Scott Retail as singles
5c Blue (185). Mint N.H. horizontal block of six, gum applied a bit unevenly on bottom right stamp, extraordinarily well-centered throughout, the stamp at upper left with major double transfer in both labelsEXTREMELY FINE. THE ONLY KNOWN EXAMPLE OF THIS MAJOR DOUBLE TRANSFER IN A BLOCK, AND ONE OF THE FINEST-QUALITY MULTIPLES OF THIS BANK NOTE STAMP EXTANT.
Very few examples of this and other double transfers on the 5c Taylor plates are known.
With 1998 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as Mint N.H. singles
5c Blue (185). Original gum, lightly hinged, intense shade and impression, Very Fine and choice, with 1995 P.F. certificate
6c Pink (186). Mint N.H., brownish gum, pastel color, choice centering for this difficult issueVERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1879 6-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE. THIS IS ONLY THE SECOND MINT NEVER-HINGED SINGLE WE HAVE OFFERED SINCE KEEPING COMPUTERIZED RECORDS.
A review of our past auctions plus the records of the P.F. and P.S.E. demonstrates how rare this issue is in Mint N.H. condition. We offered one other single, in our 2007 Odeneal sale (graded 90, realized $11,000 hammer), plus a block of nine with mixed centering. The P.F. has only certified two singles stating Mint N.H. -- this one and the Odeneal copy (plus four older certificates which state "it is genuine").
With 1994 P.F. certificate
10c Brown, Without Secret Mark (187). Original gum, lightly hinged, intense color, wide margins and nicely centeredVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A WELL-CENTERED ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1879 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE WITHOUT SECRET MARK.
With 1977 P.F. certificate
10c Brown, Without Secret Mark (187). Block of four, original gum, deep shade, top left stamp thin spots, bottom right stamp has corner creaseFINE-VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 10-CENT 1879 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE WITHOUT SECRET MARK.
Brookman notes that "blocks of the Type I are extremely rare". A review using Power Search shows we offered one in our 2012 Frelinghuysen sale, one with double paper in 2002 and one centered strongly to bottom in 2001. Prior to that, one has to search back to our 1990 Rarities sale to find one.
With 1985 P.F. certificate
10c Brown, With Secret Mark (188). Original gum, lightly hinged, bright shade and crisp impression, fresh and Very Fine, with 1992 P.F. certificate
15c Red Orange (189). Mint N.H., vibrant color, choice centering with balanced margins, Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp, with 1998 and 2007 P.F. certificates (XF 90)
15c Red Orange (189). Top imprint and plate no. 31 strip of six, original gum, h.r., some toned spots, few sensibly reinforced perf separations, Fine-Very Fine, Scott Retail as singles
15c Red Orange (189). Block of four, three stamps Mint N.H., top right stamp single hinge mark, vibrant color, fresh and Fine-Very Fine, with 2001 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as singles
30c Full Black (190). Original gum, lightly hinged, intense shade, detailed impression, wide margins, Extremely Fine, with 1982 P.F. certificate
30c Full Black (190). Left sheet selvage block of four, bottom right stamp Mint N.H., intense shade and impression, few perf separationsFINE. AN ATTRACTIVE SHEET-MARGIN BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1879 30-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE, WITH THE BOTTOM RIGHT STAMP IN MINT NEVER-HINGED CONDITION.
Based on centering and the width of the sheet selvage, this block probably originated from the same sheet as the left sheet-margin block of the 30c 1879 American in the Lilly collection (Siegel Sale 327, lot 171).
30c Full Black (190). Block of four, original gum, lightly hinged, intense shade and impressionVERY FINE. A SCARCE SOUND, LIGHTLY-HINGED BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1879 30-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE.
With 2002 P.F. certificate
90c Carmine (191). Original gum, lightly hinged, radiant color, balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A FRESH AND CHOICE LIGHTLY-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1879 90-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE.
With 1983 and 1997 P.F. certificates, the former as a block of six
90c Carmine, Imperforate (191b). Horizontal pair, original gum noted on accompanying certificate as "part o.g.", large margins to full including top sheet margin, rich color, Very Fine, this is the first we have offered since 2008, with 1989 P.F. certificate