Sale 1197 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Thursday-Friday, 14-15 March, 2019
Category — 1881-93 American Bank Note Co. Issues (Scott 205-229)
5c Yellow Brown (205). Original gum, h.r., extraordinary deep rich color and proof-like impression, mounted on lot card from the Morgenthau sale of the George H. Worthington collection, with photo of letter from the Post Office Department's office of Third Assistant PMG dated Feb. 10, 1882, stating "this stamp is from the first sheet printed and one of the first sold by the Department", the lot card includes the note "Made for Queen Victoria-who wrote & asked for a portrait of Garfield after his assassination" and signed by Power, a very unusual item
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3c Vermilion (214). Mint N.H. top selvage partial imprint and plate no. 421 strip of four, rich color, wide margins, third stamp with small natural inclusion, Fine-Very Fine, Scott Retail as four singles
90c Purple (218). Bright color, choice centering with wide and balanced margins, bold duplex cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a surprisingly difficult issue to obtain in the higher grades, with 2000 P.F. and 2011 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,650.00), only one grades higher (at 95J)
4c Dark Brown (222). Mint N.H. wide bottom imprint, plate no. 202 and letter "M M" block of 12, deep rich color on bright paper, beautiful centering and marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK OF THE 4-CENT 1890 ISSUE.
Power Search reveals that we have sold only one other bottom Mint N.H. plate block of this issue since keeping computerized records (plate block of ten, ex "Silver Lake" and Curtis). This example has similarly choice centering and also contains the extra two stamps at right with the half arrow.
With 2018 P.F. certificate. Scott does not price the plate block of 12, though we feel they should as the half arrow completes the full printing in the selvage. Scott Retail for plate block of ten and two Mint N.H. singles
6c Brown Red (224). Original gum, barely hinged, deep rich color on post-office fresh paper, mathematically perfect centering with Jumbo marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SPECTACULAR ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT 1890 ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF GEM 100 JUMBO BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED AND NONE SHARE IT.
With 2018 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, Gem 100 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 100, SMQ $2,400.00 as 100). This is the highest grade awarded and none share it. There is one other hinged example graded 100