Sale 1032 — The Nick Kirke Collection of Gem-Quality Used U.S. Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 23-24 October, 2012
Category — 1979-88 American Bank Note Co. Issues (Scott 205-218)
Lot
Symbol
Photo/Description
Cat./Est. Value
Realized
3300
5c Yellow Brown (205). Huge Jumbo margins, light cork cancel, detailed impression on bright paper, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1998 and 2007 P.F. certificates (XF 90 Jumbo), with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $325.00 as 95, $650.00 as 98), only two examples have graded higher and only one other shares this grade
12
800
3301
1c Gray Blue (206). Jumbo margins and perfect centering, bright shade on crisp paper, unobtrusive circular datestamp cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp in every respect, with 2010 P.F. and P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $360.00 as 98, unpriced in higher grade), only one other has equaled this grade, which is the highest awarded, there is not even a regular 98 in the P.S.E. Population Report (next highest is 95J)
1
1,100
Back to Top3302
1c Gray Blue (206). Massive boardwalk margins, choice centering, strong shade, bold New Orleans duplex cancels, Extremely Fine Gem, a stunning stamp, with 2004 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $140.00 as 95, $360.00 as 98), only the stamp offered in the previous lot and one other 98J have graded higher
1
160
Back to Top3303
3c Blue Green (207). Perfect centering with wide margins, deep rich color, lightly cancelled, Extremely Fine Gem, a one-in-a-million example of this common stamp, with 2010 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $360.00), this is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by no others
0
700
Back to Top3304
6c Rose (208). Huge Jumbo margins and beautifully centered, bold cork cancel, Extremely Fine, an eye-catching used single, with 2002 P.F., 1998 and 2010 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90 Jumbo; SMQ $250.00 as 90, $780.00 as 95), only two have graded higher (at 95) and only two others share this grade
110
225
Back to Top3305
6c Deep Brown Red (208a). Jumbo margins, rich color on bright paper, bold strike of New York numeral oval cancel, rounded corner perf at bottom left called "short perf" on accompanying P.S.E. certificate, still Extremely Fine, this is a very difficult shade to obtain in this choice high-grade condition, with clear 1999 and 2006 P.F. certificates, with 2011 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90 Jumbo; SMQ $390.00 as 90, $1,200.00 as 95), this is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by no others
175
650
Back to Top3306
10c Brown (209). Enormous margins all around, crisp impression, pretty shade nicely contrasted by purple quartered cork cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a phenomenal stamp, with 2005 P.F., 2000 and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $510.00 as 98, unpriced in higher grade), this is one of only three examples to be awarded this desirable grade with none higher, we sold one of the other 98J's in our Sale 992 and this example has wider margins and a far more attractive cancel, the other 98J is in the Orange Brown shade and is offered in the following lot
6
1,600
Back to Top3307
10c Orange Brown (209 var). Jumbo margins and perfect centering, deep rich color in this intense shade, purple 1890 circular datestamp cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful stamp, with 1990, 2003 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $510.00 as 98, unpriced in higher grade), this is one of only three examples to be awarded this desirable grade with none higher, of the three this is the only one in the Orange Brown shade, one of the others is offered in the previous lot
6
550
Back to Top3308
10c Black Brown (209b). Huge beautifully balanced margins, deep rich color and sharp proof-like impression on bright white paper, cork cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1881 10-CENT BLACK BROWN, SCOTT 209b. THIS GORGEOUS STAMP HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 JUMBO BY P.S.E. THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED AND IS SHARED BY NO OTHERS.
With 2010 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 95, SMQ $2,150.00 as 95). This is the highest grade awarded. No other examples have even exceeded a 90 in the P.S.E. Population Report
350
1,600
Back to Top3309
2c Red Brown (210). Mathematically perfect centering, brilliant color, gorgeous strike of "Wheel of Fortune" fancy cancel, long and full perforations all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS FANTASTIC STAMP HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF GEM 100 BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED. THIS STAMP WAS FEATURED ON THE FRONT COVER OF THE SPRING 2011 STAMP MARKET QUARTERLY.
With 2011 P.F. and P.S.E. certificates (Gem 100; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $360.00 as 98 does not adequately convey its rarity). This is the highest grade awarded and only one other example has achieve this grade, though not with this cancel. The odds of finding another Gem 100 which also has a fancy cancel are slim indeed.
0
1,000
Back to Top3310
2c Red Brown (210). Extra wide margins and well-centered, beautiful full strike of purple 5-Point Shaded Star fancy cancel (Cole Ty. STB-11), rich color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2011 P.F. and P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $110.00 as 95, $360.00 as 98 for normal cancel)
0
400
Back to Top3311
2c Red Brown (210). Choice centering with Jumbo margins, bright color, light grid cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2010 P.F. and 2003 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $110.00 as 95, $360.00 as 98)
0
400
Back to Top3312
2c Red Brown (210). Clear strike of "U.S. Mail" fancy cancel (Cole Ty. E-144), bright color, nice margins and centering, Very Fine and choice stamp and strike, with 2011 P.F. and P.S.E. certificates (VF 80)
E. 150-200
350
Back to Top3313
4c Blue Green (211). Exceptionally wide margins, rich color, bold duplex cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1987 P.F. and 2003 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $290.00 as 95, $800.00 as 98), only one has graded higher (at 98J)
27
275
Back to Top3314
1c Ultramarine (212). Unbelievably huge Jumbo margins with essentially perfect centering, pastel shade, light blue target cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2010 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $390.00 as 98, unpriced as 98J or higher), this is the only used 98J in the P.S.E. Population report and none has graded higher
2
1,000
Back to Top3315
2c Green (213). Jumbo margins and perfect centering, bright color, cancel leaves vignette fully visible, Extremely Fine Gem, a huge stamp, with 2010 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $360.00 as 98), this is the highest grade awarded and only two others share this grade
0
650
Back to Top3316
3c Vermilion (214). Perfect centering, gorgeous vivid color on bright paper, corner strike of target cancel leaves design unobscured, Extremely Fine Gem, an absolutely stunning stamp, with 2010 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $1,150.00), this is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by no others
67
1,300
Back to Top3317
4c Carmine (215). Wide perfectly balanced margins, rich color, scarce town/county circular datestamp, Extremely Fine Gem, there are very few highly-graded used examples of this stamp (two 95's and one 95J) as most have heavy registry cancels, with 2010 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $720.00), this is the highest grade awarded and the only example to achieve this grade
22
1,200
Back to Top3318
5c Indigo (216). Jumbo margins and choice centering, beautiful rich color on bright paper, light cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2010 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $235.00 as 95, $680.00 as 98), only one has graded higher (the 100J from our Natalie Grace sale) and only two others share this grade
17
750
Back to Top3319
30c Orange Brown (217). Huge Jumbo margins and wonderfully well-centered, brilliant color, duplex cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a spectacular example of this issue, Brookman notes "the lighter color makes fine used copies difficult to find and I doubt if one in a hundred could be rated as superb", with 2006 P.F. (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo) and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 95, SMQ $780.00 as 95), this is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by no others
130
1,200
Back to Top3320
90c Purple (218). Wide well-balanced margins, rich color, light oval registry cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2001 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,650.00), this is the highest grade awarded (one of nine)
250
900
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