Sale 1197 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Thursday-Friday, 14-15 March, 2019
Category — 1893 Columbian Issue (Scott 230-245)
1c-50c Columbian (230-240). Unused set complete through the 50c, mostly Mint N.H. but 30c and 50c are lightly hinged, choice centering and margins throughout, fresh colors, Very Fine-Extremely Fine, a high quality set bought individually from dealers known for quality, 5c, 30c and 50c with older certificates
3c Columbian (232). Mint N.H. bottom left corner imprint, plate no. 76 and letter "R" block of ten, unusually choice centering, deep rich color and proof-like impressionEXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK OF THE 3-CENT COLUMBIAN.
With 2018 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as plate block of eight and two singles
4c Columbian, Error of Color (233a). Mint N.H., deep rich color on bright paper, margins clear of design all aroundFRESH AND FINE. A RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT COLUMBIAN ERROR OF COLOR.
The 4c Columbian color error was caused by the use of a wrong batch of ink, and spectrographic analysis has shown that the blue inks of the 4c error and 1c Columbian have the same components.
Stamps from at least two panes reached collectors, and the few cancelled examples indicate that stamps used by the public came from additional panes. It is likely that a number of full sheets were printed using the wrong ink, and most of the stamps have simply been lost to philately.
With 2018 P.F. certificate
6c Columbian (235). Mint N.H., detailed impression, choice centering with Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine, with 2018 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90 Jumbo; SMQ $625.00)
50c Columbian (240). Bottom imprint and plate no. 77 block of six, three stamps Mint N.H. including two side stamps at top and bottom right stamp, others lightly hinged, deep rich color, beautiful centering throughoutEXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB PLATE BLOCK OF THE 50-CENT COLUMBIAN IN EXTRAORDINARILY FRESH CONDITION.
With 2000 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as hinged
50c Columbian (240). Mint N.H., intense shade nicely contrasted by bright paper, P.S.E. certificate notes reperfed at left (we concur), Extremely Fine appearance, with 2000 P.F. (clear) and 2018 P.S.E. certificates
50c-$3.00 Columbian (240-243). Brilliant colors, each with a neat cancel, fresh and Very Fine, 50c and $2.00 with P.S.E. certificates
$1.00 Columbian (241). Attractive margins and nicely centered, deep rich color, bold nearly complete strike of "United States Sea P.O. Sep. 20, 1893" circular datestamp, Very Fine, scrace cancel on this issue and especially desirable fully struck on stamp, Power Search reveals that every other Columbian we have offered with a similar cancel is struck with the "U.S. German Sea P.O." variety, this is the only example we have offered with the "United States Sea P.O." variety, with 1997 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Columbian (241). Bright color, cancelled by an unusual "14" in fancy oval of Guatemala, creased, Fine appearance, the only such example we have seen
$2.00 Columbian (242). Mint N.H., bright color, three wide margins, few slightly shorter perfs at bottom, still Fine, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate
$2.00 Columbian (242). Original gum, rich color, fresh and Very Fine, with 1985 P.F. certificate
$2.00 Columbian (242). Original gum, barest trace of hinging, deep rich color on fresh paper, Very Fine, with 1977 and 2000 P.F. certificates
$2.00 Columbian (242). Original gum, barest trace of hinging, deep rich color, fresh and Fine
$2.00 Columbian (242). Wide margins and choice centering, deep rich color, clearly struck New York registry oval datestamp, fresh and Extremely Fine, a Power Search review will show how infrequently this cancel is struck on a Columbian Issue stamp with such clarity, small blue backstamp, with 1990 P.F. certificate
$3.00 Columbian (243). Disturbed original gum, rich color, intense impression, outstanding centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $3.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
With 2019 P.S.E. certificate (DOG, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $4,800.00). Only six grade higher
$3.00 Olive Green, Columbian (243a). Original gum, intense shade and impression, fresh and Very Fine example of this shade, with 2006 P.F. certificate
$3.00 Columbian (243). Original gum, lightly hinged, bright color, Very Fine
$3.00 Columbian (243). Disturbed original gum, deep rich color on bright paper, Extremely Fine, with 1990 P.F. certificate
$3.00 Olive Green, Columbian (243a). Wide margins and well-centered, rich color, light registry oval cancel struck in corner leaving design fully visible, tiny tear at left not mentioned on accompanying certificate, appears Extremely Fine, with clear 1986 P.F. certificate
$4.00 Columbian (244). Mint N.H., brilliant color and detailed impression, gorgeous centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A PHENOMENAL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $4.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF 90 BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS A DIFFICULT ISSUE TO FIND IN SUCH A HIGH GRADE.
The $4.00 Columbian depicts the two central figures in the story of Columbus -- Queen Isabella and Columbus himself. The portrait of Isabella is said to be based on a painting in Madrid, but its origins have been lost to history. The portrait of Columbus is based on a painting by the artist Lorenzo Lotto (c. 1480-1556). This portrait of Columbus was painted in 1512 as a commission from Domenico Malpiero, a Venetian senator and historian, and was executed shortly after the death of Columbus in 1504. It is one of the earliest portraits of Columbus (none is known to have been painted in his lifetime). This image was also used for several stamps of Chile.
With 2015 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $16,000.00). Only five have graded higher (all at 95) and only five others share this grade. In our opinion, this magnificent stamp, graded XF 90 strictly "by the numbers," is the equal of the $4.00 Columbian stamps graded XF-Superb 95.
$4.00 Columbian (244). Original gum, brilliant color, wide margins and choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $4.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
With 2019 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF 90; SMQ $4,250.00)
$4.00 Columbian (244). Original gum, lightly hinged, rich color and sharp proof-like impression, Very Fine, a pretty stamp
$4.00 Columbian (244). Original gum, h.r., radiant color, short perf at bottom right, otherwise Very Fine
$4.00 Columbian (244). Intense shade on bright paper, wide margins, unobtrusive cancel, Very Fine, with 1998 P.F. certificate
$4.00 Columbian (244). Brilliant color, attractive margins and centering, bold machine cancel, Very Fine, with 1996 P.F. certificate
$5.00 Columbian (245). Original gum, h.r., intense shade, unpunched perf at bottom, Fine
$5.00 Columbian (245). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep shade, mild gum crease, otherwise Very Fine
$5.00 Columbian (245). Unused (no gum), wide margins and choice centering, proof-like impression on bright white paper, tiny internal crease only visible in fluid, Extremely Fine appearance
$5.00 Columbian (245). Crisp impression, light strike of New York registry oval cancel, Very Fine, 1996 P.F. certificate
$5.00 Columbian (245). Intense shade and impression, bold strike of New York registry oval cancel, wide margins, fresh and Very Fine, with 2000 P.F. certificate
$5.00 Columbian (245). Crisp shade, sharp impression, light Massachusetts circular datestamp, pinpoint thin speck, Very Fine appearance