Sale 1232 — United States Stamps and Postal History
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 30-31 March, 2021
Category — Special Delivery, Registration
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E1). Bottom right corner imprint and plate no. 496 block of eight, stamps Mint N.H., two h.r. in selvage only, well-centered, deep rich colorVERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF EIGHT OF THE 1885 FIRST SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE.
Each of the first four Special Delivery Issues (E1-E4) are extremely rare in plate block form. We believe the 1885 Issue, E1, is the rarest of the group with perhaps 5-7 known (including one pane). This plate block with all Mint N.H. stamps is easily one of the finest of the few extant.
Ex Todd, Wampler and Curtis. With 1998 P.F. certificate
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E2). Top imprint and plate no. 552 block of eight, lightly hinged, separated perfs which have been rejoined in some areas, sealed tear in position 6FINE-VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE PLATE BLOCK OF EIGHT OF THE 1888 SECOND SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE.
All of the first four Special Delivery Issues (E1-E4) are rare in plate block form. The second Special Delivery stamp, Scott E2, was made from two plates--numbered 552 and 73. Plate 552 was made first and was numbered in the series of 1882; Plate 73 was numbered in the series of 1890. There are perhaps ten known of the 1888 Issue, Scott E2, of which about half come from top positions. The same plates were used to print the Orange Special Delivery issue, Scott E3, which was issued in conjunction with the 1893 Columbian Issue.
Ex Curtis
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E2). Original gum, beautiful centering and almost perfectly balanced margins, choice color and clear impression, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Curtis, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,350.00), only three unused stamps grade higher
10c Orange, Special Delivery (E3). Original gum, lightly hinged, brilliant color, perfectly centered with Jumbo margins, gum crease visible on front in cross-lighting (not mentioned on accompanying certificates), still an Extremely Fine Gem, ex Merlin and Curtis, with 2002 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $1,400.00), this is the highest grade awarded and the only example to achieve this grade
10c Orange, Special Delivery (E3). Wide margins and essentially perfect centering, glowing color, neat half-strike of target cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a phenomenal used example, with 2020 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $900.00), this is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by only two others
10c Orange, 10c Blue, Special Delivery (E3, E5). Mint N.H. singles of each, brilliant colors, Very Fine and choice, E3 with 1990 P.F. certificate, E5 with copy of 1989 P.F. certificate for a strip of four
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E4). Original gum, lightly hinged, flawless centering with huge Jumbo margins, striking deep color on bright white paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN EXCEPTIONALLY BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE 1894 FIRST BUREAU UNWATERMARKED SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE, GRADED SUPERB 98 JUMBO BY P.S.E.
Ex Merlin and Curtis. With 1992 and 2002 P.F. certificates, the former as a block of four. With 2003 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $5,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded to a hinged Scott E4 and it is shared by only one other (there is also a single Mint N.H. graded Gem 100).
10c Dark Blue, Special Delivery (E4 var). Bottom right corner imprint and plate no. 77 block of eight, original gum, lightly hinged, intense shade and impression, some perf separations in selvage and between pos. 6 and 7VERY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF SIX OF THE 10-CENT 1894 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE. VERY FEW PLATE BLOCKS ARE KNOWN.
Each of the first four Special Delivery Issues (E1-E4) is rare in plate block form. There are perhaps a dozen known of the 1894 Issue, Scott E4. Only one plate number was used for this issue -- Plate 77.
Ex Curtis. With 1988 P.F. certificate
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E4). Original gum, deep rich color, wide margins, Very Fine, with 1991 P.F. certificate
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E5). Mint N.H., outstanding centering with wide margins, rich colorEXTREMELY FINE GEM EXAMPLE OF THE 1895 WATERMARKED SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE.
Ex Curtis. With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $2,800.00). Only three grade higher
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E5). Bottom imprint and plate no. 77 block of six, original gum, left stamps Mint N.H., others lightly hinged, rich color, well-centered, light pre-printing paper fold thru positions 4-5, reinforced perf separations in selvage, also few separations at right, Very Fine example of this scarce plate block, ex Curtis, with 1999 P.F. certificate
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E5). Mint N.H. top left corner margin imprint and plate no. 77 strip of five, with half arrow at right and string of pressman's initials at left, wonderful depth of color, choice centering rarely seen in a plate number multipleVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A LOVELY MINT NEVER-HINGED IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER STRIP OF THE 1895 DOUBLE-LINE WATERMARKED SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE.
With 2021 P.S.E. certificate (VF 80). Scott value as strip of three and two singles
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E6). Wide margins and choice centering, lightly hinged in one corner, bright color, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Merlin and Curtis, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $550.00), only two hinged examples grade higher
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E6). Top imprint and plate no. 1776 block of six, h.r. slivers in selvage and in corners of stamps reinforcing some perf separations, deep color, crease thru position 1 and top left selvage, Very Fine appearance, ex Curtis
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E8). Left imprint and plate no. 5514 block of six, four stamps Mint N.H., top pair h.r., intense color, natural gum bend, Fine, ex Curtis
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E9). Mint N.H., exceptionally wide margins, choice centering, remarkably fresh, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Curtis, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $1,750.00), only five Mint N.H. stamps grade higher (all at 98)
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E9). Mint N.H., huge Jumbo margins, choice centering, pastel color on bright paper, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90 Jumbo; SMQ $1,000.00)
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E9). Mint N.H. top plate no. 5854 block of six, selvage reduced, exceptional centering throughout, top row with particularly wide margins, a few minor gum skips, Extremely Fine, ex Curtis
10c Pale Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E10). Wide margins, fresh color, Extremely Fine, ex Curtis, with 2004 P.S.E. certificate (OG, XF 90 Jumbo; SMQ $500.00)
10c Pale Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E10). Top imprint and plate no. 5520 block of six, stamps Mint N.H. (hinged in the ungummed selvage only), well-centered and freshVERY FINE. A SCARCE AND ATTRACTIVE TOP IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF THE 1916 PERF 10 UNWATERMARKED SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE, SCOTT E10.
Ex Weisman and Curtis. With 1989 P.F. certificate
10c Pale Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E10). Bottom imprint and plate no. 5520 block of six, narrow selvage, lightly hinged, bright and fresh, Fine-Very Fine, a scarce plate block, ex Curtis, with 1981 P.F. certificate
10c Red Lilac, Special Delivery (E15a). Mint N.H., brilliant color, perfectly centered, Extremely Fine Gem, P.S.E. encapsulated (Gem 100; SMQ $225.00), this is the highest grade awarded
13c Blue, Special Delivery (E17). Mint N.H., pretty shade as fresh as the day it was printed, precisely centered, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp in every respect, P.S.E. encapsulated (Gem 100; SMQ $420.00), this is the highest grade awarded and only five others share this perfect grade
17c Orange Yellow, Special Delivery (E18). Perfectly balanced margins, vivid color on crisp paper, Extremely Fine Gem, P.S.E. encapsulated (Gem 100; SMQ $420.00), this is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by only one other -- a small percentage of the 151 Mint N.H. stamps graded by P.S.E.
20c Light Blue, Special Delivery (E20). Mint N.H., pretty shade on bright paper, perfectly centered, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2011 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $250.00), this is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by only six others
30c Lake, Special Delivery (E21). Mint N.H., radiant color on bright paper, perfectly centered, Extremely Fine Gem, P.S.E. encapsulated (Gem 100; SMQ $195.00), this is the highest grade awarded
10c Ultramarine, Registration (F1). Mint N.H., exceedingly wide and well-balanced margins, wonderfully bright and fresh, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Curtis, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $575.00)