Sale 1245 — United States Stamps, featuring the Sacramento Collection
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 16-18 November, 2021
Category — 50c-$5.00 1893 Columbian Issue (Scott 240-245)
50c Columbian (240). Mint N.H., magnificent centering, wide margins and intense shadeEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MARVELOUS MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 50-CENT COLUMBIAN ISSUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. ONLY THREE GRADE HIGHER.
With 1997 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $10,000.00). Only three grade higher (at 95J, 98 and 100) and only eight share this grade. We have offered only one other at this grade, in 2010.
50c Columbian (240). Mint N.H., deep rich color, unusually choice centering, light crease at left, Extremely Fine appearance, with 2016 P.S.E. certificate noting "Apparent Centering: XF-Superb 95" and graded (VF 80; SMQ $1,500.00)
50c Columbian (240). Mint N.H., rich color on bright paper, Very Fine, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate
50c Columbian (240). Original gum, intense shade and impression, wide and beautifully balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate (OGh, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,500.00)
50c Columbian (240). Original gum, lightly hinged, intense color, wide margins, Very Fine, with 1993 P.S.E. certificate
50c Columbian (240). Slightly disturbed original gum, deep rich color, choice centering with wide margins, Extremely Fine, with 1997 P.F. certificate
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$1.00 Columbian (241). Mint N.H., brilliant color on bright paper, choice centering with well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE, GRADED XF 90 BY P.S.E.. A WONDERFUL STAMP.
Ex Hall. With 1988 and 2002 P.F. certificates. With 2004 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90, SMQ $14,250.00). Only three grade higher (at 95, we have not sold one since 2012) and seven others share this grade. Apart from the example offered here we have not offered another at this grade since 2011.
$1.00 Columbian (241). Original gum, brilliant color, exceptional centering with balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
With 2006 P.S.E. certificate (OGh, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $3,750.00). Only three unused stamps grade higher (all hinged, at 98)
$1.00 Columbian (241). Mint N.H., bright shade, crisp impression, Fine, with 2011 P.S.E. certificate
$1.00 Columbian (241). Original gum, well-centered, brilliant color, Extremely Fine, with 2018 P.S.A.G. certificate (90 ogPH)
$1.00 Columbian (241). Original gum, barest trace of hinging, vibrant color, Fine, with photocopy of 1978 P.F. certificate for a block
$1.00 Columbian (241). Bright shade, neat Baltimore registry oval cancel, thin spot at center, Extremely Fine appearance
$2.00 Columbian (242). Mint N.H., excellent centering, rich color on fresh paper, small natural inclusion in the right marginVERY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 COLUMBIAN.
With 2005 P.S.E. certificate (VF 80; SMQ $3,750.00)
$2.00 Columbian (242). Original gum, lightly hinged, intense color and crisp impression, unusually choice centering with wide and balanced margins, long and full perforationsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $4,000.00). Only five unused $2.00 Columbian stamps grade higher than this example (four hinged and one Mint N.H.)
$2.00 Columbian (242). Mint N.H., crisp impression, Fine, with 2012 P.S.E. certificate (F 70; SMQ $1,700.00)
$2.00 Columbian (242). Original gum, lightly hinged, gorgeous rich color, well-proportioned margins, Extremely Fine, with 2001 P.F. certificate
$2.00 Columbian (242). Gorgeous color on fresh paper, wide and balanced margins, remarkable face-free strike of duplex cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 COLUMBIAN, WITH A CANCEL ALLOWING AN UNOBSCURED VIEW OF THE "COLUMBUS IN CHAINS" DESIGN.
With 2021 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $3,250.00). Only four used stamps grade higher (all at 98).
$2.00 Columbian (242). Crisp impression, light strike of oval registry cancel, wide and well-balanced margins, thin spot at center, Extremely Fine appearance
$2.00 Columbian (242). Deep rich color, choice centering, bold oval grid cancel and duplex datestamp, single pulled perf at top right, otherwise Extremely Fine
$2.00 Columbian (242). Bright shade, bold oval grid cancel, light creases, Very Fine appearance
$3.00 Columbian (243). Original gum, almost perfect centering, bright and fresh colorEXTREMELY FINE GEM ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $3.00 COLUMBIAN.
With 2010 P.S.E. certificate (OGh, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $4,800.00)
$3.00 Columbian (243). Original gum, lightly hinged, unusually wide and beautifully balanced margins, intense color in a dark shade, proof-like impressionEXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN ESPECIALLY EYE-APPEALING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $3.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
With 2014 P.F. certificate (XF 90 XQ). The "XQ" denotes extraordinary quality.
$3.00 Columbian (243). Mint N.H., rich color and detailed impression, well-centered, we believe it is reperfed at bottom but P.S.E. does not agree and it is not mentioned on either accompanying certificate, Very Fine appearance and scarce in Mint N.H. condition, ex "Golden Oak", with 1978 P.F. and 2014 P.S.E. certificates as sound (VF 80; SMQ $5,250.00)
$3.00 Columbian (243). Mint N.H., bright color, Very Fine, a scarce stamp in Mint N.H. condition, with 2002 and 2016 P.F. certificates
$3.00 Columbian (243). Mint N.H., bright color, fresh and Fine, with 2001 P.S.E. certificate
$3.00 Columbian (243). Original gum, small h.r., rich color, small natural gum wrinkle at top right, Very Fine, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, VF 80; SMQ $1,450.00), this was likely downgraded due to the small natural gum wrinkle
$3.00 Columbian (243). Vivid color, wide beautifully balanced margins, lightly cancelled by double-oval handstampEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A GORGEOUS, LIGHTLY CANCELLED AND CENTERED USED EXAMPLE OF THE $3.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
Approximately half the quantity of $3.00 Columbian stamps was issued compared to each of the $1.00 and $2.00. We do not know the distribution of quantity for the two shades. Sales of the Columbians were disappointing to the post office, as collectors complained about the high price of the stamps. Plans to print additional quantities were cancelled. There was speculation in the dollar-value Columbians at the time they were issued, and the quantity which were used was fairly small.
Ex Kirke. With 1990 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $4,850.00). Of the Yellow Green shade $3.00 Columbian, only two grade higher (at 98).
$4.00 Pale Aniline Rose, Columbian (244a). Mint N.H., brilliant color in the aniline-ink shade, attractive margins and centering, bright and freshVERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED $4.00 COLUMBIAN IN THE PALE ANILINE ROSE SHADE.
With 1997 P.F. certificate. 2008 P.F. certificate graded F-VF 75 no longer accompanies. With 2005 P.S.E. certificate (VF 80; SMQ $7,250.00).
$4.00 Rose Carmine, Columbian (244a). Original gum, beautiful warm color on bright paper, precise centering with balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $4.00 COLUMBIAN IN THE ROSE CARMINE SHADE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. -- THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (OGh, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $6,500.00). This is the highest grade awarded to the Rose Carmine sub-shade, Scott 244a, in any category in the P.S.E. Population Report. Only three other hinged stamps and one Mint N.H. share this grade.
$4.00 Rose Carmine, Columbian (244a). Original gum, lightly hinged, brilliant colorVERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $4.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE IN THE ROSE CARMINE SHADE.
With 2000 and 2007 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85)
$4.00 Columbian (244). Original gum, well-centered, rich color, Very Fine, with 1999 P.S.E. certificate
$4.00 Rose Carmine, Columbian (244a). Bright shade, light strike of red cancel, few natural inclusions, single short perf at top right, otherwise Very Fine
$4.00-$5.00 Columbian (244-245). Unused (regummed), well-centered, $4.00 with wide margins, each with small faults, Very Fine-Extremely Fine appearance
$5.00 Columbian (245). Mint N.H., intense shade on bright white paper, fresh in ever respectFINE. A LOVELY MINT NEVER-HINGED $5.00 COLUMBIAN.
As the top value of the popular Columbian issue, the $5.00 has been proudly hinged into albums for more than 125 years, leaving few Mint N.H. examples available to today's collectors.
With 2018 P.S.E. certificate
$5.00 Columbian (245). Original gum which is called slightly disturbed only on most recent certificate, intense shade and proof-like impression, outstanding centering with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
With 1994 and 2007 P.F. certificates as "previously hinged" (XF-Superb 95). With 2015 P.S.E. certificate stating "slightly disturbed o.g." (DOG, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $6,500.00 for original gum)
$5.00 Columbian (245). Original gum, single hinge mark, deep shade, wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
With 2006 P.F. certificate
$5.00 Columbian (245). Original gum, lightly hinged, nicely centered, rich shade and detailed impression, Very Fine, with 2002 P.F. certificate
$5.00 Columbian (245). Disturbed original gum, intense shade, Very Fine and choice, with 1981 P.F. certificate as "original gum"
$5.00 Columbian (245). Original gum, barest trace of what may be hinging, deep shade, straight edge at top, Very Fine, a rare dollar-value Columbian which retains its straight edge (most have been reperfed)
$5.00 Columbian (245). Unused (regummed), nicely centered with well-balanced margins, Very Fine and choice, with 2013 P.S.E. certificate (RG, VF-XF 85; SMQ $1,350.00)
$5.00 Columbian (245). Crisp impression, light strike of target cancel, single perf added at lower right, otherwise Very Fine, with 1987 P.F. certificate as sound