Sale 920 — United States Rarities
Sale Date — Tuesday, 17 October, 2006
Category — Later Issues
1c-5c Pilgrim Tercentenary (548-550). Complete set tied by "Philadelphia Pa. Dec. 21, 1920" postmark on First Day of Issue cover addressed to Philip H. Ward Jr. in Philadelphia, yellow and blue sender's corner card, ms. "These stamps are cancelled Dec. 21, 1920, the 300th anniversary of the landing of the Pilgrims, and the day the stamps were placed on sale." and initialled "W.S.B.", fresh and Very Fine first day cover, with 1978 P.F. certificate
5c Dark Blue, Imperforate Pair (557a). Large margins, deep rich color, lightly hinged, Very Fine and choice, scarce, Datz states only one pane of 100 known, with 1989 P.F. certificate
5c Dark Blue, Perf 10 at Top (557c). Rich color, bold "Denver Colo" precancel, choice centering, almost full original gum, light creases, thin spotEXTREMELY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT ROOSEVELT PERF 10 ON ONE SIDE. ONLY SEVEN USED SINGLES AND ONE COVER ARE CONTAINED IN OUR RECORDS.
Of the seven off-cover examples, one is reperfed at right and one is thinned with perfs into design at right.
10c Orange, Imperforate Pair (562b). Unused (no gum) as are all known examples, bright color, blue crayon cleaned from right stamp, otherwise Very Fine, scarce, according to United States Stamps 1922-26 by Gary Griffith, noted dealer Philip Ward purchased a pane in 1925 in Oklahoma -- large areas were marked for destruction with a blue crayon, with 1989 P.F. certificate
20c Carmine Rose, Horizontal Pair, Imperforate Vertically (567a). Lightly hinged, deep rich color, usual light natural gum crease, two small spots of blue ink on back of left stamp barely shows thru, Very Fine appearing example of this major error, only one pane of 100, the upper left pane, was found imperforate vertically, with 1989 P.F. certificate
25c Yellow Green, Vertical Pair, Imperforate Horizontally (568b). Vertical strip of three, center stamp Mint N.H., bright color, small thin spots, few creases, centered to leftFINE APPEARING STRIP OF THREE OF THE 25-CENT 1922-25 ISSUE. ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL PERFORATION VARIETIES OF THE ISSUE.
This is the first example we have offered since keeping computerized records. From our 1969 Rarities sale. With 1989 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as pair with no premium for the strip of three (Scott Catalogue notes that value is for grade of Fine).
$5.00 Carmine & Blue (573). Top arrow and double plate no. block of eight, stamps Mint N.H., lightly hinged in ungummed part of selvage, radiant colors, Very Fine and choice, with 1989 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as hinged
$5.00 Carmine & Blue (573). Mint N.H. top arrow and double plate no. block of eight, brilliant colors, fresh and Very Fine, with 1989 P.F. certificate
1c-10c Kansas-Nebraska (658-679). Complete set of 22 tied by Washington D.C. May 1, 1929 duplex cancels on two airmail First Day Covers addressed to A. C. RoesslerVERY FINE. A DESIRABLE PAIR OF FIRST DAY COVERS WITH SETS OF THE KANSAS-NEBRASKA OVERPRINTS.
Ex Martin.
1c-10c Kansas-Nebraska (658-679). Complete set of each on separate Special Delivery Registered First Day Covers, tied by mute double ovals, each doubly backstamped with purple "Washington D.C. May 1 1929" circular datestamp to same addressee in Grinnell, Iowa, the 3c Kans. has an interesting incomplete printing of the top left frame, both 6c a trifle oxidized, otherwise Fine-Very Fine
1c-10c Kansas-Nebraska (658-679). Each set on First Day Covers, stamps tied by bold strikes of "Washington D.C. May 1, 1929 8:30 AM" duplexes and both addressed to Mr. Albert J. Squier in New YorkFRESH AND VERY FINE SET OF MATCHED FIRST DAY COVERS OF THE KANSAS-NEBRASKA ISSUE.
Scott Retail $3,000.00
1c-10c Kansas (658-668). Planty #5 rubber stamped cachet in black for First Flight Kansas City Mo., complete set of eleven values on ten covers, some in combination, a few multiples of low values, a few with plate numbers, all tied by unofficial First Day Kansas City, Kans. May 1, 1929 machine or duplex cancels, neatly opened at bottomA PRISTINE AND RARE SET OF KANSAS OVERPRINTS USED ON THE FIRST DAY OF OFFICIAL ISSUE FROM AN UNOFFICIAL CITY.
The combination of the unofficial First Day usage, First Flight cachet and quality of these covers would be virtually impossible to duplicate. Ex Martin
5c Washington, Imperforate (1304Cd). Joint line strip of four, large margins, rich color, right stamp toned spot on back, others with small glazed spots on gum from fingerprintsVERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE JOINT LINE STRIP OF FOUR OF THE 1981 REDRAWN 5-CENT WASHINGTON ISSUE.
According to the discoverer, this was purchased from a small post office near the Maryland and Pennsylvania borders. The head postmaster there gave instructions to sell the remainder of the only roll in their possession, as it was clogging up their dispensing machine. This joint line strip of four is one of only two or three in existence.
When trying to determine value, bidders should examine Scott Catalogue values for other denominations of the set. For example No. 1303a pair catalogues $17.50, while the joint line pair catalogues $250.00. Others price the joint line pair at roughly three times the value of the regular pair.
10c Mariner 10, Ultramarine & Bister Omitted (1557b). Mint N.H. top left plate no. 35976 block of four, post-office freshVERY FINE. REPORTED TO BE THE ONLY PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF THIS MARINER 10 MISSING COLOR ERROR.
According to Datz, only one sheet of 50 is known, containing one plate number block.
With 2006 P.S.E. certificate
20c Smokey Bear, Block of Four, Imperforate Between Vertically and Horizontally (2096c). Mint N.H., bright colors, wide marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THIS UNUSUAL PERFORATION VARIETY.
With 1996 P.F. certificate