Sale 956 — The Jay Hoffman Collection of United States Stamps
Sale Date — Thursday-Friday, 8-9 May, 2008
Category — Columbian Issue
1c Columbian (230). Mint N.H., radiant color on post-office fresh paper, perfectly centered with wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful stamp, with 2003 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $660.00)
2c Columbian (231). Mint N.H., brilliant color on bright paper, choice centering, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $205.00)
4c Columbian (233). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression, well-proportioned margins, Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp, with 2003 P.F. certificate
4c Columbian, Error of Color (233a). Mint N.H., deep rich color in the darker of the two recognized shades, bright paper, centered to bottom left but with perfs clear of designFINE AND PRISTINE. ONE OF THE FEW AVAILABLE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLES OF THE RARE 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 copy of 1967 P.F. certificate for block of four and with 2002 P.S.E. certificate. We have offered only four other Mint N.H. examples since keeping computerized records.
5c Columbian (234). Mint N.H., intense shade and proof-like impression, gorgeous centering with wide and even margins, Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp, with 2000 P.F. certificate
6c Columbian (235). Mint N.H. with part imprint at top, lightly hinged in selvage only, rich color, wide margins, Very Fine and choice, with 1996 P.F. certificate
8c Columbian (236). Mint N.H., bright shade on crisp paper, well-proportioned margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, a pretty stamp, with copy of 2002 P.F. certificate for block
30c Columbian (239). Mint N.H., intense color and proof-like impression, almost perfectly centered with balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 2003 P.F. certificate
50c Columbian (240). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression, long and full perforations all around, fresh and Very Fine, a beautiful stamp, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate (F-VF 75; SMQ $680.00 as 70, $1,800.00 as 80)
$1.00 Columbian (241). Mint N.H., brilliant color on bright white paper, beautifully centered with well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A GORGEOUS MINT NEVER-HINGED $1.00 COLUMBIAN.
With 2002 and 2004 P.F. certificates, the former as a block
$2.00 Columbian (242). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression, full perforations all aroundFRESH AND FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 COLUMBIAN.
With 2000 P.F. certificate
$3.00 Olive Green, Columbian (243a). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression, choice centering for this difficult issueVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $3.00 COLUMBIAN IN THE DISTINCTIVE OLIVE GREEN SHADE.
With 1975, 2001 and 2008 P.F. certificates
$4.00 Columbian (244). Mint N.H., radiant color on bright paper, choice centering, long and full perforationsVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $4.00 COLUMBIAN.
With 2005 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $14,000.00)
$5.00 Columbian (245). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression, wide margins for this issueVERY FINE AND CHOICE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
With 2004 and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (VF 80; SMQ $10,500.00)