Sale 1328 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 23-25 July, 2024
Category — Offices in China, Officials, Newspapers and Periodicals, Parcel Post
2c-$2.00 Offices in China (K1-K18). Complete set, nearly all Mint N.H., only Nos. K16 and K17 lightly hinged, brilliant colors, No. K1 single nibbed perf at top, Nos. K3 and K9 gum creases or skips, Fine centering and overall a fresh set, three certificates accompany
2c-$2.00 Offices in China (K1-K16). No. K16 with bottom part imprint selvage, original gum with a few slightly disturbed, No. K6 oxidized, Fine-Very Fine set
2c on 1c Green, Offices in China (K1). Mint N.H., deep rich color and outstanding centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2000 and 2014 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95)
4c on 2c Rose, Offices in China (K2). Mint N.H. with wide bottom selvage, beautiful warm color, wide margins and precise centering, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Whitman and Fekete, 2005 P.S.E. certificates for a block and for this single no longer accompany (XF-Superb 95), with 2015 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95)
12c on 6c Red Orange, Offices in China (K6). Mint N.H., Jumbo margins and precise centering, thin natural straw inclusion in lower right margin, Extremely Fine Gem
40c on 20c Deep Ultramarine, Offices in China (K13). Mint N.H., pretty shade on bright paper, choice centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95), only four grade higher (highest is 98J)
$1.00 on 50c Light Violet, Offices in China (K15). Original gum, bright color and well-centered, Very Fine and choice, with 1990 P.F. certificate
$2.00 on $1.00 Violet Brown, Offices in China (K16). Mint N.H. vertical pair, overprints shifted significantly to top with bottom overprint falling partly on the top stamp, bottom stamp natural gum skips, Fine and striking variety, with 2019 P.S.E. certificate, Scott value as two normal singles
$5.00 Green & Black, State (O69). Slightly disturbed original gum, brilliant color, attractive margins and completely sound, Fine, P.S.E. encapsulated (F 70), SCV $8,000
$20.00 Green & Black, State (O71). Unused (no gum), particularly wide margins, sharp impressions, some slight offset on reverse which just bleeds thru in top margin, minute sealed tear at top, otherwise Fine, with 2024 P.S.E. certificate
10c Purple, Justice, Specimen Ovpt. (O29S). Without gum as issued, detailed impression on bright paper, choice centering, Extremely Fine, only 163 sold, with 2015 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85)
24c Purple, Justice, Specimen Ovpt. (O32S). Without gum as issued, unusually well-balanced margins, rich color on fresh paper, Extremely Fine and scarce in this quality, only 150 sold, with 1995 and 2014 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85)
90c Ultramarine, Navy, Specimen Ovpt. (O45S). Without gum as issued, beautiful bright color, well-centered, Very Fine and choice, only 102 sold, with 2023 P.F. certificate
1c Black, Post Office, Specimen Ovpt., Inverted Ovpt. (O47Sb). Without gum as issued, nicely centered, fresh and Very Fine, this is the only invert error among the Officials Special Printings, although the 1c Post Office stamps were printed from a 200-subject plate, the sheets were divided into panes of 100 before overprinting, therefore, only 100 of the inverted "Specimen" overprints could have been produced and we do not know how many were sold, only a small fraction of the number printed has been located and many have faults, with 2009 P.F. certificate
1c Black, Post Office, Specimen Ovpt., Inverted Ovpt. (O47Sb). Without gum as issued, attractive centering and margins, fresh and Very Fine, this is the only invert error among the Officials Special Printings, although the 1c Post Office stamps were printed from a 200-subject plate, the sheets were divided into panes of 100 before overprinting, therefore, only 100 of the inverted "Specimen" overprints could have been produced and we do not know how many were sold, only a small fraction of the number printed has been located and many have faults
12c Dark Brown, Treasury, Specimen Ovpt. (O78S). Without gum as issued, rich color, some scissors-separated perfs slightly blunted at bottom, still Very Fine, only 75 sold, with 2023 P.F. certificate
5c-10c 1865 Issue, Red Specimen Ovpt. Ty. C (PR5S-C, PR6S-C). Bright colors, 10c intact perfs at bottom, few small perf faults, 10c small toned spot at left, otherwise Fine-Very Fine, only the 5c and 10c are known with the "Specimen" overprint
10c Dark Bluish Green, 1875 Reprint (PR6). Without gum as issued, with bottom left corner selvage, deep rich color, Very Fine and choice, a stamp with great visual appeal
$6.00 Ultramarine, 1875 Issue (PR26). Rich color nicely complemented by blue brush stroke cancel, bright paper, few short perfs at right not noted on certificate, otherwise Fine, with 2007 P.F. certificate
$9.00 Yellow, 1875 Issue (PR27). Light strike of handstamp cancel at upper right, tiny corner perf crease at top left
VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE USED EXAMPLE OF SCOTT PR27. ONLY FOUR ARE CERTIFIED BY THE P.F. AND TWO ARE DEFECTIVE.
The P.F. has only certified four used examples, including one rebacked and one with repairs and cancel painted over. With 2007 P.F. certificate.
2c, 3c Gray Black, 1875 Special Printing, Horizontally Ribbed Paper (PR33a, PR34a). Without gum as issued, three of the 2c and one of the 3c, few small faults including minor thin spots, Fine appearance
6c Gray Black, 1875 Special Printing (PR36). Without gum as issued, intense shade, fresh and Fine, with 2004 P.F. certificate
12c Pale Rose, 1875 Special Printing (PR40). Without gum as issued, radiant color, straight edge at top, Very Fine and scarce
48c Pale Rose, 1875 Special Printing (PR43). Without gum as issued, remarkably well-centered with magnificent color and impression
EXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 48-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL NEWSPAPER SPECIAL PRINTING. A NOTORIOUSLY DIFFICULT ISSUE TO FIND IN SUCH CHOICE CONDITION.
Only 268 sold. With 2003 and 2009 P.F. certificates.
$24.00 Dark Violet, 1879 Issue (PR76). Original gum, lightly hinged, beautiful margins and with nearly precise centering, intense color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1995, 2008 and 2015 P.F. certificates, the last graded XF-Superb 95, by way of comparison the highest grade awarded by P.S.E. is a 90
2c Intense Black, 1883 Special Printing (PR80). Without gum as issued, intense shade and impression on bright paper, Very Fine, with 2007 P.F. certificate
24c Pink, 1894 Issue (PR96). Original gum, vibrant color, two thin spots, Very Fine appearance
$2.00 Scarlet, 1895 Unwatermarked Issue (PR108). Intense shade, neat handstamp cancel, Very Fine, rare in sound used condition, with 2007 P.F. certificate (F-VF 75)
$2.00 Scarlet, 1895 Unwatermarked Issue (PR108). Original gum, deep rich color, Very Fine, with 1991 and 2021 P.F. certificates (VF 80)
$5.00 Ultramarine, 1895 Unwatermarked Issue (PR109). Original gum, h.r., couple small thin spots and reperfed, otherwise Fine
$5.00 Ultramarine, 1895 Unwatermarked Issue (PR109). Rich color on bright paper, neat strike of target cancel, faint thin spot in center of vignette, Extremely Fine appearance, scarce in used condition, with 2007 P.F. certificate
$10.00 Green, 1895 Unwatermarked Issue (PR110). Rich color on bright paper, neat strike of magenta target cancel, Fine, rare in used condition and especially desirable as sound with a colored cancel, with 1990 P.S.E. certificate
$10.00 Green, 1895 Unwatermarked Issue (PR110). Rich color, two strikes of St. Louis oval cancels, small central internal crease, Fine appearance and scarce, the P.F. has certified less than a dozen used examples, with 2007 P.F. certificate
$20.00 Slate, 1895 Unwatermarked Issue (PR111). Detailed impression, segmented cork cancel, light thinning at top, Extremely Fine appearance, a rare used stamp, with 2007 P.F. certificate
$50.00 Dull Rose, 1895 Unwatermarked Issue (PR112). Rich color, bold strike of Boston double oval handstamp cancel, small faults, Very Fine appearance, scarce in used condition, with 2007 P.F. certificate
$100.00 Purple, 1895 Unwatermarked Issue (PR113). Deep rich color, bold strike of Philadelphia double oval cancel, few creases, still Fine and rare in used condition, perhaps a dozen have been certified as genuine by the P.F.
1c-$100.00 1895-97 Issue, "Universal Postal Congress" Ovpt. (PR114S-O to PR125S-O). Complete set of 12, original gum, mostly small h.r., bright colors, a couple minor flaws such as a short perf but overall fresh and Fine-Very Fine set, scarce as only 125 were produced
$20.00 Slate, 1895 Watermarked Issue (PR123). Wide margins and choice centering, cork cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2011 P.F. certificate (XF 90)
1c-75c Carmine Rose, Parcel Post (Q1-Q11). Complete set up to the 75c, original gum, couple Mint N.H. including Q3 and Q7, bright colors, some true Jumbos including Q10 which is a huge Extremely Fine stamp (with 1991 P.F. certificate), overall Very Fine-Extremely Fine set
1c-$1.00 Carmine Rose, Parcel Post, 1c-25c Dark Green, Parcel Post Postage Due (Q1-Q12, JQ1-JQ4). Mint N.H. sets, Parcel Post includes two extra 10c (one with plate no.) but missing the 15c, also extra 20c and 75c,, Parcel Post Postage Due 25c with plate no. selvage, bright colors, choice centering and margins, Very Fine-Extremely Fine
2c Lake, Parcel Post (Q2a). Original gum, hinged only in bottom right corner, intense shade in the distinctive Lake color, centered to top as are almost all known examples but also with three balanced Jumbo margins on the other sides
FINE. AN UNUSUALLY CHOICE JUMBO-MARGINED ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 2-CENT LAKE PARCEL POST ISSUE.
Only one sheet of 180 is known to have been printed. Every example we have offered has been centered to the top and all have been hinged. There are a couple examples in the P.F. online database that are not centered to top but they are centered strongly to the left. This example has by far the widest margins of any we have encountered.
With 1986 P.F. certificate. Scott values this in the grade of Fine-Very Fine.