Sale 1357 — 2025 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Wednesday, 25 June, 2025
Category — United States Possessions
Canal Zone, 1912, 5c Deep Blue & Black, With Cordoba Portrait of 2c (40a). Neat strike of duplex datestamp, the yeardate is visible but we would not want to definitively say what the last digit is, it does clearly read "191", deep rich colors, horizontal crease, two thin spots
FINE AND RARE. ONE OF THE MOST UNUSUAL ERRORS IN ALL OF PHILATELY. ONLY NINE EXAMPLES ARE RECORDED.
Little is known of how this error was made or why there are so few of them. The discovery of this error is described in an article by Edward S. Conger in the 1952 Philatelic Congress Book. The first copy was discovered in Paris in 1925, where it was supposedly found in a packet mixture of Canal Zone stamps. It was brought to the United States by a dealer, who sold it to Eugene Costales of Scott Stamp & Coin Co. It was first written up the July 1925 issue of Scott Stamp Monthly, which started a frenzy as dealers and collectors checked their inventories for more examples. Other copies were found in New Zealand, Reading Pa., Toronto, and in the Canal Zone. This is the first we have offered since our 2003 Drucker sale.
Ex Crumpacker. With 1992 P.F. certificate.
Canal Zone, 1962, 4c Thatcher Ferry Bridge, Silver (Bridge) Omitted (157a). Position 44, Mint N.H., nicely balanced margins
VERY FINE AND CHOICE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE THATCHER FERRY BRIDGE ERROR. ONLY ONE PANE OF 50 WAS EVER ISSUED.
According to Canal Zone Stamps, one sheet, consisting of four panes of 50, was printed. Three panes were caught by postal authorities, while the fourth pane of 50 was sent to H. E. Harris & Co. as part of a larger order from the Canal Zone Philatelic Agency. At the same time this error was printed, the U.S. had issued the Dag Hammarskjold error in huge quantities. The Canal Zone authorities made plans to do the same, but were successfully sued by H. E. Harris, and the larger printing never took place. Two of the three other panes were laminated and presented to the National Postal Museum. The third was destroyed. The one pane available was broken up in 1969.
Many copies of this error have been hinged over the years. A Power Search review found that approximately half the examples we have offered since 1993 retain their Mint N.H. gum, including this choice example, which came from the previously unique bottom right corner margin block of four.
With 1970 (copy) and 2005 P.F. certificates for the bottom right corner margin block of four (this the top left stamp).
Danish West Indies, 1902, 2c on 3c Blue & Lake, Inverted Frame, Dark Green Surcharge (24d; Facit 24v5). Original gum, centered to the left as always, but better centering than often seen, deep colors, unusually fresh, Very Fine for this, only one sheet of 100 stamps was surcharged in green, with 2025 P.F. certificate, Facit SK 30,000
Philippines, 1903, $2.00 Dark Blue (238). Block of four, original gum, bottom pair Mint N.H., top pair lightly hinged, rich color on bright paper
VERY FINE BLOCK OF THE 1903 PHILIPPINES $2.00 ISSUE WITH TWO MINT NEVER-HINGED STAMPS.
With 2021 P.F. certificate. Scott value as singles.