Sale 989 — 2010 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Saturday, 19 June, 2010
Category — South America
ARGENTINA, Buenos Aires, 1862, 2p Blue (13). Huge margins to clear, showing part of adjoining stamp at bottom, used with Argentine Republic, 1863, 5c Rose (7C), both tied by "Buenos Ayres 2 AGO 65" double-circle datestamp on blue folded cover to CorrientesVERY FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE AND SCARCE FRANKING COMBINING THE BUENOS AIRES "CABECITAS" AND ARGENTINE REPUBLIC ISSUES.
Due to the shortage of "Escuditos" 10c stamps, the use of "Cabecitas", which are denominated in Pesos, was allowed from June 1863 to January 1864. One Peso was equivalent to 5 centavos.
Ex Mondolfo. With 1983 P.F. certificate
THE DR. ROBERT H. LEBOW COLLECTION OF BOLIVIA. Intact collection comprising hundreds of items, many on handwritten exhibit pages, includes stampless covers, 1867-68 Condor Issue, 9-Star and 11-Star 1868-69 Coat of Arms Issues, 1878 Arms and "The Law" Issue, 1887-94 Coat of Arms Issue and a solid representation of later issues, a detailed review follows:Stampless Covers: 42 (including a few documents and fronts only), almost all from Republic Period (1825-67), nice range of straightlines, fancy and pictorial markings including "Oruro Franca" oval and leaf, "Santa Cruz Franca" oval and eagle, spectacular "Cochabamba" ornately framed straightline, "Potosi Franca" with eagle, "Chayanta Franca" with figure of man, and "Correos de la Chimba/Bolivia" illustrated ship oval, condition generally excellent;
1867-68 Condor Issue (Scott 1-8): Substantial representative collection of this scarce First Issue, including off-cover stamps, mostly 5c stamps (including sheets), but also includes two postally-used pairs of 10c Brown; five covers with 5c including three with pairs (Sucre, Tupiza and Oruro straightlines), superb strip of three on cover (Santa Cruz) paying 15c rate, and strip of four on cover (one stamp torn when opened), also a 5c pair on front and a 10c Brown uncancelled on cover from the well-known De la Torres correspondence; and large quantity of documents showing fiscal use of Condor Issue, including large blocks of 5c Yellow Green, 5c Violet block of eight (Scott value $1,200.00), 10c Brown strip and bisect, 50c Blue (two) and 100c large blocks; there are sheets and plate reconstructions made of Reprints which have not been figured in our estimate;
1868-69 Coat of Arms 9-Stars and 11-Stars, 1878 Arms and "The Law", 1887-94 Coat of Arms Issues (Scott 10-46): Hundreds of proofs, stamps and covers, a wonderful specialized collection including one 500c 9-Star (No. 14, Scott value $1,000.00) and two 500c 11-Star (No. 19, Scott value $3,500.00 each), ten 9-Star covers and 14 11-Star covers including bisects, two 1868 Allegory of Justice postal usages, Arms and "The Law" bisect covers, 1893 imperforate varieties;
Later Issues and Air Post: Specialized collection including a plethora of philatelically-inspired varieties, such as inverts, inverted surcharges, "Muestra" and proofs, the rarest stamp is 1911 20c on 2c Villa Bella provisional surcharge (No. 97, Scott value $2,500.00, with Friedl certificate), nice group of Air Post including 1925 Junkers Flight "Sucre" overprints (6 unused, 2 pieces, one with inverted overprint), 1930 Air Post overprint varieties including a set of inverts;
Overall condition is excellent, with many Very Fine or better stamps and covers throughout. A wonderful opportunity to acquire a significant collection of this philatelically-rich South American country, including six Condor Issue covers, which alone would fetch $15,000 to $20,000 if offered individually. We strongly recommend careful examination (a PDF of the album pages is available at our website)
CHILE, 1854, 5c Deep Red Brown, Desmadryl (Santiago) Printing (3a). Two horizontal strips of four, beautiful rich color and proof-like impression, each strip has large margins to very slightly in in places, tied by sharp strikes of four-ring cancels, red "Santiago 23 Abril 55" circular datestamp on blue folded cover to Jagerschmidt & Jullian in Valparaiso, file fold clear of stampsVERY FINE. A MAGNIFICENT MULTIPLE-RATE FRANKING WITH TWO STRIPS OF FOUR OF THE 1854 5-CENTAVOS DESMADRYL ENGRAVED PRINTING.
Ex Galvez
CHILE, 1854, 5c Pale Red Brown, Desmadryl (Santiago) Printing (3). Horizontal strip of four and pair, margins vary from ample to cutting in, matching four-ring cancels (pair tied), red "Santiago MA 20" circular datestamp on blue folded letter to Jagerschmidt & Jullian in Valparaiso, the strip appears to have been lifted and reaffixed, the lettersheet is partly charred on the inside (this correspondence was rescued from incineration), despite trivial faults a Fine and impressive franking
CHILE, 1854, 10c Deep Blue, Desmadryl (Santiago) Printing (5). A fantastic single from the top right corner with large sheet margin and part imprint at top and sheet margin at right, full to large margins on other sides, marvelous deep rich color and proof-like impression, tied by neatly struck four-ring cancel, "Concepcion 22 Dbre 55" circular datestamp on folded cover to Valparaiso, Extremely Fine Gem stamp and pristine cover, corner-margin examples of the early "Colon" issues in this superb condition are rarely found on cover, to illustrate the point, this cover was bought by the Halls in the June 1958 Caspary sale for $180, a price comparable to the prices paid for items worth in the many thousands now (the Buenos Aires "In Peso" tête-bêche pair, sold for $575,000 hammer in our Islander sale, realized $1,800 in the same Caspary sale!)
CHILE, 1854, 10c Light Dull Blue, Desmadryl (Santiago) Printing (6). Horizontal strip of four, large margins almost all around, just clear in two places, bright shade, tied by light strikes of four-ring cancel, "Copiapo 19 Dcbre 55" circular datestamp on light blue folded letter to Valparaiso, horizontal file fold clear of stamps, Very Fine, a remarkably choice strip of the 10c Desmadryl Printing on cover
CHILE, 1854, 5c Burnt Sienna, Gillet (Santiago) Printing (4). Horizontal pair, large margins, wonderful deep rich color and impression, tied by light strikes of four-ring cancel, red "Santiago 17 Dcbre 55" circular datestamp on folded cover to Jagerschmidt & Jullian in Valparaiso, Extremely Fine Gem pair and attractive cover, the Gillet printing from the engraved plate is very scarce on cover, especially in this choice quality
CHILE, 1854, 5c Burnt Sienna, Gillet (Santiago) Engraved Printing, 10c Deep Blue, Desmadryl (Santiago) Printing (4, 5). 5c vertical strip of three with enormous margins including sheet margins at top and left and parts of three adjoining stamps at right, 10c large margins to just touched, tied by four-ring cancels, "Talca 18 Juil 55" circular datestamp on light blue folded cover to Santiago, file folds and slight wearEXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE FINEST RECORDED ON-COVER MULTIPLES OF THE 5-CENTAVOS 1854 GILLET PRINTING FROM ENGRAVED PLATE. A SPECTACULAR COVER.
Ex Dupont.
CHILE, 1854, 5c Red Brown, Gillet (Santiago) Lithographed Printing (7). Horizontal strip of four, large margins to slightly in at left, scissors-cut between two stamps, tied by four-ring cancel, red "Santiago 29 Nbre 54" circular datestamp on light blue folded cover to Jagerschmidt & Jullian in Valparaiso, horizontal file foldFINE. A RARE MULTIPLE OF THE 5-CENTAVOS 1854 GILLET LITHOGRAPH ON COVER.
Ex Galvez
CHILE, 1854, 5c Pale Brown, Gillet (Santiago) Lithographed Printing (7). Eight stamps including horizontal strip of three (upper right), strip of four (upper left) and single (lower left), margins vary from large to slightly in, tied by multiple strikes of four-ring cancel, red "Santiago 18 Dbre 54" circular datestamp on light blue folded cover to Jagerschmidt & Jullian in Valparaiso, two stamps in strip of four have bearely detectable creasing and small scuffs, light waterstainsFINE APPEARANCE. A SPECTACULAR FRANKING WITH THE 5-CENTAVOS 1854 GILLET LITHOGRAPH PRINTING. ONE OF THE MOST OUTSTANDING OF ALL "COLON" ISSUE COVERS.
A similar cover from the Jagerschmidt & Jullian correspondence was contained in the Galvez and Blank collections, and another with eight 5c Lithograph stamps (strip of four and two pairs) realized $23,000 hammer in our sale of the Islander Collection.
With 1979 R.P.S. certificate (issued to Gerhard Blank)
CHILE, 1855, 5c Brown Red on Bluish, Perkins Bacon & Co. (London) Printing (8). Horizontal pair and block of four, large margins to slightly cut in, tied by four-ring cancels, red "Santiago Chile 11 Nbre 57" circular datestamp on blue folded cover to Jagerschmidt & Jullian in Valparaiso, block lightly creased, horizontal file fold in coverFINE APPEARANCE. A VERY RARE COVER BEARING A BLOCK OF THE 5-CENTAVOS 1855 SECOND LONDON PRINTING.
A survey of important Chile collections produced fewer than six covers bearing a block of four or larger of the 1855 5c Second London Printing.
CHILE, 1862-65, 1c Lemon Yellow, London Printing, 5c Rose Red, Santiago P.O. Printing (11, 14). 1c block of twelve with full top right corner sheet margins, 5c block of eleven with full top left corner sheet margins and large part of imprint, both have original gum, bright fresh colors, very minor creasing caused by gum, 5c couple small thins and slight discoloration along vertical creaseEXTREMELY FINE. A STRIKING PAIR OF SHEET-MARGIN BLOCKS OF THE ONE-CENTAVO 1862 LONDON PRINTING AND 5-CENTAVOS 1865 LAST SANTIAGO POST OFFICE PRINTING. THE LATTER IS EXTREMELY RARE IN UNUSED MULTIPLES.
Although several large unused blocks of the 1c 1862 London Print exist, the 5c 1865 is very rare in unused or original-gum multiples. Both of these pieces were acquired by the Halls in the Nov. 1944 Harmer Rooke & Co. sale of the Col. Edward H. R. Green collection (original lot pages accompany). They are also both ex Worthington.
CHILE, 1862-65, 1c Lemon Yellow, London Printing, 5c Rose Red, Santiago P.O. Printing (11, 14). 1c horizontal strip of five used with two 5c, margins cutting in, tied by six strikes of circle of wedges fancy cancel, red "Serena Chile 4 Mayo 68" circular datestamp on blue folded cover to Valparaiso, file folds (one vertical fold passes thru 1c stamp), still Fuine, a spectacular and very rare franking, the 1c paid the printed matter rate (as a single) or 5c rate, we know of one other 1c/5c combination franking (a front in the G. Blank sale)
CHILE, 1862, 10c Bright Blue, Perkins Bacon & Co. (London) Printing (12). Horizontal strip of three, large margins to just touched, tied by light but blurry cancels, red "Valparaiso Chile" double-circle datestamp (date unclear) on Aug. 16, 1865 folded letter to Boston Mass., United States, "Panama SP 4 1865" circular datestamp and red crayon "1/-" British rate, "Steamship 10" in circle handstamp applied at New York City where it entered the U.S. mails, faint waterstain, still Very Fine, a scarce "Colon" Issue cover to the United States
CHILE, 1862, 10c Deep Blue, Perkins Bacon & Co. (London) Printing (12a). Horizontal strip of five showing retouches, large margins almost all around, close at right, tied by blurry strikes of "Cancelled" oval grid, red "Correos Valparaiso Chile (Jul. 3?)" triple-line circular datestamp (date unclear), sender's datestamp on back of folded cover to Coquimbo, pen marks pointing to retouches, Very Fine, scarce multiple franking
CHILE, 1862, 20c Green, Perkins Bacon & Co. (London) Printing (13). Block of 21 with original gum, sheet margin at left and ample margins to slightly in on other sides, gorgeous deep rich color and proof-like impression, light creases which are virtually invisible on the face of this blockVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A MAGNIFICENT LARGE ORIGINAL-GUM MULTIPLE OF THE 20-CENTAVOS "COLON" ISSUE.
Ex Galvez (offered with an adjoining block of 23 in the 1979 Corinphila sale)
CHILE, 1865, 5c Rose Red, Santiago P.O. Printing (14). Horizontal strip of five, huge margins showing parts of adjoining stamps to slightly in at bottom right, rich color, tied by "Cancelled" oval grid on blue folded cover to Petersburg Va., United States, addressed to John Quincy Jackson, a former Wells Fargo & Co. agent in Auburn Cal. and resident of Petersburg, red "Santiago Chile 10 Jul." double-circle datestamp, "Panama AU 3 1867" circular datestamp and "PANAMA/3 AU 1867/TRANSIT" three-line datestamp, "N. York Steamship Aug. 21" circular datestamp and "34" due handstamp (ties strip), light wrinkles in cover, minute tear at top of strip, still Very Fine, "Colon" covers to the United States are very scarce, ex Walcott
CHILE, 1911, 20c Orange Red & Black, Center Inverted (105a). Used with 10c, both tied by Iquique circular datestamp on Jan. 1916 registered cover to Lima, Peru, purple registry handstamp, vertical fold clear of stamps, Very Fine, rare use of the 20c 1911 Invert on cover
THE JOHN H. HALL JR. COLLECTION OF CHILE 1853-65 "COLON" ISSUES. A truly remarkable intact collection, comprising more than 650 stamps (almost all are used, many in multiples and some on covers), all meticulously presented in three volumes with extremely detailed write-up, this study collection was completed in 1936 and reflects the philatelic priorities of the era with emphasis on plate varieties, watermark orientation and shade/paper varieties, including all of the "Colon" issues from 1853 to 1865, each identified by printing; in addition to the mounted collection there is loose material, including stamps on pages (the working collection) and a number of lots from the Caspary and Col. Green sales (still on the original lot pages), some later issues (not counted in overall tally); a brief overview of each issue follows, the quantities are approximate and include both the mounted and loose material, Scott Nos. are for basic shades, stamps are used unless otherwise indicated:Proofs: more than 20 items including defaced die proofs and Black plate proof blocks of the 1c, 5c and 10c, and a set of 5c, 10c and 20c with Perkins Bacon & Co. "Cancelled" Specimen obliterator on a page with note "To my friend John Hall... John Wilson 1938";
5c, 10c 1853 Perkins Bacon & Co., London (Scott 1, 2): 5c (26) and 10c (17) incl. No. 1 pair and 1a, two pairs of No. 2, plus three 5c covers and one 10c cover;
5c, 10c 1854 Desmadryl, Santiago (Scott 3-6): 5c (47) including No. 3b Chestnut (ex Caspary) and 3e Double Impression, plus two on covers; 10c (20) including scarce shades and two pairs, a bisect on cover identified as Greenish Blue;
5c 1854 Gillet Engraved, Santiago (Scott 4/4a): A wonderful group of this scarce issue, including more than 50 of the Burnt Sienna and 4 of the rare Chocolate shade (Scott 4a, $2,700.00 each), a couple of superb imprint sheet-margin stamps including one from the Col. Green sale that brought $41 in the 1940's;
5c 1854 Gillet Lithographed, Santiago (Scott 7): The scarcest and most desirable of the "Colon" issues, a fabulous study collection including the pair discovered in 1898 that led to the revelation of Gillet's lithographic printing, before this pair was recognized and documented, no one knew that Gillet had resorted to lithography when he was unable to produce high-quality stamps from the engraved plate, this pair obviously has great philatelic significance; in total there are 36 stamps off-cover, two singles on covers (one dated Aug. 2, 1854, very early use) and a pair on cover; among the numerous lithographic transfer flaws are examples of the prominent "squeezes", including the "Big Squeeze" (Galvez Type I, Blank Ty. 5/Vt 1/2), ex Walters, a choice stamp which alone would be estimated at $10,000-15,000, and the rare "Chile" and "o" of "Centavos" squeezed (Blank 5/Vt 2/8); there is a also a fascinating page presenting a Black proof impression and single used stamp, both with the White Flaw in "C" of "Colon", which, according to the write-up, does not appear on any engraved stamps, its presence on the proof and single and the physical characteristics of these two impressions indicate that both are lithographic printings (potentially an extremely rare, if not unique, proof);
5c 1855 Perkins Bacon & Co., London (Scott 8): 60+, including pairs, strips and block of four, wide range of shades and watermark varieties noted;
5c, 10c 1856-62 Santiago Post Office Printings (Scott 9-10): 5c (160+) and 10c (75+), including an enormous array of shades, cancels and varieties, numerous multiples, plus eight 10c bisects on covers incl. two with additional full stamps;
1c, 10c, 20c 1862 Perkins Bacon & Co., London (Scott 11-13): 1c includes unused pair and block, used multiples and No. 11a Double Impression, One Inverted (with B.P.A. certificate), 10c (80+) including three covers, 20c plate proof and four unused, 18 used;
5c 1865 Santiago Post Office Printing (Scott 14): two unused, 91 used, plus No. 14b Printed on Both Sides and No. 14d Double Impression;
Reprints: Several dozen in blocks and singles, all identified by the source
The condition of the stamps is outstanding, with the vast majority having four margins and many are Extremely Fine, especially by the standard applied to the narrowly-spaced "Colon" issues; the provenance is impeccable, with many of the stamps originating in the Riesco and Walters collections sold during the early part of the 20th Century, and some coming from the Caspary sale in June 1958.
An extraordinary opportunity to acquire a "time capsule" study collection formed by John Hall Jr., one of the great collectors of the 20th Century and a friend/contemporary of Lichtenstein, Caspary and Boker. Our estimate reflects the pure commercial value of the stamps (the Scott value applicable to basic stamps, not counting the "Big Squeeze", covers and unlisted varieties, is more than $50,000.00). The uncounted, yet enormous value, of this collection is the work and scholarship of presentation. A color PDF of the collection can be downloaded from our website.
