Sale 1040 — Outstanding United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 26-28 March, 2013
Category — 1893 Columbian Issue, $1.00-$5.00, Singles (Scott 241-245)
$1.00 Columbian (241). Original gum, lightly hinged, pretty shade, well-proportioned margins, Extremely Fine, with 2013 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF 90; SMQ $1,500.00)
$1.00 Columbian (241). Rich color, cancelled by perfect strike of World's Fair Station duplex cancel, Extremely Fine, a wonderful example of the $1.00 Columbian with the World's Fair cancel, with 2013 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $725.00 with no premium for the cancel)
$1.00 Columbian (241). Rich color, double oval cancel struck toward top leaving a majority of the design distraction free, Very Fine and choice
$2.00 Columbian (242). Original gum, lightly hinged, pretty shade, choice centering, Extremely Fine, with 2013 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF 90; SMQ $1,975.00)
$2.00 Columbian (242). Original gum, lightly hinged, brilliant color, detailed impression, fresh and Very Fine, with 2012 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, VF 80; SMQ $1,100.00)
$2.00 Columbian (242). Original gum, lightly hinged, detailed impression, fresh and Fine, with 1989 P.F. certificate
$2.00 Columbian (242). Beautifully centered, deep rich color, light transparent double oval cancel, Extremely Fine
$3.00 Columbian (243). Mint N.H., brilliant color on post-office fresh paper, gorgeous centering with wide and balanced margins, long and full perforations all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN ABSOLUTELY STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $3.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE IN THE FINEST CONDITION ATTAINABLE. THIS FANTASTIC STAMP HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE AND ONE OF ONLY FOUR AMONG BOTH SHADES TO ACHIEVE THIS LOFTY GRADE.
The design for the $3.00 Columbian was taken from a painting by Spanish artist Francisco Jover Casanova (1836-1890) and depicts Columbus describing his third voyage. Another of his paintings was used as the theme for the 8c Columbian.
The $3.00 Columbian is one of the most difficult of the dollar values to obtain in such choice condition. Only 24,713 were issued, which is approximately half the number of the $1.00 and $2.00. The margins are generally narrow on this denomination. The stamp offered here is the exception to the rule. It is beautifully centered, the color and paper are bright and fresh, and the gum is pristine. It is truly one of the finest in existence.
With 2010 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $77,500.00). This is the highest grade awarded by P.S.E. Only one other Scott 243 and two Scott 243a (Olive Green) have equaled this grade.
$3.00 Columbian (243). Original gum, lightly hinged, intense shade and impression, perfectly centered with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $3.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
With 1990 and 1999 P.F. and 2012 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $8,600.00). Only one has graded higher and three others share this grade.
$3.00 Columbian (243). Original gum, lightly hinged, pretty shade, wide margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2012 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $2,500.00), back in the day a $3.00 Columbian with such wide margins would have easily earned the "Gem" qualifier
$3.00 Columbian (243). Disturbed original gum, with plate no. 106 and part imprint selvage at bottom, bright shade, Very Fine, a scarce plate number single, with 1991 P.F. certificate
$3.00 Columbian (243). Original gum, h.r., intense color, few minor toned perfs, Fine appearance, blue backstamp
$3.00 Columbian (243). Well-centered, deep color on bright paper, New York oval cancel, Very Fine
$4.00 Columbian (244). Magnificent margins and centering, rich color with clear impression, lightly cancelled by datestamp with year visible, tiny natural paper inclusion bottom left, Extremely Fine, with 1991 P.F. certificate
$4.00 Rose Carmine, Columbian (244a). Almost perfectly centered, magnificent pastel color, bold New York oval cancel, faint crease, otherwise Extremely Fine
$5.00 Columbian (245). Original gum, h.r., with plate no. 108 selvage at bottom, detailed impression, light crease at right in selvage onlyVERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM PLATE NUMBER SINGLE OF THE $5.00 COLUMBIAN.
With 1989 P.F. certificate.
$5.00 Columbian (245). Disturbed original gum over small thin spot, intense shade, Very Fine appearance
$5.00 Columbian (245). Exceptionally well-centered, intense shade, lightly struck New York registry oval cancel, trivial light corner crease and single short perf, otherwise Very Fine