Sale 1150 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday, 1 March, 2017
Category — 1893 Columbian Issue (Scott 230-245)
1c-$5.00 Columbian (230-245). Complete set, lower values original gum, top values either disturbed original gum or regummed, bright colors, few faults, appear Fine
1c-50c Columbian (230-240). Original gum, h.r., mostly Fine with 10c Very Good
1c-$5.00 Columbian (230-245). Rich colors, range of cancels, few faults, appear Fine
4c Columbian (233). Mint N.H. bottom right corner imprint, plate no. 17 and letter "D" block of ten, bright color, trivial corner crease in bottom right selvage only well away from plate block, one stamp tiny toned spotFINE-VERY FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE AND SCARCE MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK OF TEN OF THE 4-CENT COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
Ex Schwartz. Scott Retail as plate block of eight and two Mint N.H. singles
4c Columbian, Error of Color (233a). Original gum, h.r., deep rich color, trivial natural inclusion in margin at rightFINE EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT COLUMBIAN COLOR ERROR.
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 four backstamps.
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5c Columbian (234). Mint N.H. top imprint, plate no. 6 and letter "B" block of eight, bright color and detailed impression, usual light natural gum bendsFINE-VERY FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK OF EIGHT OF THE 5-CENT COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
Ex "Saddleback"
6c Columbian (235). Mint N.H., beautiful color and proof-like impression, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2017 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $925.00)
6c Columbian (235). Mint N.H., wide and balanced margins, vibrant color, Extremely Fine, with 2017 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $400.00)
50c Columbian (240). Original gum, single hinge mark, deep rich color and proof-like impression, Jumbo margins and essentially perfect centeringEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 50-CENT COLUMBIAN ISSUE WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED SUPERB 98 JUMBO BY P.S.E.
With 2017 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $5,200.00). Only two original gum stamps have been graded higher (one hinged at 100J and one Mint N.H. at 100) and only one other shares this lofty grade (also hinged)
50c Columbian (240). Original gum, lightly hinged, rich color on bright paper, Extremely Fine, with 2003 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Columbian (241). Mint N.H. with part imprint selvage at left, radiant color as fresh as the day it was printed, wide and balanced margins on all sides, long and full perforations all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLES OF THE $1.00 COLUMBIAN, WHICH DEPICTS THE FAMOUS SCENE OF QUEEN ISABELLA PLEDGING HER JEWELS. THIS STAMP IS GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 XQ BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION.
According to Brookman, only 55,050 copies of the $1.00 Columbian were issued. It was sold out before all of the other dollar-values, probably because it was the most affordable of the dollar-value stamps. Speculation soon drove the price to $5.00 but it soon fell again, to about $1.50.
The theme of the stamp, Isabella pledging her jewels to finance Columbus's voyage, is known to most fifth-grade students who study the voyage of Columbus. However, the offer was never accepted, as financing was found elsewhere.
With 2011 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95 XQ). The "XQ" is a term used by The Philatelic Foundation to denote stamps of "Extraordinary Quality". None are graded equal or higher at the P.F., and P.S.E. also has not graded any higher (3 equal).
$1.00 Columbian (241). Mint N.H. with left selvage, deep rich color and proof-like impression, beautifully freshVERY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
With 2004 P.F. certificate for strip of five.
$1.00 Columbian (241). Original gum, lightly hinged, rich color and outstanding centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2017 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF 90; SMQ $1,600.00), this is a very high 90 and we feel this could easily have achieved a 95 grade
$1.00 Columbian (241). Original gum, rich color, beautifully centered, Extremely Fine, with 1993 P.F. and 2000 P.S.E. certificates
$1.00 Columbian (241). Original gum, lightly hinged on bottom right corner, vivid color, wide margins and well-centered, Very Fine and choice, with copy of 1979 P.F. certificate for a block of four
$2.00 Columbian (242). Slightly disturbed original gum, deep rich color, Very Fine, with 2003 P.F. certificate
$2.00 Columbian (242). Original gum, this stamp previously had an h.r., which tragically was badly removed, resulting in a deep central thin spot (visible from the front), choice centering, otherwise Extremely Fine, with 2001 P.F. certificate as sound
$3.00 Columbian (243). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep shade on bright white paper, beautifully centered with nicely balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $3.00 COLUMBIAN.
With 2003 P.F. certificate
$3.00 Olive Green, Columbian (243a). Original gum, deep rich color, beautiful centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $3.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
With 1990 P.F. certificate
$3.00 Columbian (243). Unused (no gum), outstanding centering and margins, rich color, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful stamp, small dealer backstamp, with 1999 P.F. certificate as regummed (subsequently removed)
$3.00 Columbian (243). Attractive shade, light circular datestamp cancel, couple barely perceptible thins at top, otherwise Very Fine, with Brettl and Pfenninger backstamps and 2016 P.F. certificate
$4.00 Columbian (244). Mint N.H., brilliant color on bright white paper, attractive margins and centeringVERY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $4.00 COLUMBIAN.
With 2017 P.S.E. certificate
$4.00 Columbian (244). Original gum, wide and well-proportioned marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $4.00 COLUMBAN ISSUE.
With 1991 P.F. certificate
$4.00 Columbian (244). Original gum, well-centered, vivid color, balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL $4.00 COLUMBIAN WITH EXTRAORDINARILY BRILLIANT COLOR.
With 2016 P.S.E. certificate (OGh, VF-XF 85; SMQ $2,750.00)
$4.00 Rose Carmine, Columbian (244a). Original gum, pretty shade, trivial natural inclusion at top right not mentioned on accompanying certificate, Very Fine, ex Clippert, with 1989 P.F. certificate
$4.00 Columbian (244). Original gum, bright color, choice centering, small thin and minor corner crease, Very Fine appearance
$4.00 Columbian (244). Unused (regummed), brilliant color, well-centered, Very Fine and presentable unused example of this challenging issue, with 2004 P.F. certificate
$4.00 Columbian (244). Block of four, original gum, lightly hinged, vivid colorFRESH AND FINE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF THE $4.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
With 2017 P.S.E. certificate
$5.00 Columbian (245). Original gum, barely hinged, intense shade and impression, beautifully proportioned marginsEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
With 2016 P.F. certificate
$5.00 Columbian (245). Original gum, intense shade, gum, well-centered, small natural inclusion bottom leftVERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 COLUMBIAN.
With 1991 P.F. certificate
$5.00 Columbian (245). Original gum, lightly hinged, sharp proof-like impression on bright white paper, choice centering with wide marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
With 2003 P.F. certificate
$5.00 Columbian (245). Disturbed original gum, reattached perf tip at top left corner, otherwise Very Fine