Sale 1251 — The John B. Field Collection of Superb United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 2-3 March, 2022
Category — 1909 Bluish Paper Issue (Scott 357-366)
1c Green, 2c Carmine, Bluish (357-358). Used with 2c Carmine, Lincoln, Bluish (369), horizontal pairs of Nos. 357 and 369, single of No. 358 with selvage at left, tied by multiple strikes of "Washington D.C." double oval cancel on registered 2c entire to Providence R.I., purple "Washington D.C. Registered Apr. 30 1909" double-circle datestamp front and back, Providence R.I. registered and receiving backstamps, fresh and Very Fine, a desirable cover with three different Bluish paper stamps
1c Green, 2c Carmine, Bluish (357-358). Mint N.H., rich colors on nicely blued paper, 2c few small natural inclusions not noted on certificate, Very Fine and choice, 2c with 1997 A.P.S. certificate
1c Green, Bluish (357). Mint N.H. full top imprint and plate no. 4894 block of six, intense shade on characteristic deeply watermarked paper, light natural gum bendsVERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND SCARCE MINT NEVER-HINGED FULL TOP PLATE BLOCK OF THE ONE-CENT ON BLUISH PAPER.
With 1998 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Bluish (358). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression on deeply blued paper, unusually wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1996 P.F. certificate
3c Deep Violet, Bluish (359). Mint N.H. with wide top selvage, h.r. in ungummed portion of selvage only, deep rich color on nicely blued paper, well-proportioned marginsVERY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED SHEET-MARGIN EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT ON BLUISH PAPER.
With 1989 P.S.E. certificate for a block of four.
4c Orange Brown, Bluish (360). Original gum, beautiful rich color and sharp proof-like impression, spectacularly wide margins and choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE RARE 4-CENT BLUISH PAPER. AN EXCEPTIONALLY DIFFICULT RARITY TO FIND WITH SUCH OUTSTANDING CENTERING.
The June 1910 Third Assistant Postmaster General's report states that 4,400 (eleven sheets) of the 4c were printed on Bluish Paper. It is believed that none of the 4c and 8c Bluish Paper stamps were distributed to post offices, and that all of the examples in collectors' hands reached the market through the Travers-Steinmetz exchange and the 1914 National Museum trades to H. F. Colman (12 copies) and Nassau Stamp Company (65 copies).
Of the many examples of this major 20th Century rarity we have offered, only a small number have centering that can be compared to this stamp. The P.F. online records contain three examples graded XF 90 and the P.S.E. Population Report contains one example. There are no higher-graded certificates from either service. We have sold each of these stamps and they are as follows: 1) P.F. XF 90, 2000 Rarities sale and ex Minervino, the example offered here; 2) P.F. XF 90, ex Myerson, Sale 1321, lot 271; 3) P.F. XF 90, ex Schwartz, Sale 1148, lot 121; 4) P.S.E. XF 90, ex Odeneal, Sale 941, lot 1249. With due respect to the other three gem stamps, this example has the widest margins of this elite group and we therefore think it ranks at the top.
Ex Minervino and from our 2000 Rarities sale. Small H. F. Colman backstamp and lightly signed in pencil. With 2000, 2002 and 2009 P.F. certificates (XF 90).
5c Blue, Bluish (361). Mint N.H., rich color on deeply blued paper, near perfect centering with unusually wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. WITHOUT QUESTION THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLES OF THE 5-CENT WASHINGTON ON BLUISH PAPER IN EXISTENCE. A REMARKABLE STAMP IN TERMS OF GUM, CENTERING, SIZE OF MARGINS AND COLOR. THIS SUPERB STAMP IS GRADED XF-90 BY P.S.E. -- THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED AND THE ONLY EXAMPLE TO ACHIEVE THIS GRADE.
The 5c is the scarcest of the regularly issued Bluish paper stamps. We have only been able to locate two examples comparable to the stamp offered here. One was offered in the Zoellner sale. The other was offered in the Floyd sale held by Shreves.
Ex "Beverly Hills" and Curtis. 2005 P.F. certificate no longer accompanies. With 2011 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $30,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded in the P.S.E. Population Report and no other example shares this grade.
5c Blue, Bluish (361). Original gum, lightly hinged, rich color on clearly blued paper, well-centeredVERY FINE AND CHOICE LIGHTLY HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT ON BLUISH PAPER.
With 1993 P.F. and 2011 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, VF 80; SMQ $6,250.00)
6c Red Orange, Bluish (362). Mint N.H., rich color with some slight oxidation in outer frameline, nicely blued paper, small natural inclusion at top left, Very Fine, with 1993 P.F. certificate
8c Olive Green, Bluish (363). Original gum, barely hinged, intense shade on deeply blued paper, wide margins and exceptional centering which is far better than normally seen, bright and fresh in every respectEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPEB LIGHTLY HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 8-CENT WASHINGTON ON BLUISH PAPER. EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE.
The June 1910 Third Assistant Postmaster General’s report states that 4,000 (ten sheets) of the 8c were printed on Bluish Paper. It is believed that none of the 4c and 8c Bluish Paper stamps were distributed to post offices, and that all of the examples in collectors’ hands reached the market through the Travers-Steinmetz exchange and the 1914 National Museum trades to H. F. Colman (12 copies) and Nassau Stamp Company (65 copies).
The centering and margins on this stamp would be almost impossible to improve upon. We have offered the only P.S.E. graded 95 (ex Odeneal, Sale 941, lot 1252) and one of the two P.S.E. graded 90s (2017 Rarities, Sale 1159, lot 231). This gem equals or exceeds both of those examples in terms of centering, and also has wider margins than either.
With 1992 and 2008 P.F. certificates.
13c Bluish Green, Bluish (365). Original gum, barest faint trace of hinging, intense color and sharp proof-like impression, perfectly centered with jumbo margins for this stampEXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN EXCEPTIONAL LIGHTLY HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 13-CENT BLUISH PAPER, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
Ex Zoellner and "Westchester". With 1988, 1999 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $5,750.00). This is the highest grade awarded to the 13c Bluish and it is shared by only six others. With the barest trace of hinging and wide margins, this is a superb stamp in every respect.
15c Pale Ultramarine, Bluish (366). Mint N.H. with wide right selvage, brilliant color and crisp impression, gorgeous centering for this difficult issue with well-proportioned marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT ON BLUISH PAPER WITH WIDE SHEET SELVAGE.
Ex Schwartz. With 1989 P.F. and 2017 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $6,250.00). This is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by only four others.
15c Pale Ultramarine, Bluish (366). Mint N.H., from the top right corner of the sheet with full corner selvage, hinged only in the ungummed portion of the selvage, the stamp itself has attractive centering and wide margins, rich color and remarkably freshVERY FINE AND CHOICE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT BLUISH PAPER WITH FULL CORNER SHEET MARGINS.
With 1973 and 1988 P.F. certificates.