Sale 1212 — Superb United States Stamps and Private Die Proprietary Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 20-21 November, 2019
Category — Private Die Match Stamps: H thru Z
L. G. Hunt, 1c Black, Silk Paper (RO113b). Red "Apr. 10th '74 G. & G." handstamp, deep shade, tiny thin spot, Fine appearance, only 22 are recorded in Aldrich book of which half have perfs in on at least one side, the handstamp is from Griggs & Goodwill, the successor company, with 2014 P.F. certificate
P. T. Ives, 1c Blue, Watermarked, Rouletted (RO117d). Deep rich color, wide margins and essentially perfect centering, couple small thin spots as almost always encountered, Extremely Fine Gem appearance and the best-centered example we have offered since keeping computerized records, only 37 are recorded in the Aldrich census (including two pairs) and at least 24 (and probably more) have faults
P. T. Ives, 1c Blue, Watermarked, Rouletted (RO117d). Vertical pair, deep rich color, Fine and scarce multiple, ex Tolman and "Scarsdale", only 37 are recorded in Aldrich book, Scott Retail as singles
John J. Macklin & Co., 1c Black, Old Paper, Rouletted (RO129a). Torn in half horizontally and expertly repaired -- the fragile nature of the paper means nearly all have faultsFINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE EXTREMELY RARE ONE-CENT ROULETTED JOHN J. MACKLIN & CO. MATCH STAMP.
The history of this stamp is recorded in the book Private Die Match Stamps by Christopher West, the nom-de-plume of Elliott Perry. In the book, he notes that the stamps were printed by American Phototype Co. When other match manufacturers saw the inferior workmanship of the stamp, they called it to the attention of Butler, Carpenter & Co., who reported it to the authorities as a stamp easy to counterfeit. Butler & Carpenter refused to print from the same plate. Macklin refused to have a new plate made due to the cost (he had lost his business several times due to fire) and used 1c Proprietary stamps for a period of time.
Small "repaired" backstamp. Only eleven examples are recorded in the Aldrich census (this one not included). Of these, at least eight are faulty. With 2013 P.F. certificate
F. Mansfield & Co., 1c Blue, Pink Paper (RO130c). Vertical pair with full imprint selvage at left, wide margins and well-centered, Very Fine, a striking and rare position pair
Maryland Match Co., 1c Blue, Watermarked (RO131d). Showing clear "U" of "USIR" watermark, inverted in relation to orientation of the stamp, deep rich color, expert small repair at topVERY FINE APPEARANCE. THE CELEBRATED UNIQUE EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT MARYLAND MATCH COMPANY STAMP ON WATERMARKED PAPER. ONE OF THE GREATEST REVENUE RARITIES.
The complete story of the discovery of the Maryland Match Co. stamp on watermarked paper is told in Private Die Match Stamps by Christopher West, the non-de-plume of Elliott Perry. Maryland Match Co. was the successor to the Excelsior Match Co., and the stamps are based on the die used by the former with some alterations. Stamps for the new firm were first issued in 1872 and last issued in 1874, and were printed on silk paper.
The records of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing show that between Sep. 5, 1882, and Feb. 12, 1883, the firm Titlebaum & Macklin ordered just over one million one-cent stamps of this design, all of which were printed on the Bureau's watermarked paper. The watermarked stamps were delivered to the Bureau of Internal Revenue, but apparently were destroyed, except for this sole copy. They may never have been delivered to the match company, since a supply of the silk paper was still on hand.
The story of the discovery of the Maryland Match Co. watermarked stamp is told by Edward Phelps, the first owner of this rarity, who started collecting stamps around 1880 at the age of 12 in Worcester, Massachusetts. His parents were also collectors in non-philatelic fields. His father took a position with the Agriculture Department in Washington starting in 1882, leaving his wife and son in Worcester. Around 1884 or 1885, his father became acquainted with the clerk at the Bureau of Internal Revenue who was in charge of the stamp vaults and destroying obsolete remainders. The clerk told his father that he was in the habit of taking one stamp from each sheet to be destroyed and saving them in an envelope. This envelope was also the source of the unissued Caterson, Brotz & Co, playing card stamp (Scott RU1). The clerk sold the envelope full of stamps to Phelps's father for $25, who then immediately sold the RU1 stamp to a collector for $50. The elder Phelps mounted some on 1874-edition Scott album pages and left some in the original envelope.
In 1891 Edward Phelps visited his father in Washington and took back the stamps with him. He was acquainted with the authors of The Boston Revenue Book, which was published in 1899 and was largely compiled from official records. About a year after the book was published, Phelps came across the addenda in the back of the book detailing the printing by the Bureau on watermarked paper; the book states no copies are known. Phelps checked the stamps obtained by his father from the clerk, and discovered that the Maryland Match Co. stamp was printed on watermarked paper. Phelps also notes that when his collection was sold in 1906, an assistant at the auction company damaged the stamp at top, which has since been repaired.
Ex Edward Phelps, Colonel Green, Clarence Eagle, Morton Dean Joyce and Grant Inman. With 2017 P.F. certificate
N.Y. Match Co., 1c Blue, Old Paper (RO136a). Rich color, choice centering, fresh and Very Fine, rare in sound condition, of the 34 recorded in the Aldrich book only eight are potentially sound, ex Bulkley, with 2012 P.F. certificate
N.Y. Match Co., 1c Vermilion, Experimental Silk Paper (RO137e). Brilliant color, few tiny silk fibers clearly visible, few faults, otherwise Fine, scarce
N. & C. (Newbauer & Co.), 4c Green, Silk Paper, Imperforate (RO140bi). Unused block of four, large margins, huge at right showing parts of adjoining stamps, left pair faint vertical crease, otherwise Extremely Fine, a rare block of the recently-discovered silk paper imperforate variety, with 2013 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as two pairs
Orono Match Co., 1c Ultramarine, Old Paper (RO141u). Rich color in the distinct Ultramarine shade, wide margins, fresh and Very Fine, scarce, we have offered only two others since keeping computerized records, ex Bulkley, with 2012 P.F. certificate
Pierce Match Co., 1c Green, Old Paper (RO145a). Deep rich color, small faults including thin spotFINE APPEARANCE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT PIERCE MATCH STAMP. ONLY 21 ARE RECORDED IN THE ALDRICH CENSUS.
The striking volcano design of this stamp makes it one of the most popular and unusual Private Die issues. It is all but impossible to find sound, with at least 16 of the 21 recorded in Aldrich faulty.
Ex Tolman and "Scarsdale"
Richardson Match Co., 3c Blue, Silk Paper (RO159b). Gorgeous color and choice centering, Extremely Fine, wonderful quality, ex "Scarsdale"
William Roeber, 1c Blue, Watermarked, Rouletted (RO162d). Vertical pair, deep rich color, Very Fine and attractive multiple, ex Bulkley, Scott Retail as singles
San Francisco Match Co., 12c Blue, Silk Paper (RO165b). Deep rich color, attractive centering for this large-format issue, fresh and Fine example of this striking Match design, of the 71 reported in the Aldrich census only 29 are potentially sound, ex "Scarsdale"
E.K. Smith, 1c Blue, Pink Paper (RO168c). Jumbo margins and choice centering, beautiful color complemented by the bright Pink paper, Extremely Fine
E. K. Smith, 1c Blue, Watermarked, Rouletted (RO169d). Large to huge margins including portion of the design from the stamp below, bright color, light diagonal crease at bottom left and small thin spotsEXTREMELY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE EXCEEDINGLY RARE ONE-CENT E. K. SMITH ROULETTED PRIVATE DIE MATCH STAMP.
Ten copies of the E. K. Smith Roulette are recorded in the Aldrich census, of which eight are faulty. He notes "the condition is usually very, very poor." and states he would not be surprised if half were actually fakes. The huge margins on this stamp preclude fakery, the possibility of which casts a shadow over several other examples of this issue.
With 2000 P.F. certificate
Swift & Courtney & Beecher Co., 1c Black, Watermarked (RO175d). Precise centering, intense shade on bright paper, Extremely Fine, wonderfully choice quality
Wilmington Parlor Match Co., 1c Black, Experimental Silk Paper (RO182e). Sharp impression, Fine, ex "Scarsdale"
Wise & Co., 1c Black, Old Paper (RO183a). Intense shade, short perf and expertly sealed tear at top left, otherwise Fine, scarce, only 23 are recorded in Aldrich census, ex Tolman and "Scarsdale"
Zisemann, Griesheim & Co., 1c Green, Old Paper (RO185a). Intense shade and impression, completely soundFRESH AND FINE. A RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT GREEN ZISEMANN, GRIESHEIM & CO. MATCH ISSUE.
The Aldrich book records only 19 examples of this rarity from this St. Louis matchmaker. Of these no more than six are sound. He notes that many examples are stained and faded and that fresh examples (such as the one offered here) are truly rare. The single Joyce copy had a very noticeable short perf at left. The three others located in Power Search are defective and off-center, including one torn in half and repaired.
Ex Bulkley. With 2012 P.F. certificate