Sale 1093 — The Curtis Collection: U.S. 20th Century and Air Post
Sale Date — Monday-Tuesday, 23-24 February, 2015
Category — Air Post Issues, including 24c Jenny Invert (C1-C76a, C3a)
6c Orange, 1918 Air Post (C1). Mint N.H. top arrow and plate no. 9155 block of six, outstanding centering, natural gum skips and creases, Very Fine and choice
16c Green, 1918 Air Post (C2). Mint N.H., rich color and proof-like impression on post-office fresh paper, perfectly centered with wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $1,350.00), only one has graded higher
16c Green, 1918 Air Post (C2). Mint N.H. top arrow and plate no. 8900 block of six, wonderful depth of color, wide margins and choice centering, Extremely Fine
24c Carmine Rose & Blue, 1918 Air Post (C3). Lightly hinged, Jumbo margins and essentially perfect centering, rich colors, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $275.00 as 98, unpriced in any higher grade)
24c Carmine Rose & Blue, 1918 Air Post (C3). Mint N.H. plate no. 8492 and red "Top" block of four with extra stamps at sides, part arrow at left, hinged in selvage at top left (outside the plate block), perf stain at right edge, both of the end pairs could be removed to leave a Very Fine plate block of four, Scott Retail as singles
24c Carmine Rose & Blue, 1918 Air Post (C3). Top arrow, double plate nos. 8493/8492 and two "TOP" block of twelve, lightly hinged at top left, other stamps Mint N.H., well-centered nearly throughout, Very Fine
24c Carmine Rose & Blue, Center Inverted (C3a). Position 19, lightly hinged, deep rich colors with inverted plane perfectly placed in relation to the frame, choice centering, certificate notes "tiny thins" which are extremely minute specks almost unworthy of mentionVERY FINE APPEARING AND WONDERFULLY FRESH EXAMPLE OF THE FAMOUS 24-CENT INVERTED JENNY.
According to Jenny! by George Amick (Amos Press, 1986), the original sheet of 100 inverted "Jenny" stamps was purchased by William T. Robey on May 14, 1918, one day after the stamp was placed on sale. Robey bought the sheet at the New York Avenue Post Office window in Washington, D.C. Soon after, the sheet was sold to Col. Edward H. R. Green through Eugene Klein, a Philadelphia stamp dealer. Green paid $20,000 for the sheet, then instructed Klein to divide it into singles and blocks, and to sell all but a few key position blocks.
It is well-known among stamp specialists and professionals that examples of this stamp come in different grades of freshness and condition. Many of the original 100 stamps were mistreated by collectors during the years, despite the stamps' rarity and value. Colonel Green himself allowed moisture to affect some of the stamps he retained. Other examples have become slightly toned from improper storage and climatic conditions. Hinging has caused thins and creases in numerous stamps, and at least seven have been "lost" to philately--or nearly so as in the case of the copy swept up in a vacuum cleaner. The stamp offered here is well-centered and remarkably fresh.
Signed in pencil four times, including those of Bolaffi, A. Diena and Enzo Diena. Two backstamps, including one of former owner Bernard D. Forster. Ex Sir William Lindsay Everard (an early British aviator) and Forster. With 1983 P.F. certificate
8c Dark Green, 1923 Air Post (C4). Mint N.H., radiant color, precise centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2011 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $450.00)
16c Dark Blue, 1923 Air Post (C5). Mint N.H., deep rich color on bright paper, perfectly centered with wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $1,350.00), only two have graded higher
16c Dark Blue, 1923 Air Post (C5). Mint N.H. top plate no. F14829 block of six, rich color, some internal perf separations, otherwise Fine-Very Fine
24c Carmine, 1923 Air Post (C6). Right plate no. 14840 block of six, lightly hinged, fresh and Fine-Very Fine
24c Carmine, 1923 Air Post (C6). Unbelievably wide Jumbo margins, rich color, 1926 duplex cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $225.00 as 95, $475.00 as 98)
24c Carmine, 1923 Air Post (C6). Right plate no. 14840 block of six, bold New York duplex cancels, rich color, choice centering, a few reinforced internal perf separations, still Extremely Fine, a rare used plate block of this issue, a Power Search review failed to find another, unlisted in Scott
65c-$2.60 Graf Zeppelin (C13-C15). Mint N.H., fresh and Extremely Fine set, ex Piedmont, with 1997, 1998 or 1999 P.F. certificate
65c-$2.60 Graf Zeppelin (C13-C15). Complete set of top or bottom plate no. blocks of six, 65c Mint N.H. top, natural gum skips, $1.30 bottom, hinged on each with disturbed gum on one stamp, $2.60 bottom, lightly hinged bottom, narrow selvage and small inclusion in one stampFINE-VERY FINE SET OF TOP OR BOTTOM POSITION PLATE BLOCKS OF THE GRAF ZEPPELIN ISSUE.
An affordable set of top and bottom positions
65c-$2.60 Graf Zeppelin (C13-C15). Matched set of right or left plate no. blocks of six, lightly hinged, $1.30 and $2.60 small h.r. in selvage only, radiant colors, choice centering, $1.30 tiny stain in one perf at bottom centerFRESH AND VERY FINE AND CHOICE SET OF SIDE PLATE NUMBER BLOCKS OF SIX OF THE GRAF ZEPPELIN ISSUE.
Rare this well centered
65c-$2.60 Graf Zeppelin (C13-C15). Neat oval or duplex cancels, 65c thin spot, $1.30 natural horizontal paper fold/crease, Very Fine appearance, $2.60 Extremely Fine
65c-$2.60 Graf Zeppelin (C13-C15). Four covers, 65c pair on postal card, $1.30 two covers incl. one on zeppelin illustrated envelope, second on legal-size cover, $2.60 on airmail envelope, each with appropriate cachet and directions, fresh and Very Fine group
50c Chicago Zeppelin (C18). Mint N.H. pane of 50 with plate no. 21178 at top, bright color, usual natural gum bends, centering mostly Very Fine or better, Scott Retail as Mint N.H. plate block and Mint N.H. singles
50c Trans-Pacific, Air Post (C22). Mint N.H. wide top plate no. F21625 block of six, vivid color, choice centering, minor natural gum bendsEXTREMELY FINE. AN INCREDIBLY RARE CENTERED MINT NEVER-HINGED WIDE TOP PLATE BLOCK OF THE 50-CENT CLIPPER ISSUE.
Advanced collectors of U.S. plate blocks understand that this issue is far rarer as a wide top Mint N.H. plate block than even the $2.60 Graf Zeppelin. A Power Search review found only one other example and it does not match the centering of the block offered here. The Scott Catalogue notes "wide full selvage top margin plate blocks of No. C22 are extremely scarce and sell for $1,750.00 or more" (versus $90.00 price for regular plate block).
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate
6c-50c Transport Air Posts, Small Die Proofs on Bond (C25P2-C31P2). Complete set, each approximately 43 x 28mm, exceptionally bright and freshEXTREMELY FINE SET OF SMALL DIE PROOFS OF THE TRANSPORT AIR POST ISSUE. ONE OF TWO SETS IN PRIVATE HANDS.
To the best of our knowledge, there are only two sets in private hands: this set (ex Livingston) and one offered in our Sale 846.
10c-25c 1947 Air Post, Small Die Proofs on Yellowish Bond (C34P2-C36P2). Each approximately 40 x 24mm, rich colors, tiny thinsVERY FINE APPEARANCE. THESE SMALL DIE PROOFS OF THE 1947 AIR POST ISSUE ARE BELIEVED TO BE UNIQUE.
This set depicts the Pan American Union building in Washington D.C. with a Martin 2-0-2 on the 10c stamp, the Statue of Liberty with a Lockheed Constellation on the 15c stamp and the Golden Gate bridge with a Boeing 377 on the 25c stamp. These small die proofs are believed to unique.
Ex Livingston. Each with 1988 P.F. certificate. Unlisted in Scott
10c Moon Landing, Rose Red (Litho) Omitted (C76a). Mint N.H. top right corner plate no. block of four, red missing from astronaut's patch as well as the capsule, Very Fine, accompanied by normal plate block for comparison, unlisted as a plate block, Scott Retail as four singles