Sale 1090 — United States, Possessions and Confederate States Stamps and Postal History
Sale Date — Wednesday-Friday, 17-19 December, 2014
Category — Special Delivery, Registration, Postage Due
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E1). Top imprint and plate no. 496 strip of four, original gum, h.r. reinforcing perfs in middle, end stamps Mint N.H., a few perf separations, Fine and scarce, an excellent substitute for a plate block, which catalogues $20,000.00
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E5). Mint N.H. top imprint and plate no. 77 strip of five (small bit of gum disturbance in top left corner selvage), intense color on fresh paper, Fine-Very Fine, Scott Retail as Mint N.H. plate number strip of three and two Mint N.H. singles
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E5). Six bottom imprint and plate no. strips of three (plate nos. 257, 381, 880, 881, 883, 1259), one regummed, others original gum, several stamps Mint N.H., small stain on one, centering mostly Fine, an attractive group, Scott Retail more than $5,000.00
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E8). Mint N.H., brilliant color and proof-like impression on bright paper, mathematically perfect centering with Jumbo marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS COLOSSAL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1911 SERIES SPECIAL DELIVERY STAMP, SCOTT E8, HAS BEEN AWARDED THE ULTIMATE GRADE OF GEM 100 JUMBO BY P.S.E. -- THIS STANDS ALONE AS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
The first "Messenger on Bicycle" Special Delivery design was the 1902 double-line watermarked Scott E6. In 1908 the "Helmut of Mercury" Special Delivery stamp was issued. However, the Messenger on Bicycle design was re-issued in 1911 from new plates with a single-line watermark, and the same basic design was issued continuously until the Motorcycle Delivery design replaced it in 1922.
Scott E8 is not particularly scarce (it has a Scott value of $240.00 in Mint N.H. condition), but to find an example such as this one defies the odds. The P.S.E. Population Report statistics support this statement, as does a review of Power Search and older auction catalogs, which failed to find its equal
Ex Whitman. With 1992 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (Gem 100 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $2,150.00 as 98). This is the only example to have achieved this pinnacle of grades. No other examples have been graded above 98J
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E8). Mint N.H., wide margins, deep color and detailed impression, Very Fine and choice, ex Chappaqua
10c Ultramarine (E9). Mint N.H., deep rich color on fresh paper, wide margins all around, Extremely Fine
10c Pale Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E10). Mint N.H., wide balanced margins, fresh color, Extremely Fine, a particularly handsome example, ex Chappaqua, with 1993 P.S.E. certificate
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E11). Mint N.H., precise centering with Jumbo margins, deep rich color on bright paper, Extremely Fine Gem, a huge and striking stamp, with 1992 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $725.00 as 98), this is one of only two examples to achieve this desirable grade, with only one grading higher (at Gem 100)
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E11). Two plate no. blocks of six, one bottom plate no. 5520 with imprint, h.r. and two small thins caused by hinge removal, also full top with plate no. 13552, Mint N.H. with slight gum skips, Fine-Very Fine appearance
10c Ultramarine, Registration (F1). Mint N.H., extraordinarily well-centered, wonderfully bright and fresh, Extremely Fine Gem
10c Ultramarine, Registration (F1). Mint N.H. block of twelve, fresh color, some gum bends, bottom right stamp with pencil note on gum, Fine-Very Fine, Scott Retail as singles
5c Brown (J4). Original gum, well-centered, wide margins, fresh color, Extremely Fine, with 2011 P.S.E. certificate
30c Red Brown (J20). Mint N.H., jumbo margins all around, rich color, Extremely Fine, with 1996 P.F. certificate
10c Bright Claret (J26). Mint N.H., bright and fresh, Very Fine, with photocopy of a 1999 P.F. certificate for a pair
50c Bright Claret (J28). Original gum, well-centered, rich color, Extremely Fine, with 2001 P.F. certificate
30c Deep Claret (J36). Deep rich color and detailed impression, Very Fine and choice, with 1999 P.F. certificate
1c Deep Claret (J45). Mint N.H., described on accompanying certificate as the default shade of Deep Claret, but we call it Deep Rose Carmine, choice centering with well-balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, ex Scarsdale, with 2000 P.F. certificate
3c Deep Claret (J47). Minor h.r., deep color and intense impression, well-centered, Very Fine and choice, with 1998 P.F. certificate
10c Deep Claret (J49). Mint N.H., exceedingly wide margins, brilliant color and a detailed impression, Extremely Fine, with 1986 P.F. certificate
50c Deep Claret (J50). Lightly hinged, choice centering, lovely fresh color, Extremely Fine, with 1998 P.F. certificate
1c Carmine Lake (J52). Mint N.H. wide top imprint and plate no. 5510 block of 20, comprising the top two rows of the pane with part arrow natural s.e. at right and selvage at left, bright color, Fine-Very Fine, scarce and desirable with the wide top margin, Scott Retail as Mint N.H. plate block of six and singles
3c Carmine Lake (J54). Lightly hinged, dazzling color and proof-like impression, uncharacteristically wide margins, Very Fine and choice, with 1998 P.F. certificate
5c Carmine Rose (J55a var). Mint N.H. with part imprint at bottom, brilliant color, choice centering with extra wide margins, fresh and Extremely Fine example of this appealing sub-shade of the Dull Rose listing, ex Scarsdale, with 2000 P.F. certificate
50c Carmine Lake (J58). Tiny h.r., rich color, far better centering than usually foundVERY FINE. THE 1914 50-CENT POSTAGE DUE WITH ORIGINAL GUM IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL POSTAGE DUE STAMPS.
Scott No. J58 has the highest catalogue value of any regularly issued Postage Due stamp. This stamp is the key to any meaningful collection of the Postage Due issues.
Ex Lessin. With 1997 P.F. certificate
1c Rose (J59). Lightly hinged, bright color on fresh paperVERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 1916 ONE-CENT PERF 10 UNWATERMARKED POSTAGE DUE ISSUE.
The Perf 10 Postage Due stamps were printed on unwatermarked paper for a brief time.
With 1979 and 2001 P.F. certificate
2c Rose (J60). Mint N.H., exceptionally wide margins, vibrant color on fresh white paper, Extremely Fine, with 1990 P.F. certificate
30c Carmine Rose (J66). Mint N.H., excellent centering, wide margins, vibrant color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $700.00 for 95, the highest grade priced), this the highest grade in the P.S.E. Population Report, it is shared by no others
30c Carmine (J75). Mint N.H., bright color and fresh, Very Fine and choice, ex Zoellner, with 1984 and 1988 P.F. certificates
50c Carmine (J76). Mint N.H., excellent centering, rich color, Very Fine and choice