Sale 1209 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 22-23 October, 2019
Category — Special Delivery thru Offices in China
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E1). Original gum, well-centered, rich color, Very Fine, with 2011 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, VF 80; SMQ $550.00)
10c Orange, Special Delivery (E3). Mint N.H., fresh and Very Fine, with 1993 P.F. certificate
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E4). Mint N.H., essentially perfect centering, deep rich color nicely on bright white paper, fresh in every respectEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THE 10-CENT 1894 UNWATERMARKED SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE IS A NOTORIOUSLY CHALLENGING ISSUE TO OBTAIN IN THIS SUPERIOR GRADE -- P.S.E. HAS GRADED THIS STAMP XF-SUPERB 95.
The 1894 series, being the first printed by the Bureau, encountered many production problems. Most stamps were poorly centered and have small margins.
With 1984 P.F. and 2011 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $14,000.00). Only two grade higher and three others share this grade.
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E5). Two top imprint and plate no. strips of three, one Mint N.H. with extra wide selvage and plate no. 492, other side stamps Mint N.H. with narrow selvage and plate no. 881, Fine
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E9). Original gum, lightly hinged, Jumbo margins and near perfect centering on bright white paper, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp, with 2011 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $825.00)
2c Brown (J2). Mint N.H., rich color, fresh and Very Fine, with 1992 P.F. (for strip of four) and 2011 P.S.E. certificates (F-VF 75; SMQ $600.00), the 75 grade seems oddly low (80-85 more like it)
10c Brown, Imperforate (J5a). Vertical pair, original gum, rich color and sharp impression, Very Fine and rare, ex Sheriff, with 1992 P.F. and 1993 P.S.E. certificates
30c Brown (J6). Mint N.H., near perfect centering but achieved by reperfing at left according to most recent certificate, appears Extremely Fine, with clear 1995 P.F. certificate, with 2011 P.S.E. certificate as reperfed
10c Red Brown (J19). Mint N.H., deep rich color, Very Fine, with 1998 P.F. and 2011 P.S.E. certificates
50c Red Brown (J21). Mint N.H., rich color and detailed impression, wide and well-proportioned marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A SCARCE SOUND AND WELL-CENTERED MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 50-CENT 1884 RED BROWN POSTAGE DUE.
With 1989 P.F. and 2011 P.S.E. certificates (VF 80; SMQ $3,800.00), this is a very strong 80
1c Bright Claret (J22). Mint N.H., perfect centering with wide and balanced margins, vivid Bright Claret color, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp, with 2011 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $775.00), only one grades higher (at 98J) and no others share this grade
3c Bright Claret (J24). Mint N.H. bottom imprint and plate no. 317 block of ten, radiant color, Very Fine, listed but unpriced in Scott as Mint N.H., Scott Retail as hinged
5c Bright Claret (J25). Mint N.H., choice balanced margins, fresh color on bright paper, Extremely Fine, with 1993 P.F. and 2011 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $600.00)
1c Vermilion (J29). Brilliant color on bright paper, remarkably wide margins, light strike of oval cancel leaves design clearly visibleEXTREMELY FINE. ARGUABLY THE FINEST USED EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT POSTAGE DUE ISSUE, SCOTT J29, IN EXISTENCE. AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT STAMP TO FIND IN SOUND CONDITION AND WITH SUCH WIDE MARGINS.
Ex Twigg-Smith, "Tahoe" and Curtis. With 2001 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85 Jumbo; SMQ $1,050.00). Only one stamp grades slightly higher (at 90)
2c Vermilion (J30). Mint N.H., vivid color, fresh and Fine, with 1998 P.F. certificate
5c Deep Claret (J41). Mint N.H., choice balanced margins, bright color, Extremely Fine, with 1988 P.F. and 2011 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $550.00)
30c Deep Claret (J43). Choice centering with wide and balanced margins, face-free strike of grid cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, scarce in such superb condition, ex "Tahoe" and Curtis, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $325.00), only one grades higher
2c Rose (J60). Mint N.H., wide margins, bright color, Very Fine, with 1989 P.F. and 2011 P.S.E. certificates (F-VF 75; SMQ $375.00)
30c Deep Claret (J66a). Mint N.H., wonderful depth of color in the Deep Claret shade, balanced margins and well-centered, Extremely Fine, with 2011 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $375.00)
5c Carmine Rose, Pair, One Without "5 Cents" (J93a). Mint N.H. block of four with selvage at left, containing two pairs of the error, excellent centering, bright and crispVERY FINE AND RARE MARGIN BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 5-CENT 1959 POSTAGE DUE DENOMINATION MISSING ERROR.
If Scott Retail values reflect the relative rarity of the various 1959 Postage Due denomination-omitted errors (and a review using Power Search indicates it does), then this is the rarest of all the errors. We have offered only one other example (a pair) since keeping computerized records more than 25 years ago.
With 1994 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as two pairs is low considering the only other pair we have offered realized $1,500 hammer in 2010
2c-$2.00 Offices in China (K1-K18). Complete set, a couple Mint N.H., others hinged, bright colors, Fine to mostly Very Fine, Scott Retail as all hinged
$20.00 State (O71). Part imprint selvage at bottom, original gum, lightly hinged, margins to just in at top, Fine and desirable with the part imprint
1c Agriculture, Soft Paper (O94). Without gum as issued, rich color, small thin spot, Fine appearance, with 2010 A.P.S. certificate
3c Agriculture, Soft Paper (O95). Mint N.H., brilliant color on fresh paper, unusually choice centering with beautifully balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, exceptional quality for any Official stamp, with 2016 P.F. certificate (XF 90), this is the highest grade awarded by the P.F. to a Scott O95 in any gum condition, by way of comparison, the highest grade listed in the P.S.E. Population Report for Mint N.H. is a single stamp at 50