Sale 1277 — The Adventurer Collection of United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 7-8 March, 2023
Category — Postage Due, Offices in China
2c Brown (J2). Original gum, lightly hinged, radiant color, Jumbo margins, Very Fine and choice, with 1977 P.F. certificate
2c Brown (J2). Original gum, barely hinged, brilliant color, choice centering, fresh and Very Fine, with 1977 A.P.S. certificate as "Mint"
5c Brown (J4). Original gum, lightly hinged, pretty shade, choice centering with well-proportioned margins, Extremely Fine, with 1979 P.F. certificate
10c Brown (J5). Original gum, lightly hinged, pretty shade and attractive impression, unusually choice centering with Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF 90 Jumbo; SMQ $1,400.00), this is the highest grade awarded and the only example to achieve this grade
10c Brown (J5). Original gum, crisp impression, fresh and Very Fine, with 2009 P.F. certificate
30c Brown (J6). Original gum, single hinge mark, detailed impression, Very Fine and choice, with 1980 P.F. certificate
50c Brown (J7). Original gum, detailed impression, wide margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1979 P.F. certificate
1c Deep Brown, Special Printing (J8). Original gum, paper h.r. at top, beautiful intense shade and sharp proof-like impression, small light pencil note on gumVERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE ONE-CENT POSTAGE DUE SPECIAL PRINTING.
The 1c, 2c and 3c are undoubtedly the rarest values of the American Bank Note Co. Postage Due Special Printings, although the sold quantities in the official records are relatively high. William E. Mooz, in an article on the 1c appearing in Chronicle No. 170, May 1996, offers evidence to support his theory that the actual number of true Special Printings sold was significantly lower than the reported figures. For the 1c, Mooz estimates 500 sold, but it is possible that as many as 400 purchased by G. B. Calman were destroyed. It is widely accepted that nearly 9,000 1c stamps sold as Special Printings were actually regular issues.
Ex Drucker. Lightly signed "E. Stern". With 1994 P.S.E. and 2002 and 2010 P.F. certificates
2c Deep Brown, Special Printing (J9). Unused (no gum), choice centering, rich color and classic cameo of the Special PrintingEXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 1879 2-CENT POSTAGE DUE SPECIAL PRINTING.
The reported sale figures for the rare 1c, 2c and 3c Postage Due Special Printings probably include orders filled with regular stamps, as all three are far rarer than the reported sales numbers would suggest. This is rarely offered in sound, centered condition.
With 1999 P.S.E. and 1999, 2017 and 2019 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85)
3c Deep Brown, Special Printing (J10). Unused (no gum), bright color and detailed impression, choice centering for this difficult issueEXTREMELY FINE. THE 3-CENT IS THE RAREST OF THE 1879 POSTAGE DUE SPECIAL PRINTINGS.
Although 436 copies were reported sold, it is believed that 100 copies were destroyed in the Calman lot. A thorough search of the marketplace, combined with conversations with dealers and collectors, has confirmed the extreme rarity of this stamp in sound centered condition. This example is one of the finest known.
With 1959 and 2018 P.F. certificates
5c Deep Brown, Special Printing (J11). Original gum, lightly hinged, detailed impression, well-proportioned marginsVERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT POSTAGE DUE SPECIAL PRINTING.
It has been estimated that only 249 of the 5c Postage Due Special Printing reached the public. A review using Power Search shows that very few examples are known in sound condition with original gum and decent centering.
With 2015 P.S.E. certificate (OGh, VF 80; SMQ $13,000.00). This is the only graded example with original gum.
10c Deep Brown, Special Printing (J12). Original gum, lightly hinged, intense shade and impression, unusually choice centeringVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1879 POSTAGE DUE SPECIAL PRINTING.
It has been estimated that no more than 174 examples of the 10c Postage Due Special Printing reached the public.
With 2017 P.S.E. (ungraded) and 1959 and 2018 P.F. certificates (VF 80)
30c Deep Brown, Special Printing (J13). Original gum, deep rich colorVERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1879 POSTAGE DUE SPECIAL PRINTING.
It has been estimated that no more than 179 examples of the 30c Postage Due Special Printing reached the public. The vast majority of these with original gum are faulty.
With 1985, 1997 and 2011 P.F. certificates
50c Deep Brown, Special Printing (J14). Original gum, detailed impressionVERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1879 50-CENT POSTAGE DUE SPECIAL PRINTING.
It has been estimated that no more than 179 examples of the 50c Postage Due Special Printing reached the public.
With 1968, 1995 and 2015 P.F. certificates
3c Red Brown (J17). Original gum, h.r., lovely warm color, well-balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1978 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown (J18). Original gum, h.r., intense shade and proof-like impression, Jumbo margins, Very Fine and choice, a huge stamp, with 1979 P.F. certificate
10c Red Brown (J19). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression, well-proportioned margins, Very Fine and choice, with 1977 P.F. certificate
30c Red Brown (J20). Mint N.H., rich color, wide margins, Very Fine and choice, with 1978 P.F. certificate
30c Red Brown (J20). Mint N.H., brilliant color, wide and balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1979 P.F. certificate
50c Red Brown (J21). Original gum, barely hinged (if at all), crisp impression, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 1980 and 1990 P.F. certificates
5c Bright Claret (J25). Mint N.H., lovely color on bright paper, wide margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1983 P.F. certificate
30c Bright Claret (J27). Original gum, rich color and detailed impression, unusually choice centering, Extremely Fine, a pretty stamp, with 1979 P.F. certificate
50c Bright Claret (J28). Original gum, lightly hinged, radiant color, Very Fine and choice, with 1979 P.F. certificate
1c Vermilion (J29). Mint N.H., brilliant color and fresh, well-centered for this early Bureau issueA VERY FINE AND EXCEEDINGLY RARE STAMP TO FIND IN MINT NEVER-HINGED CONDITION.
As an indication of rarity, the Zoellner collection contained a hinged example, because years of searching failed to uncover a suitable Mint N.H. copy. We have offered only seven Mint N.H. examples since keeping computerized records, two of which have perfs into the design.
Ex Whitman. With 1993 and 2010 P.S.E. certificates (Fine 70; SMQ $2,100.00). Only one other is graded, at 80.
1c Vermilion (J29). Original gum, lightly hinged, radiant color, well-balanced marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE UNWATERMARKED ONE-CENT VERMILION POSTAGE DUE ISSUE, SCOTT J29.
With 1986 P.F. and 2011 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, VF-XF 85; SMQ $2,750.00). This is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by one other.
2c Vermilion (J30). Original gum, lightly hinged, radiant color and detailed impression, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with copy of 1981 P.F. certificate for block
2c Deep Claret (J32). Mint N.H., detailed impression on bright paper, unusually wide margins, Extremely Fine, with 1983 P.F. certificate
3c Deep Claret (J33). Original gum, lightly hinged, intense shade and impression, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine, a stamp with great visual appeal, with 1984 P.F. certificate
5c Deep Claret (J34). Original gum, barely hinged, detailed impression, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 1992 P.F. certificate
10c Deep Claret (J35). Mint N.H. with bottom left corner selvage, deep rich color and proof-like impression, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp, with 1990 P.F. certificate
30c Pale Rose (J36b). Mint N.H., brilliant color, choice centering, Extremely Fine, difficult to find in Mint N.H. condition with decent centering, with 1990 P.F. certificate
50c Deep Claret (J37). Original gum, deep rich color, Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine, with 1980 P.F. certificate
5c Deep Claret (J41). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression, Jumbo margins, tiny natural gum skip, Very Fine and choice, with 1982 P.F. certificate
30c Deep Claret (J43). Original gum, lightly hinged, detailed impression, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 1980 P.F. certificate
50c Deep Claret (J44). Original gum, lightly hinged, proof-like impression, well-proportioned margins, Extremely Fine, with 1983 P.F. certificate
3c Deep Claret (J47). Mint N.H., incredibly deep color, gorgeous centering with balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 1990 P.F. certificate
50c Deep Claret (J50). Mint N.H., brilliant color, trivial natural inclusion at left, Very Fine and choice, with 1980 P.F. certificate
3c Carmine Lake (J54). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep shade on bright paper, choice centering, Extremely Fine, with 2004 P.F. certificate
50c Carmine Lake (J58). Original gum, barely hinged, brilliant color on post-office fresh paperVERY 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. Only the 1c-3c Special Printings, Scott Nos. J8-J10, catalogue higher. This stamp is a key to an important collection of the Postage Due issues.
With 1999 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates
1c Rose (J59). Mint N.H. with bottom plate no. 5541 selvage, vibrant color,VERY FINE AND RARE RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1916 ONE-CENT PERF 10 UNWATERMARKED POSTAGE DUE ISSUE WITH PLATE NUMBER.
The unwatermarked 1c and 2c Perf 10 Postage Due stamps (Scott J59 and J60) were only in production for a short period of time before being replaced by the Perf 11 stamps. With 2009 P.S.E. (ungraded) and 2011 P.F. certificates (F-VF 75)
50c Carmine Rose (J67). Mint N.H., brilliant color, wide margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1993 P.F. certificate
50c Carmine (J76). Mint N.H., radiant color on bright paper, wide margins, Extremely Fine, with 1980 P.F. certificate
2c-60c Offices in China (K1-K14). Mint N.H., rich colors, selected by the owner for superior centering and eye appeal, No. K8 natural gum skips, Very Fine-Extremely Fine group, each with P.F. or A.P.S. certificate from 1976-1980
$1.00 on 50c Light Violet, Offices in China (K15). Mint N.H., brilliant color and bright paper, Very Fine and choice, with 1975 A.P.S. certificate
$2.00 on $1.00 Violet Brown, Offices in China (K16). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression, well-balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1981 P.F. certificate
2c, 4c Offices in China (K17-K18). Mint N.H., brilliant colors, wide margins, Extremely Fine, with 1976 A.P.S. certificates