Sale 1090 — United States, Possessions and Confederate States Stamps and Postal History
Sale Date — Wednesday-Friday, 17-19 December, 2014
Category — Offices in China, Officials
Lot
Symbol
Photo/Description
Cat./Est. Value
Realized
1650
2c-$2.00 Offices in China (K1-K18). Tied on separate pieces by "U.S. Pos. Service, Shanghai, China, Aug. 21, 1922" circular datestamp, Nos. K17-K18 with Nov. 11 duplexes (K17 a pair), Fine-Very Fine, a scarce used set, ex Diamond
4,620
1,200
1651
14c on 7c Offices in China (K7). Mint N.H., exceedingly well-centered, deep shade and a sharp impression, Extremely Fine, with 1998 P.F. certificate
225
550
Back to Top1652
16c on 8c Offices in China (K8). Mint N.H., wide balanced margins, impressive rich color, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful stamp, with 1998 P.F. certificate
180
350
Back to Top1653
16c on 8c Olive Green, Offices in China (K8a). Mint N.H., selvage at bottom, jumbo margins all around, rich color and a deeply etched impression, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1996 P.F. certificate for a block, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $1,400.00)
160
900
Back to Top1654
18c on 9c Offices in China (K9). Mint N.H., outstanding centering with wide margins, extraordinarily bright and fresh, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1988 P.F. certificate for a block of four
170
375
Back to Top1655
24c on 12c Offices in China (K11). Mint N.H., gorgeous rich color, well-centered, Extremely Fine
200
0
Back to Top1656
24c on 12c Claret Brown, Offices in China (K11a). Mint N.H., intense color in a dark shade, sharp impression, wide margins, Extremely Fine, a most impressive stamp, with 2000 P.S.E. certificate
275
600
Back to Top1657
40c on 20c Offices in China (K13). Mint N.H., beautiful rich color on fresh paper, choice centering, Extremely Fine
300
0
Back to Top1658
$1.00 on 50c Offices in China (K15). Mint N.H., bright color, well-proportioned margins, Very Fine and choice, with 1997 P.F. certificate
1,300
1,000
Back to Top1659
$2.00 on $1.00 Offices in China (K16). Mint N.H., perfectly centered with wide and even margins all around, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Zoellner, with 1998 P.F. certificate
500
0
Back to Top1660
$2.00 on $1.00 Offices in China, Double Surcharge (K16a). Slightly disturbed original gum, outstanding centering, clear second surchargeEXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 OFFICES IN CHINA WITH THE DOUBLE SURCHARGE ERROR. SCARCE WITH SUCH CHOICE CENTERING.
The Offices in China double surcharge error occurred during the overprinting of stamps for use at the U.S. Postal Agency in Shanghai. It has been reported that the errors were among the last stamps to be put on sale before the agency closed on December 31, 1922. The Deputy Postal Agent, Mr. E. H. Murray, knew of the error but allowed it to be put on sale, as he was retiring and the Agency was closing.
With photocopy of a 1968 P.F. certificate for a block of four
10,500
8,500
Back to Top1661
2c on 1c Offices in China (K17). Mint N.H., beautiful rich color on bright paper, exceptionally well-centered, Extremely Fine, with 1997 P.F. certificate
250
0
Back to Top1662
4c on 2c Offices in China (K18). Mint N.H., radiant color on pristine white paper, wide balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 2000 P.F. certificate
230
600
Back to Top1663
24c Agriculture (O8). Original gum, incredibly well-centered, rich color, fresh and Extremely Fine
425
0
Back to Top1664
30c Agriculture (O9). Block of four, original gum, multiple h.r.'s, bold color, Fine
2,500
250
Back to Top1665
3c Executive (O12). Wide margins, slightly rounded corner at bottom left, tied by cork cancel, "Washington D.C. May 6 8 AM" circular datestamp on Executive Mansion imprint cover addressed in the hand of Rutherford B. Hayes to Edward F. Steel in Philadelphia, very minor wear, Very Fine, scarce use of 3c Executive, ex Dr. Robertson
E. 750-1,000
1,000
Back to Top1666
90c Justice (O34). Slightly disturbed original gum, h.r., well-centered, bright color, Very Fine, with 2014 P.F. certificate
1,900
550
Back to Top1667
90c State (O67). Unused (no gum), rich color, incredibly wide margins at sides and choice centering, Extremely Fine
525
250
Back to Top1668
$2.00-$20.00 State (O68-O71). $2.00 and $20.00 disturbed original gum, $5.00 part original gum, $10.00 no gum, $2.00 well-centered, each with climate stains, a few other small faults, Fine-Very Fine appearance, a rare set in any condition
11,600
1,800
Back to Top1669
$2.00 State (O68). Cancelled by blue "Received" oval datestamp, rich color, small stain in top perforations, otherwise Fine
3,025
225
Back to Top1670
$2.00 State (O68). Strong color, few faults incl. small repair, couple light creases and a few blunted perfs, otherwise Fine
3,000
275
Back to Top1671
$5.00 State (O69). Lightened manuscript cancel, well-centered with design clear of perforations, reperfed at right, Fine, with 2002 P.F. certificate, ex Meyer
1,600
600
Back to Top1672
$10.00 State (O70). Light magenta manuscript strokes, fresh color and impression, Fine, with 1983 P.F. and 1997 P.S.E. certificates
1,250
650
Back to Top1673
7c Treasury (O76). Block of four, original gum, lightly hinged, attractive centering especially the top left example, couple blunted perfs at right, otherwise Very Fine
1,100
160
Back to Top1674
24c Treasury (O80). Block of four, original gum, h.r., rich color, fresh and Fine, scarce block
3,250
750
Back to Top1675
6c War (O86). Horizontal strip of three, left pair Mint N.H., right stamp with small smudge on gum resulting in us calling it lightly hinged, warm pastel color, light perf separation between right two stamps, Fine
3,325
225
Back to Top1676
30c War (O92). Used horizontal block of six, cork cancels, small hinge reinforcement between pos. 1 and 2, pos. 1 slight creases, perfs in at top, Very Good appearance, a block of six is believed to be the largest known used multiple, ex Ward, Mainberger and Lobdell
E. 400-500
450
Back to Top1677
30c War (O92). Two horizontal pairs, a few minor perf flaws along top, tied between perfs by circle of wedges cancel on cover-size package label with Jefferson Depot of the Quartermasters Department, Jeffersonville, Ind., Official Business imprint, addressed in violet and red Spencerian script to John W. Kline, care of John Wanamaker, in Philadelphia Pa.ONLY FOUR 30-CENT WAR DEPARTMENT COVERS ARE RECORDED, AND THIS IS THE ONLY MULTIPLE FRANKING AMONG THEM. AN OUTSTANDING OFFICIAL HIGH-VALUE COVER.
John W. Kline was a well-known collector of coins, medals and numismatic literature. John Wanamaker, to whose care this package to Kline was directed, is known as the Father of the modern department store and commercial advertising (he was appointed Postmaster General in 1889).
The census by Alan C. Campbell (High Value Official Stamps on Cover, Chronicle 188, Nov. 2000, pp. 287-299) lists four 30c War Dept. covers, including three with singles and the 6c War. Since publication of that article, one additional cover (a label) has been found. This is the only 30c War multiple known on cover. The $1.20 postage may have paid the 10c per bound volume rate for 12 bound volumes, or possibly the 40x domestic 3c rate for 20 ounces.
Ex Hughes, Starnes and Lobdell. With 2011 P.F. certificate.
E. 4,000-5,000
3,000
Back to Top1678
24c Interior, Soft Paper (O103). Original gum, characteristic pale shade, fine impression, small picked inclusion causing a pinhole at left, Very Fine appearance, with 1993 P.S.E. certificate
4,500
1,100
Back to Top1679
1c-6c War, Soft Paper (O114-O117). Collection of 15 multiples on pages, mostly 1c, incl. imprint and plate no. strips, part imprint and plate no. blocks, full plate blocks with 1c plates of twelve and 20, 2c half pane of 50 and plates of twelve and 14 and 6c bottom imprint and plate no 60 block of 20, original gum, many stamps Mint N.H., overall Fine-Very Fine
E. 400-500
600
Back to Top1680
1c War, Soft Paper (O114). Complete sheet of 100, with imprint and plate no. 48 at top and bottom, most stamps Mint N.H. incl. the imprint and plate nos., some hinge reinforcements along the middle and at sides, typical light edge wear and perf separation to be expected from a pane this size, otherwise Fine-Very Fine
1,144
250
Back to Top1681
War Department Covers. Two covers, first "Adjutant General's Office. Official Business" Imprint on legal-size cover to Newburgh N.Y. with penalty clause below, fresh and Extremely Fine, second franked with 6c (O86) tied by circular cork cancel with matching "Washington D.C Oct. 24" circular datestamp on large-size War Dept. imprint cover to Menomonee Mich., returned back to Washington, reduced at top and missing top flap, appears Fine, the earliest documented use of the 6c War stamp
E. 300-400
300
Back to Top1682
S
3c Justice, Specimen Ovpt. (O27S). Without gum as issued, wonderfully fresh color, Fine, only 178 issued
1,250
600
Back to Top1683
S
10c Justice, Specimen Ovpt. (O29S). Without gum as issued, bright color, trivial hinge stain seen only on reverse, Fine, only 163 issued
1,250
750
Back to Top1684
S
15c Justice, Specimen Ovpt. (O31S). Without gum as issued, strong color and impression, Fine, only 157 issued
1,250
600
Back to Top1685
S
30c State, Specimen Ovpt. (O66S). Without gum as issued, well-centered for this, Very Fine, only 249 issued
600
275
Back to Top1686
Fancy Cancels on Official Stamps. Group of eleven items, some of the better items incl. Skull and Crossbones on 3c Agriculture (O95), Kicking Mule on 6c War (O86 -- a wonderful strike), Fort Leavenworth Honeycomb on 1c War (O114), violet Anchor on 12c Agriculture (O6), among others, in addition there is a 6c Dull Pink (159) with green Star in double-circle of dots, some stamps with trivial faults, Fine-Very Fine strikes
E. 400-500
950
Back to Top1687
Officials Collection. Parallel unused and used collection on old album pages, appears to be complete both unused and used (where they exist) except for the State Dept. dollar values, both Continental and American printings, incl. unused No. O94 and O103, unused a mix of no gum, part original gum and full original gum, mixed condition, some faults, largely Fine-Very Fine appearance, high catalogue value
E. 3,000-4,000
8,500
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