Sale 1328 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 23-25 July, 2024
Category — Blocks and Plate Number Multiples (1857 thru 1890-93 Issues)
3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26). Positions 31-32/41-42/51-52/61-62L23, block of eight from the left pane of Plate 23 with "Toppan, Carpenter & Co. BANK NOTE ENGRAVERS. Phila. New York, Boston & Cincinnati" imprint and "No. 23 P." plate number, original gum, few h.r. sensibly reinforcing some minor perf separations, single short perf at bottom right, faint horizontal crease affects bottom stamps, Fine-Very Fine appearance, a scarce plate block
3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26). Mint N.H. block of six, plated by Dick Celler as Positions 58-60/68-70R24, with captured part imprint in right margin, perfs trimmed at top of two stamps, Fine and scarce Mint N.H. block with part imprint, unpriced in Scott as Mint N.H.
24c Gray Lilac (37). Block of four, original gum, lightly hinged, fresh color and nicely balanced margins
VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1860 24-CENT GRAY LILAC.
With 2016 P.S.A.G. certificate.
30c Orange (38). Mint N.H. block of four with top selvage, rich color with just a bit of oxidation at top, top left stamp natural gum bend, bottom left stamp diagonal crease, bottom right stamp small corner crease, small tear and small surface scuff
FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 30-CENT 1860 ISSUE.
This issue is extremely rare in Mint N.H. condition. This is the only block with all stamps Mint N.H. listed in Power Search.
With 2010 P.F. certificate. Scott value as hinged $14,000.
90c Blue (39). Block of four, unused (no gum), rich color on bright paper, some perfs trimmed at right and a few pulled at top
A FINE-CENTERED AND SCARCE UNUSED BLOCK OF THE 90-CENT 1860 ISSUE.
The 90c stamp was issued in 1860, along with the 24c and 30c values, all of which were needed to prepay high international letter rates established by various postal treaties. When supplies of current postage stamps were declared invalid in the South and ultimately demonetized by the Federal government, the 90c had been in use for only one year. Most unused multiples probably come from supplies recovered from Southern post offices.
Ex Frelinghuysen. With 2016 P.S.A.G. certificate. Scott value for a block with original gum is $75,000.
2c Brown (113). Block of four with bottom imprint selvage, original gum, lightly hinged, bright shade, few minor perf separations
FINE-VERY FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE BLOCK OF FOUR WITH FULL IMPRINT OF THE 2-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
Ex Dr. Heimburger. Scott value $3,750 without premium for the imprint position.
24c Purple (153). Block of four with bottom plate no. 21 and part arrow, natural straight edge at left, intense shade, some mottled original gum, each stamp with a small "X" in manuscript, likely a specimen mark and not a postal cancellation, extensively reinforced perfs, small faults and faint stains, still Very Fine centering and a unique plate number multiple, the Chapin census records only one other, which was Mint N.H. (ex Klein and from our 1998 Rarities sale, this block has been broken and is no longer intact), this block is from our 1993 Rarities sale, Scott value $3,500 as used block without premium for the position
24c Purple (153). Block of four with sheet selvage at bottom, each stamp with a small "X" in manuscript, likely a specimen mark and not a postal cancellation, retains small part original gum, rich color, well-centered, faint toning and rejoined perfs, otherwise Extremely Fine, Scott value $3,500 as used block
24c Purple (153). Block of four, each stamp with a small "X" in manuscript, likely a specimen mark and not a postal cancellation, rich color and well-centered, just the faintest hint of toning at right, Very Fine, Scott value $3,500 as used block
24c Purple (153). Block of four, natural straight edge at left, well-centered, each with small manuscript "X" that has been erased, probably a specimen mark and not a postal cancellation, extensive perf separations hinge-reinforced, some slight fading, appears Very Fine, Scott value $3,500 as used block
24c Purple (153). Horizontal block of six, manuscript and cork cancels, small faults and a few toned spots, otherwise Fine and rare, used blocks of four are rare enough but a block of six is the second largest listed in Power Search
3c Green (158). Top imprint and plate no. 282 block of twelve, unused (no gum), deep rich color, horizontal crease affects top right stamps, Fine-Very Fine appearance, SCV $3,750 with gum
2c Red Brown (210). Top imprint and plate no. 474 block of twelve, original gum, most stamps Mint N.H., rich color, Fine and attractive
2c Red Brown (210). Block of eight, position 6 lightly hinged, others Mint N.H., rich color, choice centering, Extremely Fine, Scott value as singles
3c Vermilion (214). Mint N.H. bottom imprint and plate no. 421 block of twelve, vivid color, choice centering throughout, couple natural gum bends, Extremely Fine, a beautiful plate block, Scott value as Mint N.H. plate block of ten plus two singles
3c Vermilion (214). Mint N.H. bottom imprint and plate no. 421 block of twelve with part arrow at right, vibrant color, few small natural inclusions, Fine-Very Fine, with 2004 P.S.E. certificate, Scott value as plate block of ten and two singles
1c Dull Blue (219). Mint N.H. top imprint, plate no. 286 and letter "D 1" block of 14, brilliant color, well-centered
VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED TOP PLATE BLOCK OF 14 OF THE ONE-CENT 1890 ISSUE.
Using Power Search to review the Mint N.H. plate blocks of Scott 219 offered in our auctions over the past 30 years reveals an astonishing statistic—this is only the second Mint N.H. top position plate block among the approximately 15 blocks we have sold. Every other Mint N.H. example was from the bottom position.
2c Lake, Imperforate (219Da). Bottom imprint, plate no. 7 and letter "B" block of twelve, unused (no gum) as are many, large margins, rich color, Very Fine, SCV as plate block of ten and a pair
2c Carmine, Cap on Left "2", Cap on Both "2"'s (220a, 220c). Combination block of four, the left pair with Cap over left "2", the right pair with Cap over both "2"'s, original gum, lightly hinged, bright and fresh
VERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE COMBINATION BLOCK CONTAINING BOTH VARIETIES OF CAP OVER "2".
According to Brookman, the varieties were caused by a breakdown of the metal of the transfer roll. There is only one plate of the dozens used which contains a combination of both varieties -- Plate 246. This is the first combination block we have offered since our 2009 sale of the Whitman collection (his similar block with two Mint N.H. stamps realized $9,500 hammer).
With 1995 P.F. certificate. Listed (as combination pairs) but unpriced in Scott. Scott value as singles is $1,600 — quite meaningless as singles can come from five and two plates respectively, while this combination block can come only from Plate 246.
3c Purple (221). Mint N.H. top imprint and plate no. 72 block of ten, rich color on bright paper
FINE AND RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK OF THE 3-CENT 1890 ISSUE.
We have offered only two other Mint N.H. plate blocks of this issue since 1993.
3c Purple (221). Top imprint and plate no. 21 bock of ten, slightly disturbed original gum, rich color on bright paper, Fine
3c Purple, Imperforate (221a). Mint N.H. block of four, deep rich color, large and even margins, Extremely Fine, with 2020 P.S.E. certificate as No. 221P5 (XF 90; unpriced in SMQ), Scott value as two pairs