Sale 956 — The Jay Hoffman Collection of United States Stamps
Sale Date — Thursday-Friday, 8-9 May, 2008
Category — Bluish Paper
1c Green, 2c Carmine, Bluish (357-358). 1c barely hinged, 2c Mint N.H., intense colors on deeply blued paper, wide margins, Very Fine-Extremely Fine, 1c with copy of 199 P.F. certificate for block, 2c with 2000 P.S.E. certificate
3c Deep Violet, Bluish (359). Mint N.H., deep rich color on nicely blued paper, wide margins for this difficult issueVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT ON BLUISH PAPER.
As an indication of rarity, we have only sold six others in Mint N.H. condition since keeping computerized records 14 years ago.
With 2003 P.F. certificate
4c Orange Brown, Bluish (360). Lightly hinged with small h.r., deep rich color on deeply blued paper, nice margins for this difficult issueVERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL FRESH EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT WASHINGTON ON BLUISH PAPER.
A review of our Levi records of the Bluish Paper stamps shows that the 4c is much rarer than the 8c in well-centered condition.
With 1967 P.F. certificate. Small backstamp.
5c Blue, Bluish (361). Mint N.H., deep rich color on nicely blued paper, wide marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT ON BLUISH PAPER.
With 1995 and 2006 P.F. certificates. We have sold only five other Mint N.H. examples in the past 14 years. Three of those had centering similar to the example offered here.
With 1995 and 2006 P.F. certificates
6c Red Orange, Bluish (362). Mint N.H., radiant color as fresh as the day it was printed, wide margins, deeply blued paperVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT ON BLUISH PAPER. SCARCE IN SUCH PRISTINE CONDITION.
As an indication of rarity, we have offered only ten other Mint N.H. examples since keeping computerized records, which extend over 14 years of auctions.
With 1989 and 2002 P.F. certificates
8c Olive Green, Bluish (363). Lightly hinged, deep rich color on nicely blued paperFRESH AND FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 8-CENT WASHINGTON ON BLUISH PAPER.
According to Johl (Vol. 1, page 175), the only source of the 4c and 8c Bluish stamps was the archives of the Post Office Department. Approximately 80 of each were traded for rare stamps missing from the archives.
With 1957 and 1999 P.F. certificates
10c Yellow, Bluish (364). Mint N.H., intense color on deeply blued paperVERY FINE. THE 10-CENT ON BLUISH IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT VALUES TO OBTAIN IN MINT NEVER-HINGED CONDITION. A GREAT CONDITION RARITY.
A review of our computerized records shows that we have offered only three other Mint N.H. examples in the past fourteen years. The others were offered in the Argentum Collection (Sale 807), the Vineyard Collection (Sale 883) and the Odeneal Collection (Sale 941).
With 1989 P.S.E. and 2005 P.F. certificates
13c Bluish Green, Bluish (365). Rich color on nicely blued paper, crisp impression, Fine, with 1989 P.F. certificate
15c Pale Ultramarine, Bluish (366). Mint N.H. with part imprint and wide selvage at top, radiant color on nicely blued paper, wide marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT ON BLUISH. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH THE SELVAGE, WHICH SHOWS OFF THE BLUING OF THE PAPER TO GREAT EFFECT.
With 2002 P.F. certificate for plate block