Sale 968B — The Alan B. Whitman Collection, Part Three: 1902-34 Issues, B-O-B
Sale Date — Tuesday-Friday, 22-25 September, 2009
Category — Special Delivery (E) and Registration (F)
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E1). Mint N.H., deep rich color on bright paper, wide margins, Very Fine and choice, with 1999 P.F. certificate
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E2). Mint N.H., rich color, detailed impression on fresh paper, wide even margins, Very Fine and choice, with 1994 (for a block) and 1995 P.F. certificates
10c Orange, Special Delivery (E3). Mint N.H., vibrant color as fresh as the day it was printed, bright white paper, Extremely Fine, a pretty stamp, with 1992 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $1,350.00)
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E4). Mint N.H., deep rich color on bright white paper, wide margins, very freshEXTREMELY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1894 10-CENT UNWATERMARKED BUREAU SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE.
With 1993 P.F. certificate
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E5). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression on brilliant paper, perfectly centered with wide and balanced margins all around, long and full perforationsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1895 10-CENT WATERMARKED BUREAU SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE -- GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E., WHICH IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE. A TRUE CONDITION RARITY IN THE FINEST ATTAINABLE QUALITY.
With 1996 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $6,950.00). This is the only stamp to achieve this desirable grade.
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E6). Mint N.H. with and reprint plate no. 5240-09 in top selvage, rich color on bright paper, Extremely Fine, the 1902 Series Special Delivery stamp is the first "Messenger on Bicycle" issue, it was re-issued in 1909 (the "09" was added to plate numbers to help philatelists identify the later printing), this issue is extremely rare in choice Mint N.H. condition, with 1997 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85; SMQ $890.00)
10c Green, Special Delivery (E7). Mint N.H. with bottom plate no. 4916 selvage, lovely margins and centering, Extremely Fine, with 1995 P.F. certificate
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E8). Mint N.H., brilliant color and proof-like impression on bright paper, mathematically perfect centering with Jumbo marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS COLLOSAL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1911 SERIES SPECIAL DELIVERY STAMP, SCOTT E8, HAS BEEN AWARDED THE ULTIMATE GRADE OF GEM 100 JUMBO BY P.S.E. -- THIS STANDS ALONE AS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE.
The first "Messenger on Bicycle" Special Delivery design was the 1902 double-line watermarked Scott E6. In 1908 the "Helmut of Mercury" Special Delivery stamp was issued. However, the Messenger on Bicycle design was re-issued in 1911 from new plates with a single-line watermark, and the same basic design was issued continuously until the Motorcycle Delivery design replaced it in 1922.
Scott E8 is not particularly scarce (it has a Scott value of $240.00 in Mint N.H. condition), but to find an example such as this one defies the odds. At first glance it almost strikes one as a small die proof. The P.S.E. Population Report statistics support this statement, and a review of our auction records with Power Search provides visual confirmation. None of the stamps (singles or in blocks) in our database compare to this Mint N.H. Gem 100 Jumbo example.
With 1992 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (Gem 100 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, $2,600.00 as 98). This is the only example to have achieved this pinnacle of grades. No other examples have been graded above 98J
10c Ultramarine (E9). Mint N.H. with plate no. 6046 in left selvage, deep rich color and well-centered with three exceptionally wide margins, Extremely Fine, with 1995 P.F. certificate
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E9a). Mint N.H., intense bright color nicely contrasted by fresh white paper, almost mathematically perfect centering with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1914 BLUE SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
With 2001 P.F., 1999 and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $3,750.00). Only one example has graded higher to date and no others share this grade
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E11). Mint N.H., perfectly centered with unusually wide margins, lovely color on bright white paper, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $450.00), only three examples have graded higher to date
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E11). "Pink Back" variety, original gum, barest trace of hinging, brilliant color, almost perfect centering, long and full perforations all around, Extremely Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $50.00)
10c Gray Violet, Special Delivery (E11b). Mint N.H., brilliant color on bright white paper, perfectly centered with exceptionally wide margins, Extremely Fine example of this elusive shade variety, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 95, $650.00 as 95)
10c Deep Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E12a). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression, mathematically perfect centering with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1922 10-CENT SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE HAS BEEN AWARDED THE PERFECT GRADE OF GEM 100 BY P.S.E.
With 1995 P.F. (as Scott E12) and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (Gem 100; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, $920.00 as 98). Only one example shares this grade and one other has graded 100J
10c Deep Ultramarine (E12a). Mint N.H., wide even margin with flawless centering, deep rich color on bright white paper, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2001 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $920.00)
10c Gray Violet, Special Delivery, Horizontal Pair, Imperforate Between (E15c). Mint N.H., deep color, much better centered than most, Very Fine and choice, ex Floyd, with 2001 P.F. certificate
10c Ultramarine, Registration (F1). Mint N.H., brilliant color on bright paper, choice centering with wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1995 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $450.00)