Sale 1277 — The Adventurer Collection of United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 7-8 March, 2023
Category — Official Special Printings
1c Yellow, Agriculture, Specimen Ovpt., Horizontally Ribbed Paper, Small Dotted "i" (O1Sc). Without gum as issued, unusually choice centering for this scarce variety, brilliant color, Extremely Fine, this is by far the finest example of this variety listed in Power Search in a single format -- most others we have encountered are quite off-center, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85; unpriced in SMQ)
3c Yellow, Agriculture, Specimen Ovpt. (O3S). Without gum as issued, vivid color, wide margins and well-centered, Extremely Fine, an unusually choice example of the 3c Agriculture Special Printing, only 389 sold, ex Golden, with 2015 P.F. certificate
6c Yellow, Agriculture, Specimen Ovpt. (O4S). Without gum as issued, outstanding margins and centering, vivid color on fresh paper, Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp and rare in this condition, only 373 sold, ex Golden, with 2015 P.F. certificate (XF 90)
6c Yellow, Agriculture, Specimen Ovpt. (O4S). Without gum as issued, Jumbo margins and well-centered, fiery color, Very Fine and choice, only 373 sold, ex Golden, with 2015 P.F. certificate
10c Yellow, Agriculture, Specimen Ovpt. (O5S). Without gum as issued, vivid color, choice centering, Extremely Fine, with 2019 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85)
12c Yellow, Agriculture, Specimen Ovpt. (O6S). Without gum as issued, bright color, choice centering, Extremely Fine, with 2021 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85)
15c Yellow, Agriculture, Specimen Ovpt. (O7S). Without gum as issued, deep rich color, choice centering, Extremely Fine, with 2015 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85)
15c Yellow, Agriculture, Specimen Ovpt. (O7S). Without gum as issued, fiery color, well-centered, Extremely Fine, with 2017 P.F. certificate
24c Yellow, Agriculture, Specimen Ovpt. (O8S). Without gum as issued, well-centered, bright and fresh, Extremely Fine, with 2015 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85)
2c Carmine, Executive, Specimen Ovpt. (O11S). Without gum as issued, brilliant color and essentially perfect centering, Extremely Fine Gem, while more than 7,000 of the 2c Executive Special Printing were issued, examples with the centering seen here are very rare, with 2021 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95)
1c Purple, Justice, "Sepcimen" Error (O25Sa). Without gum as issued, wide margins and choice centering, Extremely Fine, an outstanding example of this error, our sale of the Mooz collection (Sale 1274) demonstrates how difficult this is to find in such choice condition, that sale contained three and none were even close to the quality of this stamp, ex Huggins, small red backstamp, with 2016 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85)
10c Purple, Justice, Specimen Ovpt. (O29S). Without gum as issued, detailed impression on bright paper, gorgeous centering, Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp and very rarely found in this quality, only 163 sold, ex Inman, with 2016 P.F. certificate (XF 90)
15c Purple, Justice, Specimen Ovpt. (O31S). Without gum as issued, vibrant color on bright white paper, outstanding centeringEXTREMELY FINE. AN EXCEPTIONALLY CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE SCARCE 15-CENT JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SPECIAL PRINTING.
Only 157 were sold and they very rarely found in this quality. With 1995 P.F. and 2013 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; unpriced in SMQ).
24c Purple, Justice, Specimen Ovpt. (O32S). Without gum as issued, deep shade, exceptional centering with balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF THE SCARCE 24-CENT JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SPECIAL PRINTING.
Only 150 were sold and they are very rarely found in this quality. Ex Golden. With 2015 P.F. certificate (XF 90 XQ; the "XQ" stands for "Extraordinary Quality").
1c Ultramarine, Navy, "Sepcimen" Error (O35Sa). Without gum as issued, deep rich color and detailed impression, choice centering and marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A STUNNING EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT NAVY DEPARTMENT SEPCIAL PRINTING WITH THE "SEPCIMEN" SPELLING ERROR.
With 2021 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85). This is very conservatively graded in our opinion and is every bit a 90 (at least).
7c Ultramarine, Navy, Specimen Ovpt. (O39S). Without gum as issued, vivid color, beautiful centering, fresh and Extremely Fine, ex Huggins, with 2016 P.F. certificate (XF 90)
30c Ultramarine, Navy, Specimen Ovpt. (O44S). Without gum as issued, radiant color, outstanding centering with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE. AN EXCEPTIONAL EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT NAVY DEPARTMENT SPECIAL PRINTING. RARELY FOUND IN THIS QUALITY.
Only 104 were sold and this is one of the two or three best examples we have offered. Ex Huggins. With 2016 P.F. certificate (XF 90 XQ; the "XQ" stands for "Extraordinary Quality").
2c Black, Post Office, Specimen Ovpt. (O48S). Without gum as issued, intense shade, choice centering and margins, Extremely Fine, with 2021 P.S.A.G. and 2022 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85)
3c Black, Post Office, Specimen Ovpt. (O49S). Without gum as issued, intense shade and impression, perfs scissors-separated but intact on all sides, Extremely Fine, only 91 were sold and this is very high quality for the population we have seen, ex Inman, with 2016 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85)
10c Black, Post Office, Specimen Ovpt. (O51S). Without gum as issued, intense shade and impression, outstanding centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELEY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT SPECIAL PRINTING. VERY RARE IN THIS QUALITY.
Only 177 were sold and this is easily one of the finest known examples. Ex Golden. With 2015 P.F. certificate (XF 90 XQ; the "XQ" stands for "Extraordinary Quality").
12c Black, Post Office, Specimen Ovpt. (O52S). Without gum as issued, detailed impression and outstanding centeringEXTREMELEY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT SPECIAL PRINTING.
Only 93 were sold and this is easily one of the finest known examples. Ex Inman. With 2016 P.F. certificate (XF 90).
15c Black, Post Office, Specimen Ovpt. (O53S). Without gum as issued, gorgeous centering, fresh and bright paper, full perforations all aroundEXTREMELEY FINE. AN EXCEPTIONAL EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT SPECIAL PRINTING. VERY RARE IN THIS QUALITY.
Only 82 were sold and this is easily one of the finest if not the finest known examples. Ex Golden. With 2015 P.F. certificate (XF 90)
90c Black, Post Office, Specimen Ovpt. (O56S). Without gum as issued, crisp impression, extra wide marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A LOVELY JUMBO-MARGINED EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT SPECIAL PRINTING.
Only 82 were sold. Ex Huggins. With 2016 P.F. certificate.
2c Bluish Green, State, "Sepcimen" Error (O58Sa). Without gum as issued, brilliant color and well-centered for thisVERY FINE. A CHOICE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT STATE DEPARTMENT SPECIAL PRINTING WITH THE "SEPCIMEN" SPELLING ERROR.
This is a surprisingly scarce error given the 5,145 copies sold of the 2c State. Markovits estimated only 7 to 10 extant (2004 Bennett sale). We believe there are a few more than that and there are also two copies in The New York Public Library's Miller collection. This example is in the highest echelon of condition.
With 1974 P.F. certificate.
10c Bluish Green, State, Specimen Ovpt. (O62S). Without gum as issued, intense shade, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine, only 346 sold, small red backstamp, with 2016 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; unpriced in SMQ), this is the only graded example listed in the P.S.E. Population Report
12c Bluish Green, State, Specimen Ovpt. (O63S). Without gum as issued, bright color, well-balanced margins, Very Fine and choice, only 280 sold, with 2016 P.S.E. certificate
15c Bluish Green, State, Specimen Ovpt. (O64S). Without gum as issued, nicely balanced margins, Very Fine and choice, with 2005 and 2022 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85)
30c Bluish Green, State, Specimen Ovpt. (O66S). Without gum as issued, rich color, well-balanced margins, fresh and Very Fine, with 2014 P.F. certificate (VF 80)
30c Bluish Green, State, Specimen Ovpt. (O66S). Without gum as issued, Jumbo margins, rich color, Very Fine, only 249 sold, with 2015 P.S.E. certificate (F-VF 75 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ), this is the only example listed in the P.S.E. Population Report
$2.00 Green & Black, State, Specimen Ovpt. (O68S). Without gum as issued, bright colors, unusually wide margins for this difficult issueVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE RARE $2.00 STATE DEPARTMENT SPECIAL PRINTING. ONLY 32 WERE SOLD.
Only 32 of the $2.00 State Department Special Printing were sold. Markovits estimated that approximately 20 are known (Bennett sale). Most seem to be strongly centered to one side. This example is one of the finest extant.
From our 1993 Rarities sale and ex Inman. With 1974 and 1990 P.F. certificates
2c Dark Brown, Treasury, Specimen Ovpt. (O73S). Without gum as issued, deep rich color on bright white paper, well-proportioned margins, Extremely Fine, 309 were sold and very few boast the quality of this example, ex Golden, with 2015 P.F. certificate (XF 90)
3c Dark Brown, Treasury, Specimen Ovpt. (O74S). Without gum as issued, deep rich color on bright paper, gorgeous centering and wide margins almost unheard of for this issueEXTREMELY FINE. A MAGNIFICENT EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT TREASURY DEPARTMENT SPECIAL PRINTING. ALMOST CERTAINLY THE FINEST EXTANT.
Only 84 were sold and this is easily the finest example we have encountered. Even the voluminous Mooz collection, with many examples, did not contain a stamp comparable to this.
Ex Golden. With 2015 P.F. certificate (XF 90 XQ; the "XQ" stands for "Extraordinary Quality")
6c Dark Brown, Treasury, Specimen Ovpt. (O75S). Without gum as issued, bright shade, extra wide margins, Very Fine and choice, only 85 were sold and this is a premium example, ex Golden, with 2015 P.F. certificate
7c Dark Brown, Treasury, Specimen Ovpt. (O76S). Without gum as issued, intense shade and impression, unusually wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine, a beautiful example of this Special Printing, only 198 sold, ex Sheriff and Inman, with 2016 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85)
15c Dark Brown, Treasury, Specimen Ovpt. (O79S). Without gum as issued, crisp impression, well-balanced margins, scissors-separated with full intact perfsVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE SCARCE 15-CENT TREASURY DEPARTMENT SPECIAL PRINTING. VERY FEW ARE KNOWN IN THIS QUALITY.
Only 75 were sold and a tiny fraction can compare to the centering of the choice example offered here.
Ex Golden. With 2015 P.F. certificate.
30c Dark Brown, Treasury, Specimen Ovpt. (O81S). Without gum as issued, detailed impression, well-balanced margins, Very Fine and choice example of this scarce issue, only 74 were sold, ex Inman, with 2021 P.F. certificate (VF 80)
1c Deep Rose, War, "Sepcimen" Error (O83Sa). Rich color, remarkably choice centering, fresh and completely soundEXTREMELY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT WAR DEPARTMENT SPECIAL PRINTING WITH THE "SEPCIMEN" SPELLING ERROR. VERY RARE IN SOUND CONDITION WITH CHOICE CENTERING.
Ex Inman. With 2016 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85).
3c Deep Rose, War, Specimen Ovpt. (O85S). Without gum as issued, rich color, attractive centering with tall top margin, Very Fine, only 118 were sold, with 2015 P.F. certificate
6c Deep Rose, War, Specimen Ovpt. (O86S). Without gum as issued, bright color, choice centering, fresh, Very Fine and choice, scarce in this condition, only 111 were sold, ex Huggins, with 2016 P.F. certificate
7c Deep Rose, War, Specimen Ovpt. (O87S). Without gum as issued, deep rich color, choice centering and margins on fresh paper, Extremely Fine, with 2014 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85)
7c Deep Rose, War, "Sepcimen" Error (O87Sa). Without gum as issued, rich color, excellent centering particularly for this difficult issue, completely soundEXTREMELY FINE. AN EXCEPTIONAL EXAMPLE OF THE EXTREMELY RARE 7-CENT WAR DEPARTMENT SPECIAL PRINTING WITH THE "SEPCIMEN" SPELLING ERROR. ONLY THREE ARE RECORDED AND THIS IS BY FAR THE FINEST EXTANT.
Only 539 copies of the 7c War Special Printing were sold, but it is not known how the stamps were taken from the sheets or if full sheets were exhausted before breaking a subsequent sheet. If full sheets were used, then only seven errors were sold. We record only three examples, and that is the number listed on the P.F. website as well. The other two we record are ex Mooz (slight fading and a nibbed perf, Sale 1274, lot 824) and ex Inman (perfs in, crease and small ink stain, Sale 1135, lot 700). This is by far the finest 7c War "Sepcimen" error recorded and would be rare in this condition even as the normal "Specimen" overprint. This stamp was found in 2021 in a modest estate collection.
With 2021 P.F. certificate (XF 90).
10c Deep Rose, War, Specimen Ovpt. (O88S). Without gum as issued, rich color, beautifully balanced margins on bright paperEXTREMELY FINE. AN EXCEPTIONAL EXAMPLE OF THE SCARCE 10-CENT WAR DEPARTMENT SPECIAL PRINTING AND ONE OF THE FINEST EXTANT.
Only 119 were sold and this is easily one of the finest extant. Ex Huggins. With 2016 P.F. certificate (XF 90)
15c Deep Rose, War, Specimen Ovpt. (O90S). Without gum as issued, bright color and well-centered, fresh and Very Fine, only 105 sold, with 2019 P.F. certificate (VF 80)
24c Deep Rose, War, Specimen Ovpt. (O91S). Without gum as issued, brilliant color, choice balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE SCARCE 24-CENT WAR DEPARTMENT SPECIAL PRINTING.
Only 106 were sold and this is one of the finest extant. With 2019 P.F. certificate.
Officials, "Specimen" Ovpt. Balance. Choice balance of the Officials Special Printings, 11 stamps, full set of Executive with the 1c Soft Paper, also 1c Justice, Navy and Treasury, 2c Navy and War and 7c State, all except for the 1c and 6c Executive are sound, most with choice centering and margins, Very Fine-Extremely Fine, an attractive balance accompanied by ten certificates, many graded VF-XF 85
View PDF of contents of this lot