Sale 1254 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 6-7 April, 2022
Category — The Mulholland Collection of Specimens - Columbians thru Back-of-Book, Possessions
1c-$4.00 Columbian, "Specimen" Ovpts. Ty. E (230S-E/244S-E). Partial set of 13 stamps, including 1c-4c, 6c-50c and $4.00, with extra 3c and 4c, original gum, some disturbance or h.r., 2c with a blue overprint rather than the listed dull purple, faults including tear on 2c and heavy thins on 8c and 10c, overall Fine appearance, the 30c is Very Fine and choice
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8c Magenta, Columbian, "Specimen" Ovpt. Ty. E (236S-E). Mint N.H., brilliant color, clear overprint at bottom, Very Fine, the condition of these "Specimen" overprints is often quite rough, finding one in sound Mint N.H. condition is unusual, with 1978 P.F. certificate, Scott value as hinged
10c Black Brown, Columbian, "Specimen" Ovpt. Ty. E (237S-E). Original gum, h.r., unusually choice centering, clear overprint reading up in right margin, two tiny thin spots, appears Extremely Fine, these are rarely well-centered
1c-$3.00 Columbian, "Specimen" Ovpt. Ty. F (230S-F to 243S-F). Complete set of the seven listed values, including 1c, 3c, 4c, 5c, 6c, 10c and $3.00, clear large 22mm "Specimen" overprints in fancy script, particularly bold on the top value $3.00 which also has a small magenta "c" at top, disturbed original gum, faults including nearly all with thins -- as if they were peeled from a sample book -- which they probably wereFINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE COMPLETE SET OF THE SEVEN COLUMBIAN STAMPS KNOWN WITH "SPECIMEN" OVERPRINT TYPE F. POSSIBLY UNIQUE.
Ex "Lake Shore" and from our 1976 Rarities sale. Each with 1976 P.F. certificate.
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6c Purple, Columbian, "Specimen" Ovpt. Similar to Ty. H (235S-H var). Capital letter overprint with serifs, measuring 17.5mm instead of the listed 16mm for Type H, unused (no gum), well-centered, thinned at top left corner, otherwise Very Fine and rare, only the 2c, 4c and 5c Columbians are listed with the Type H overprint, we have not encountered another 6c with any variety of the Type H, with 2005 P.F. certificate stating this is not 235S-H but rather an overprint of unknown origin, Scott value as normal Type H overprint
6c-50c Columbian, "Specimen" Ovpt. Ty. I (235S-I/240S-I). Six stamps, including the 6c, 8c, 10c, 15c, 30c and 50c values, overprints in magenta ink except for 30c in black, four are defective, otherwise Fine and very rare, Power Search does not contain any other examples of a Columbian with Type I overprint, each with 1972 P.F. certificate
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1c-$5.00 1895-98 Issues, "Specimen" Ovpt. Ty. E (267S-E to 284S-E). 25 stamps, representing the complete sets less the 1c Blue, the rare $1.00 Ty. II and the probably unique 10c Brown Ty. II (latter two offered in this sale as individual lots), a few numbers with duplication including $1.00 Ty. I, original gum, a few Mint N.H., a few tiny flaws as typically seen, overall fresh and Fine to largely Very Fine, Scott value as all hinged more than $3,000.00
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$1.00 Black, Ty. II, "Specimen" Ovpt. Ty. E (276AS-E). Original gum, small h.r., clear purple "Specimen" at center, Very Fine, this is the rarest denomination of the 1895 set to obtain, ex "Whitpain", with 2000 P.F. certificate
2c Red, Ty. IV, Horizontal Wmk., "Specimen" Ovpt. Ty. E, Partial 25c Booklet (BK2S-E). Comprising a single pane of six of No. 279BjS-E, all interleaving intact, Position A, BIA Cover Type I-b.1, no "Specimen." handstamp on cover, manuscript "One of the first one hundred books issued. Edwin C. Madden Third Asst. P.M. Gen. " in black, two staples, front cover with usual crease and with manuscript "2 stitches" notation, pane is nicely centered, Very Fine and scarce, ex Beutel, Scott value as Mint N.H. single pane of No. 279BjS-E with no premium for the full covers or interleaving
2c Red, Ty. IV, Booklet Pane of Six, "Specimen" Ovpt. Ty. E (279BjS-E). Plate no. 988 at top right, original gum, top stamps single hinge mark, bottom four stamps Mint N.H., fresh and Fine-Very Fine, it is reported that only ten examples are known with the plate number
5c Dark Blue, Double "Specimen" Ovpt. Ty. E (281S-E var). Showing one overprint diagonal at bottom and clear second horizontal overprint in top margin, original gum, adherence on back of a Postage Due almost looks like an offset and covers a small thin spot, Very Fine appearance and very rare, ex "Whitpain", unlisted in Scott
10c Orange Brown, Ty. II, "Specimen" Ovpt. Ty. E (283S-E). Unused (no gum), centered to right, thin spot and small tear, otherwise Fine, possibly unique, ex "Whitpain", with 1998 P.F. certificate
2c Light Rose Carmine, Lithographic Postal Counterfeit (250CF3). Horizontal strip of three, each with small "C" handstamp for "Counterfeit", affixed to April 10, 1895 circular from Third Assistant Postmaster General announcing the existence of these counterfeits in the marketplace, center stamp creased from file fold, Fine and wonderful collateral item for the Specimen or Bureau collector
1897 Universal Postal Congress Overprints (246S-O thru 278S-O, E5S-O, J38S-O thru J44S-O). 26 stamps mounted on album pages, including Mint N.H. set of the 1c-$5.00 Bureau Issue and 10c Special Delivery, with original envelope reading "One Set of Specimens of United States Postage Stamps, Ordinary and Special Delivery", 10c Special Delivery with a crease, also original gum set of 1c-50c Postage DueVERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED SET OF THE 1895 BUREAU ISSUE WITH 1897 UNIVERSAL POSTAL CONGRESS OVERPRINTS.
Only 125 sets of each were produced, making these technically scarcer than the underlying 1895 Bureau issue on which they were overprinted. These are normally encountered with either hinged gum, or quite often with no gum. This Mint N.H. set is extremely unusual. A Mint N.H. set of the regular 1895 Issue would be of astronomical value.
Scott value as hinged and without premium for the envelope, which is seldom encountered.
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1c-50c Trans-Mississippi, "Specimen" Ovpt. Ty. E (285S-E to 291S-E). Complete set through the 50c with extra 4c, 5c (two) and 10c, original gum, few h.r., varying locations of overprints, couple small flaws but overall Very Fine group, two certificates accompany
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1c-10c Pan-American, "Specimen" Ovpt. Type E (294S-E to 299S-E). Complete set, all appear Mint N.H. but a couple with perhaps the barest trace of hinging, all with horizontal overprint, brilliant colors, Fine-Very Fine set and very scarce with such pristine gum
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1c-10c Pan-American, "Specimen" Ovpt. Type E (294S-E to 299S-E). Complete set, all but the 10c with right selvage, original gum, h.r., also includes an additional 2c "Low Train", some perf separations, Fine set
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4c Deep Red Brown & Black, Pan-American, Center Inverted, Specimen Ovpt. (296aS). "Specimen" at left reading up, inverted diagonal orientation, original gum, lightly hinged, centered to bottom with other three margins nicely balancedFRESH AND FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT WITH SPECIMEN OVERPRINT.
The 4c stamp portrays an electric automobile, known at the time as the "Electric Vehicle Service," as depicted on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad brochure from which the engraving was made. In the background one can see the dome of the Capitol. One of the two men seated at the front was Samuel B. Hege, B&O's passenger agent, so this stamp actually depicts a living person in violation of the law.
The 4c Pan-American Invert was a special printing and not regularly issued. Examples were distributed through two official channels. One sheet was overprinted with "Specimen." A total of 106 copies, both with and without "Specimen," were distributed to friends and dignitaries. 197 were destroyed. One pane of 100 was retained by the Post Office Department and was stuck down on a ledger page in the Post Office archives. The sheet was broken up in about 1916 or 1917, and 97 copies were traded in exchange for material needed for the government collection. Since most of the stamps were removed from the mounting paper, they are generally thinned or have seriously disturbed gum.
The Scott U.S. Specialized Catalogue has a footnote about condition for the 4c Invert without "Specimen" overprint (Scott 296), but neglects to include a similar note for the Specimen (296aS). If we were to write one, it would read "Almost all examples are faulty and many to a serious degree. Value is for a Fine centered stamp with minor faults. Sound examples sell for much more." In the case of this sound stamp with lightly hinged gum, we do expect more
1c-$5.00 1902 Issue, "Specimen" Ovpt. Ty. E (300S-E to 313S-E, 319S-E). Overprints in various positions including mostly at sides, tops or bottoms, one diagonal, all but two original gum with some slightly disturbed or h.r., also Mint N.H. for 6c, 15c and 50c, the 8c and $5.00 no gum, bright colors and better centered than often seen, also includes an extra 5c with right plate no. selvage (P.F. certificate), fresh and Fine-Very Fine set
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2c-$1.00 1902 Issue, "Specimen" Ovpt. Ty. E (301S-E to 311S-E). Plate no. singles of 2c, 4c, 5c, 8c, 10c, 15c and 50c, top imprint and plate no. strip of three of 3c, side imprint pairs of 4c, 6c and 8c, pair with top plate no. of 13c, $1.00 with selvage at top, the 3c, 6c, 13c and $1.00 with manuscript in selvage including "First Sheet" and signed or initialed by Wm. Meredith, the Director of the BEP, few small flawsFINE-VERY FINE AND RARE GROUP OF 1902 ISSUE STAMPS WITH "SPECIMEN" OVERPRINTS, INCLUDING POSITION PIECES AND SIGNATURES OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU OF ENGRAVING AND PRINTING.
Ex "Whitpain". Accompanied by two typed letters signed by Edwin C. Madden (3rd Asst. PMG), one originally accompanied a partial set from 3c to $5.00 from the first sheets printed (this letter may or may not refer to the stamps offered here), the other refers to an enclosed 2c Shield redesign.
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1c/$5.00 1902 Issue, "Specimen" Ovpt. Ty. E (300S-E/313S-E). Including 1c, 3c, 5c, 8c, 13c, 15c, $2.00 and $5.00, 13c horizontal overprint at bottom, others vertical overprints at left or right, unused (regummed), Fine-Very Fine part set
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1c-10c Louisiana Purchase, "Specimen" Ovpt. Ty. E (323S-E to 327S-E). Complete set affixed to letter headed "Edwin C. Madden, Third Assistant Postmaster General, Post Office Department, Washington, April 16, 1904", addressed to Allen Cockrell in Washington, states in part, "I take the pleasure in enclosing to you herewith one set of the Commemorative Series, 1904, (Louisiana Purchase) postage stamps...This is the second set to be given away. The first was given to the Daughters of the American Revolution, to enclose in the corner stone of their Memorial Continental Hall...The stamps will not be placed on sale to the public at any post office until April 30th next. Respectfully, Edwin C. Madden. P.S. These stamps are all marked "specimen." No stamps can be given away except as specimen.", the 3c defective with portion of bottom missing, letter tonedA RARE AND HISTORIC SET OF SPECIMENS FOR THE 1904 LOUISIANA PURCHASE ISSUE. THIS IS UNDOUBTEDLY THE EARLIEST SET THAT CAN BE DOCUMENTED -- TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE FIRST DAY OF ISSUE.
Allen V. Cockrell was Secretary of the Interstate Commerce Commission and son of Missouri Senator Francis C. Cockrell. The DAR Continental building still stands in Washington. Presumably, the set given to them remains in the corner stone.
Ex Fekete. Scott value as normal set $1,750.00
1c-10c Louisiana Purchase, Specimen Ovpt. Ty. E (323S-E to 327S-E). Original gum, 1c-5c Mint N.H., 10c lightly hinged, rich colors, 5c natural straight edge at left, fresh and Fine set, ex Fekete, accompanied by original envelope titled "Louisiana Purchase Exposition, Series 1904. Specimen." (Ty. E), as well as a multi-colored Exposition map label, Scott value as hinged set of stamps only
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1c-10c Louisiana Purchase, Specimen Ovpt. Ty. E (323S-E to 327S-E). Unused (no gum), 2c tear at top, otherwise Fine, ex Diamond
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50c 1902 Issue, 1c-5c Jamestown, "ULTRAMAR" Ovpt. (310S, 328S-330S). Including two of the 5c Jamestown, one 5c plus 50c 1902 original gum, others no gum, clear overprints on four, one 5c with light but evident overprint, Fine, the Portuguese Ministry for the Colonies applied the "Ultramar" overprint, meaning "overseas", upon receipt of the stamps from U.P.U. headquarters in Berne, between 1900 and 1910 the stamps were distributed to the various colonies with this overprint, with a few exceptions this was replaced with "Colonias" in 1911
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Foreign Postal Archives, "SPECIMEN" Ovpt. (523S, 537S, C2S). Three stamps with the same foreign postal archive "SPECIMEN" overprint, including Nos. 523, 537 and C2 (struck twice), original gum, Fine-Very Fine and scarce trio, C2S with 1983 P.F. certificate
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6c Carmine, Air Post, "Specimen P.O.D." Handstamped Ovpt. (C39S, C39aS). Two blocks of four showing different type size -- small and large, also two booklet panes with large type variety, one tab trimmed off, other with perfect bold "San Francisco Calif. Sta. 4 Apr 5 1957" double-circle datestamps (tab missing), Fine-Very Fine, ex Brett
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10c 1888-1902 Special Delivery, "Specimen" Ovpts. Ty. D, E (E1S-D, E2S-E/E6S-E). Four stamps, E1S with Ty. D red overprint, E2S, E5S and E6S with purple Ty. E overprint, original gum, h.r., a couple small faults including thin spot on E2S, overall Fine-Very Fine
10c-20c 1888-1925 Special Delivery, "SPECIMEN" Black Handstamped Ovpt. (E2S, E6S, E14S). Unused (no gum), a couple small thin spots, Fine-Very Fine appearing and desirable group from the postal archives of Bechuanaland, these emerged in a Siegel sale in 1978 and most then reposed in the inventory of the late Irwin Weinberg until it was sold by Siegel in 2016, each with 1977 B.P.A. certificate
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25c Orange Red, Colored Border, 1865 Issue, Manuscript "Specimen" Ovpt. (PR3S). Without gum as issued, 31mm manuscript "Specimen" overprint and "A.N.Z.", the initials of Third Assistant Postmaster General Alexander N. Zevely, small corner crease and tiny pinhole, Very Fine appearance and unique, ex Kotanchik and Ainsworth, with 1987 P.F. certificate, unlisted in Scott
5c Dull Blue, 1875 Reprint, Red "Specimen" Ovpt. Ty. C (PR5S-C). Block of four, rich color on bright paper, few perf separations at center sensibly reinforced, faint creases, Fine appearance, ex Fekete, Scott value as singles
2c-$60.00 1879 Issue, "Specimen" Ovpt. Ty. D (PR14S-D, PR57S-PR79S-D, PR81S-D). Complete set of 25 values including the 1875 and 1885 Ty. D overprints, each with red "Specimen" overprint, unused (no gum), rich colors, few small faults may be encountered in such a set but overall fresh and Fine-Very Fine, a scarce complete set
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10c Black, 1879 Issue, Double Red "Specimen" Ovpt. Ty. D (PR62S-Da). Without gum as issued, clear doubling of the overprint with one slightly displaced from the other, outstanding centering with huge margins, tiny thin spot at bottom is mentioned on certificate but is inconsequentialEXTREMELY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 10-CENT 1879 NEWSPAPER ISSUE WITH DOUBLE "SPECIMEN" OVERPRINT.
This is only the second example we have offered since keeping computerized records 30 years ago and this is the better centered of the two.
With 2003 P.F. certificate.
1c-$100.00 1895-97 Issue, "Specimen" Ovpt. Ty. E (114S-E to 125S-E). Original gum, some with h.r., deep rich colors, fresh and Fine-Very Fine, a pretty complete set
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1c-$100.00 1895-97 Issue, "Universal Postal Congress" Ovpt. (PR114S-O to PR125S-O). Complete set of 12 with original envelope reading "One Set of Specimens of United States Postage Stamps, Newspaper and Periodical", nine without gum including most high vales, 10c, $10.00 and $20.00 straight edge at bottom, few small flaws including $2.00 couple short perfs, overall Fine-Very Fine set, scarce as only 125 were produced and particularly desirable with the envelope which is seldom encountered, ex "Whitpain"
Universal Postal Congress Postal Stationery Balance. 16 entires with "Universal Postal Congress" overprint, including four 1c, eleven 2c and one 4c, range of different sizes and paper, also includes one Specimen entire, Very Fine group
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CUBA, 1899, 1c-10c "Specimen" Ovpt. Ty. E (221S-E to 226S-E). One of each plus additional 1c, 2c, 2-1/2c and 5c showing the horizontal and diagonal overprints, the inks of the overprints are different (purple and dark purple), one color is usually associated with the 100 ordered for use by the PMG and the other for the 100 ordered for the 1900 Paris Exhibition, original gum, most Fine-Very Fine centeringA SCARCE AND CHOICE COMPLETE SET OF THE CUBA 1899 ISSUE "SPECIMEN" OVERPRINTS.
Ex "Whitpain". Nearly all with "Lily" backstamps.
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CUBA, 1900, 10c Brown, Ty. II, "Specimen" Ovpt. Ty. E (226AS-E). Original gum, h.r., natural straight edge at top, clear "Specimen" at top struck partly off edge of stamp, bright shadeFINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT BROWN TYPE II WITH "SPECIMEN" OVERPRINT. VERY FEW ARE KNOWN.
In March 1900 one pane of each denomination was prepared for the Paris and Pan-American Expositions. For the 10c the Type II design was used and it is only known as a Special Printing. A small quantity was overprinted "Specimen" by H. G. Mandel for use at the exhibitions and most were destroyed afterwards. Most of the others were backstamped "Special Surcharge" in red ink by a dealer, J. M. Bartels, or signed by him.
Ex "Whitpain". With 1976 P.F. certificate. Scott Catalogue does not distinguish between those overprinted "Specimen" and those with the backstamp.
CUBA, 1899, 10c on 10c Blue, Special Delivery, Five Dots in Curved Frame Above Messenger's Head, "Specimen" Ovpt. Ty. E (E1aS-E). Mint N.H., clear oveprint in top margin, deep rich color, attractive centering and marginsVERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE CUBA 10-CENT SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE WITH FIVE DOTS ABOVE THE MESSENGER'S HEAD AND SPECIMEN OVERPINT.
The Dots in Curved Frame above Messenger variety comes solely from plate no. 882. This is the only Mint N.H. example we have offered of this rare "Specimen" overprint since keeping computerized records 30 years ago.
Ex Pounder. Scott value as hinged.
CUBA, 1899, 1c-10c Deep Claret, Postage Due, "Specimen" Ovpt. Ty. E (J1S-E to J4S-E). Original gum, 10c gum a bit toned, diagonal ovpts. (1c almost vertical), 5c natural straight edge at right, Fine-Very Fine and scarce set, we have offered only one other set since keeping computerized records, plus a set from the 1900 Special Printing, ex "Whitpain"
PHILIPPINES, 1900, 1c-50c "Specimen" Ovpt. Ty. E, Special Printing (213SP-217SP, 218SP-219SP). Original gum, h.r., each with "Specimen" handstamp and each with red "Special Surcharge" backstamp (3c shows thru), rich colors, 15c and 50c small thin spotsFINE-VERY FINE. A RARE SET OF THE PHILIPPINES 1900 SPECIAL PRINTING WITH "SPECIMEN" OVERPRINTS. VERY FEW ARE KNOWN.
According to the Scott Catalogue, in March 1900 one pane of each denomination was prepared for the Paris and Pan-American Expositions. Some were handstamped with Ty. E "Specimen" overprints by H.G. Mandel before the expositions and were destroyed soon after, which accounts for their rarity. Dealer J.M Bartels signed some of these stamps "Special Surcharge" to authenticate them as coming from the Mandel Special Printing panes. In 1904 or later, he handstamped additional surviving examples "Special Surcharge" in red ink as his guarantee, including the set offered here. The Scott Catalogue does not distinguish between the "Specimen", hand-signed or 1904 handstamped versions of the Special Printings, but the handstamped versions offered here are particularly desirable as they can unequivocally be identified as Special Printings.
Ex Tows, Todd and "Whitpain". Scott value of $1,000.00 for each is out of date.
PHILIPPINES, 1899, 1c-50c "Specimen" Ovpt. Ty. E (213S-E to 219S-E). The set of seven, diagonal overprints, original gum, h.r., couple minor flaws including small thin spot, Fine and scarce set