Sale 1293 — The Vaquero Collection of Errors, Freaks and Oddities Plus Other Eclectic Selections
Sale Date — Thursday, 28 September, 2023
Category — Pan-Ameriican Issue
1c-10c Pan-American, Shifted Vignettes (294-299 var). 17 singles plus imprint and plate no. strip of three of 5c, original gum, two used, virtually all showing shifted vignettes, including five 1c, one used 2c shifted upwards, three 4c including one with plate no. selvage, four 8c and two 10c, one 8c with vignette well into frame at bottom, another with strong shift to upper right, some faults including few thin spots, Fine-Very Fine group, one 8c with 2008 P.S.E. certificate
1c Green & Black, Pan-American, Misperforated (294 var). Top left corner margin block of four, dramatic misperforation from foldover, the corner of the top left stamp without perfs, the foldover portion was cut and mended during production with craft paper, also h.r. reinforcement in selvage, couple short perfs at right irrelevant in this piece, Very Fine appearing and dramatic production variety
1c Green & Black, Pan-American, Shifted Ship Vignette (294 var). Four, showing each of the possible ship position varieties, "Sinking", "High Tide", "Fast" and "Slow" ships, three Mint N.H., one with disturbed original gum, margins mostly clear, each shows one of the most dramatic examples of the type we have ever encountered
FINE-VERY FINE. A PHENOMENAL GROUP SHOWING DRAMATIC SINKING, HIGH TIDE, FAST AND SLOW SHIPS FOR THE ONE-CENT PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE.
The shift varieties can come with minor shifts or major shifts. This is a rare opportunity to acquire extreme examples of all four shifts.
1c Green & Black, Pan-American, Fast Boat (294 var). Mint N.H., deep rich colors, with the boat shifted dramatically to left and well into frame, unusually choice centering, Extremely Fine Gem example of this variety, P.S.E. Encapsulated (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $350.00 with no premium for the variety)
1c Green & Black, Pan-American, Sinking Ship (294 var). Mint N.H. block of four, deep rich colors, the so-called "Sinking Ship" variety with vignette shifted strongly downwards, Very Fine and choice, Scott value $160 with no premium for the multiple or the variety
1c-2c Pan-American, Shifted Vignettes (294-295 var). Mint N.H. blocks of four, each with shifted vignette, 1c "Sinking Ship" and 2c "Slow Train", Fine-Very Fine except top 2c pair Extremely Fine, a nice set of blocks, Scott value $310 as singles with no premium for the varieties
2c Carmine & Black, Pan-American, Missing Half of Train Vignette (295 var). Exceptional printing foldover affecting the vignette, shows "Half Train", unused (no gum), diagonal crease at the foldover point
VERY FINE. A RARE PRINTING ERROR OF THE 2-CENT PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE, WITH ONLY THE BACK HALF OF THE TRAIN PRINTED. APART FROM THE INVERT, THIS IS THE MOST DRAMATIC PRINTING ERROR ON THIS ISSUE THAT WE HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED.
When the vignette printing occurred the paper was folded over so that only half the train was printed. The paper was then unfolded before the frame printing occurred. This is extremely unusual, as sheets like this would normally be removed by inspectors before release to a post office.
Ex Fekete. With 1995 A.P.S. certificate.
2c Carmine & Black, Pan-American, Pre-Printing Paperfold (295 var). Original gum, lightly hinged, showing two significant diagonal pre-printing paperfolds, easily visible in the printing of the frames but not visible in printing of the vignette, Fine and very unusual, the paperfold must have been discovered after printing of the frame and opened for the printing of the vignette, an excellent example of how a printing mistake must have been recognized and yet still allowed to proceed thru distribution
2c Carmine & Black, Pan-American, Shifted Train Vignette (295 var). Four singles showing each of the possible train position varieties, "Fast", "Slow", "High" and "Low" trains, one Mint N.H.
FINE-VERY FINE. A WONDERFUL GROUP OF THE 2-CENT PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE SHOWING DRAMATIC EXAMPLES OF ALL FOUR POSSIBLE TRAIN POSITION VARIETIES.
The shift varieties can come with minor shifts or major shifts. This is a rare opportunity to acquire extreme examples of all four shifts.
2c Carmine & Black, Pan-American, Low Train (295 var). Mint N.H. with top plate no. 1114 selvage, showing shifted vignette which significantly impinges the letter tablet at bottom, a Fine and unusual variety, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate
2c Carmine & Black, Pan-American, Low Train (295 var). With bottom part imprint selvage, original gum, very lightly hinged, natural short gum at bottom, radiant colors, with train shifted very far down so that traces of black printing appear outside of the frame, Very Fine and choice, this is one of the most dramatic examples of the so-called "Low Train" that we have ever encountered, with 2001 P.S.E. certificate
2c Carmine & Black, Pan-American, Low Train (295 var). Mint N.H. block of four, the "Low Train" variety with vignette shifted strongly to bottom, so much so that the vignette is into lettering at bottom, Very Fine, scarce with such significant shifts of the vignette
2c Carmine & Black, Pan-American, High Train (295 var). Mint N.H. block of four with bottom selvage with black plate no. 135 and arrow, with trains shifted significantly upwards into frame, Very Fine examples of this vignette shift
2c Carmine & Black, Pan-American, Shifted Train Vignette (295 var). Two Mint N.H. singles, one with train well into frame at bottom, other with train far into frame at top, first with single short perf at right, Very Fine, scarce with dramatic shifts
2c Carmine & Black, Pan-American, Shifted Train Vignette (295 var). Two Mint N.H. singles, fresh and exceptionally well-centered, both with strong vignette shifts, "Low" and "High" trains, the latter with a substantial displacement, Extremely Fine, desirable lot from this increasingly popular collecting specialty
4c Deep Red Brown & Black, Pan-American, High Car (296 var). Mint N.H., with electric car vignette shifted significantly upwards, unusually wide margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, a stamp with great visual appeal
5c Ultramarine & Black, Pan-American, Shifted Bridge Vignette (297 var). Mint N.H., with bridge shifted significantly into the right frame, bright colors, Very Fine and very unusual, the 5c is not often seen with such a dramatic vignette shift
8c Brown & Violet, Pan-American, Misprinted from Foldover (298 var). Corner margin single with foldover showing large portion of printing on back, corner folded back over to reveal the missing portion of the design, Very Fine, one of the most dramatic foldover printing freaks we have seen on this issue, ex Dr. Heimburger
10c Yellow Brown & Black, Pan-American, Shifted Ship Vignette (299 var). Mint N.H., bright colors, vignette shifted strongly towards bottom left, choice centering, Extremely Fine, with 1999 P.F. certificate
10c Yellow Brown & Black, Pan-American, Sinking Ship (299 var). Mint N.H., unusually choice centering with Jumbo margins for this difficult issue, with ship shifted noticeably to bottom to the point where label in frame is obscured, Extremely Fine, with 2003 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90 Jumbo; SMQ $1,200.00 with no premium for the variety)
10c Yellow Brown & Black, Pan-American, Sinking Ship (299 var). Mint N.H. with bottom right corner sheet selvage with denomination markers, bright colors, gorgeous centering, vignette shifted downwards into label at bottom, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp in every respect, with 1996 P.F. certificate
10c Yellow Brown & Black, Pan-American, Sinking Ship (299 var). Original gum, small h.r., nicely centered, shifted downwards with the water detail obscuring the "Fast Ocean Navigation" inscription, Very Fine, excellent shift
10c Yellow Brown & Black, Pan-American, Sinking Ship (299 var). Disturbed original gum, exceptionally well-centered, strong downward shift of vignette well into text at bottom, Extremely Fine example of this distinctive variety
1c Green & Black, Pan-American, Center Inverted (294a). Original gum, very lightly hinged, unusually choice centering and wide margins for this invert error, deep rich colors, wonderful state of freshness
EXTREMELY FINE. A STUNNING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT. NO DOUBT THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST LIGHTLY-HINGED EXAMPLES IN EXISTENCE.
The 1c Pan-American Inverts were found in at least four different post offices around the country. Of the 600 to 700 known, most have disturbed gum and are off-center. The stamp offered here is remarkably fresh and certainly one of the best-centered examples known.
Ex Odeneal. With 1986 and 2007 P.F. certificates.
2c Carmine & Black, Pan-American, Center Inverted (295a). Original gum, lightly hinged, superbly centered with wide balanced margins, rich color and clear impressions of vignette and frame
EXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THE 2-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT.
The 2c is the rarest of the three Pan-American Inverts. It is surmised that approximately 200 were issued through the post office, with two distinct shades known. Estimates of surviving examples range from an early count (1945) of 55 unused and 2-3 used to the 1998 Datz estimate of 150 unused, 3-5 used and a block of four intact. Our Levi records contain the intact block (4), reconstructed block (4), 64 unused singles and 6 used singles, for a total of 72 unused and 6 used. Many of the unused singles have disturbed gum or no gum, and/or are off center to top or top left. This Extremely Fine sound stamp with original gum is among the finest known examples.
Ex Drucker and Hoffman. With 1988 and 2002 P.F. certificates. With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (VF 80; SMQ $55,000.00). Accompanied by note from master grader William Litle noting that they took five points off for the trace of guideline at right. Scott footnote states "Almost all unused copies of No. 295a have partial or disturbed gum. Values are for examples with full original gum that is slightly disturbed." The stamp offered here has fresh lightly-hinged gum.