Sale 958 — 2008 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Saturday, 7 June, 2008
Category — Revenues incl. Hunting Permits and Sanitary Fair
$1.60-4/5 Yellow Green & Black, 1951 Issue, Wine, Second Line of Letters Smaller (RE198a). Unused (no gum), fresh and soundVERY FINE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THIS RARE WINE STAMP VARIETY.
Only one unused and four used examples are recorded.
Wm. Swaim, 8c Orange on Silk Paper, Manuscript Signature (RS235hb). Bright color, mostly ample die-cut margins, few small thins and tiny tearFINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE 8-CENT WILLIAM SWAIM STAMP WITH MANUSCRIPT SIGNATURE.
The manuscript signature of Jas. Swaim and Wm. Swaim on the 6c and 8c stamps are among the greatest rarities of Match & Medicine stamps. This manuscript Wm. Swaim signature on the 8c is the only recorded example, but when it was sold in the Morton Dean Joyce sale held by Levitt in 1991, bidders failed to appreciate its significance. The Aldrich book speculates that the light shade of the signature raised questions about its genuineness, but the ink is actually quite sharp and is certainly contemporary with the issue. In our opinion, the Joyce sale was simply so overwhelming, many lots fell through the cracks, and this was one of them.
$1.00 1934 Hunting Permit (RW1). Mint N.H. top left corner plate no. 129200 block of six, deep shade, slight overall gum toningVERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE. A RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK OF THE FIRST HUNTING PERMIT ISSUE, SCOTT RW1.
A review of our computerized records indicates that we have only sold five other Mint N.H. plate blocks of six with selvage on both sides. This configuration is necessary to be considered a true plate block.
$1.00 1935 Hunting Permit (RW2). Top left corner plate no. 131980 block of six, bottom right stamp small h.r., others Mint N.H., deep rich color, choice centeringVERY FINE. A SCARCE PLATE BLOCK OF THE SECOND HUNTING PERMIT ISSUE, SCOTT RW2.
Scott Retail as Mint N.H.
$1.00 1936 Hunting Permit (RW3). Mint N.H. top right corner plate no. 134317 block of six, deep rich color, unusually choice centering throughout, light natural gum bendsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK OF THE $1.00 1936 HUNTING PERMIT, SCOTT RW3. RARE IN SUCH SUPERB CONDITION.
Several stamps would no doubt grade very highly.
$1.00 1937 Hunting Permit (RW4). Mint N.H. bottom left plate no. 136267 block of six, warm shade, detailed impression, faint natural gum bendsVERY FINE AND CHOICE MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK OF THE $1.00 1937 HUNTING PERMIT, SCOTT RW4
This is one of the most difficult issues to find with choice centering .
California State Telegraph Co., 1871, Black and Salmon, Blue Number (5T4). Pane of six with full selvage, "104" control number, original gum, h.r., small reinforcement and faint toning at bottomFINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE COMPLETE PANE OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE TELEGRAPH 1871 ISSUE WITH CONTROL NUMBER.
Even single copies of this stamp are scarce. This pane is exceedingly rare.
Brooklyn Sanitary Fair, 10c Green, Tete-Beche Pair (WV7a). Unused (no gum), large margins all around, fresh and soundEXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THREE RECORDED TETE-BECHE PAIRS OF THE BROOKLYN SANITARY FAIR 10-CENT GREEN. A MAJOR RARITY OF THIS FASCINATING FIELD.
The two other pairs known to us were offered in Siegel Sales 766 (lot 1151) and 777 (lot 219).
With 1985 P.F. certificate
Soldier's Fair, Stamford Conn., 15c Pale Brown (WV15). Large even margins, bold part strike of red "Stamford Ct. Jul. 27" (1864) circular datestampEXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS THE FINEST OF ONLY FOUR RECORDED USED EXAMPLES OF THE STAMFORD SOLDIERS' FAIR STAMP.
There is a total of twelve recorded Stamford Soldiers' Fair stamps, issued during the fair on July 27-29, 1864. Seven form a reconstructed unused block. There is an additional unused copy and four used copies. The stamp offered here is by far the finest of the used examples.