Sale 1077 — United States Stamps and Possessions
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 29-30 July, 2014
Category — Revenues (First Issue thru Stock Transfer)
$10.00 Mortgage, Imperforate (R95a). Ample to large margins, rich color, unobtrusive light handstamp cancel, Very Fine and choice
$20.00 Probate of Will, Imperforate (R99a). Large margins, bright color, lightened manuscript cancel, small faults not clearly evident, Very Fine appearance
$200.00 U.S.I.R., Perforated (R102c). Remarkably well-centered, ms. and light herringbone cut cancel, rich colors, Very Fine
10c Blue & Black, Second Issue, Center Inverted (R109a). Unused (no gum), rich color, tiny perf thin at bottom, Fine example of this scarce Second Issue Invert, with 2014 P.F. certificate, unpriced as unused in Scott Catalogue
$200.00 Red, Blue & Black, Second Issue, "Small Persian Rug" (R132). Bright colors, bold blue "Wilkes Barre Coal & Iron Co. N.Y. Apr. 11, 1872" double-oval datestamp and manuscript cancel, tiny thin spot at bottom rightFINE APPEARING AND LOVELY EXAMPLE OF ONE OF THE MOST COLORFUL STAMPS IN UNITED STATES PHILATELY. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH THE HANDSTAMP CANCEL.
Both the Small and Large "Persian Rug" stamps were printed in sheets of one. Because of their size, the large number of perforations on each stamp, and the fact that they were used on documents which were frequently folded across the stamps, sound examples of the multicolored "Persian Rug" issues are extremely rare.
Only 446 of the small "Persian Rug" were issued. We have offered only three others with handstamp cancels in our sales since 1993 and our Rarities of the World sales since 1964, including two others with Wilkes Barre double ovals. This example is from our 1974 Rarities sale.
With 2014 P.F. certificate
2c Orange & Black, Third Issue, Center Inverted (R135b). Unused, part original gum, strong colors and clear impression, Very Fine
8c Violet Brown, "I.R." Overprint (R156). Clear overprint, intense shade on bright paper, neat "M.M. L.I.C. 7/12/98" manuscript cancellation (Michigan Mutual Life Insurance Co.), additional red ink mark, trivial inclusion, small thin spot at lower leftFINE APPEARANCE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 8-CENT "I.R." EMERGENCY PROVISIONAL OVERPRINT.
To meet the increased demands for federal revenue during the Spanish-American War, on June 13, 1898, Congress approved the War Revenue Law of 1898. The law was to become effective on July 1, 1898, leaving only seventeen days before the new stamps were needed. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing had already started work on the dies, rolls and plates in anticipation of its passage, but they were still unable to issue stamps when the law went into effect.
A large quantity of 1c and 2c stamps were printed with an "I.R." overprint (Scott R153, R154, R155 and R155A). Additionally, small quantities were produced in the 8c, 10c and 15c denominations. These issues mark the first time that the United States had to resort to surcharging. According to Sloane's Column (Jul. 31, 1948), the Michigan Mutual Life Insurance Co. handstamped copies of the 8c, 10c and 15c regular issues over a period of five days in July 1898. Sloane states these provisional revenues were brought to the philatelic market by J. E. Scott, a collector and employee of the company. J. E. Scott reported that the company used 41 copies of the 8c, 66 of the 10c and 28 of the 15c. The Scott Retail values support this relative mix of supply.
With 1966 and 2014 P.F. certificates
$5.00 Dark Blue, Surcharge Reading Up (R160). Top imprint, plate no. 137 and arrow strip of three, original gum, h.r. reinforcing some perf separations, beautifully centered, two outer stamps show wider spacing between the "$" and the "5" variety, Extremely Fine
$5.00 Dark Blue, Surcharge Reading Up (R160). Left imprint and plate no. 137 strip of three from the upper left pane, original gum, hinge reinforcements, pencil notations (front and back) regarding spacing varieties with middle stamp showing wider spacing between the "$" and the "5", top and bottom stamps each tiny thin spot, Fine-Very Fine appearance, attractive position multiple, ex Tolman and Whitpain, with 2010 P.F. certificate
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1c Carmine, Series of 1954 Without Ovpt. (R654). Mint N.H. bottom plate no. 143264 block of six, Fine-Very Fine, very few plate nos. known for Dated Documentaries (R288-R732) because margins with plate nos. were cut off the sheets, occasionally widely cut leaving traces of plate nos., this is an exceptional example showing the full plate no., illustrated in Durland catalogue with footnote stating that these plate blocks have sold for between $270.00 to $1,000.00 each
$2,500.00 and $10,000.00 Carmine, Undated Series of 1958 (R730, R732). Light ms. cancels, both well-centered, former with Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine, the $2,500.00 is quite an eye-catching stamp
3c Green and Black on Green, Proprietary (RB3b). Bottom imprint and plate no. 13 block of ten ("1" of second plate number at right), original gum, essentially Mint N.H., Fine, Scott Retail as pair and two blocks of four
$1.00 Green & Black on Violet Paper, Proprietary (RB9a). Deep rich colors, neat purple handstamp cancel, also with cut cancel which miraculously does not break thru paper, most recent certificate notes reperfed at left, Extremely Fine appearance, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate as "used" and not mentioning the cut cancel, with 2014 P.F. certificate as reperfed
5c Black, Rouletted, Proprietary (RB16c). Unused (no gum), choice margins on fresh paper, central thins and small corner flaw at top left, Very Fine appearance, with 2014 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as used
4c Purple, Proprietary Battleship, Hyphen-Hole Perforated 7 (RB30p). Right imprint and plate no. 9440 block of six, five Mint N.H., Fine-Very Fine, Durland catalogue value $1,250.00 (illustrated in the catalogue), Scott Retail as two hinged singles and hinged block of four
5c Brown Orange, Proprietary Battleship, Hyphen-Hole Perforated 7 (RB31p). Mint N.H. left imprint and plate no. 9439 block of six, Very Fine, Durland value $1,500.00 (presumably as hinged), Scott Retail as hinged
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$100.00 Green, "Series 1940" Handstamped Ovpt., Stock Transfer (RD64). Serial no. 115458, clear 1940 handstamp cancel, few staple holes, small thin spot, otherwise Very Fine
$1,000.00 Bright Green, "Series 1948" Ovpt., Stock Transfer (RD283). Serial no. 27454, purple handstamp cancel, wide margins, Extremely Fine