Sale 1003 — Specialized U.S. Collections, Air Post, Foreign Stamps & Covers
Sale Date — Wednesday-Friday, 15-17 December, 2010
Category — War Department Issues (Specimens and SEPCIMEN Errors)
1c-90c War, "Specimen" Overprints (O83S-O93S). Without gum as issued, rich colors with some interesting shade variety, mix of centering, perfs mostly clear, couple small flaws but several of the key values are soundFINE APPEARING AND SCARCE COMPLETE SET OF THE WAR DEPARTMENT "SPECIMEN" SPECIAL PRINTINGS.
The Official stamps were included in the Special Printings that were on sale at the 1876 Centennial Exposition and from the 3rd Assistant Postmaster General. However, in order to prevent use by the public they were overprinted "Specimen." This made them relatively unpopular and for the 3c, 6c, 10c, 12c, 15c, 24c, 30c and 90c values it is estimated that only slightly more than 100 of each were sold
1c War, "Sepcimen" Error (O83Sa). Without gum as issued, bright color and unusually choice centering, light corner crease at top left, appears Very Fine, with 2010 P.F. certificate
1c War, "Specimen" Ovpt. (O83S). Horizontal block of 24 with left selvage, without gum as issued, bright color, minor separation, Fine-Very Fine, beautiful showpiece, ex Sheriff
1c War, Specimen Ovpt. (O83S). Block of 90, lacking the top row to be complete sheet, imprint and plate no. 48 at bottom, Position 21 of the pane with "SEPCIMEN" overprint, without gum as issued, bright color, choice centering, few reinforced perf separations, few small flaws incl. one stamp at right sealed tear, Very Fine appearance, a scarce and desirable multiple, Scott Retail as 19 blocks of four, 13 singles and the error
2c War, "Sepcimen" Error (O84Sa). Without gum as issued, rich color, reperfed at left, appears Fine, with 2010 P.F. certificate
2c War, "Sepcimen" Error (O84Sa). Position 5 in a block of eight from the right pane of 100, with split arrow & part imprint at top, without gum as issued, rich color, error with wide margins to just touching at top, crease thru bottom pair of block well away from the error and of little consequenceAN EXTREMELY RARE PART IMPRINT BLOCK OF EIGHT OF THE 2-CENT WAR ISSUE WITH THE "SEPCIMEN" OVERPRINT ERROR.
As far as we know, the "Sepcimen" overprint error only comes from Position 21, the lefthand stamp in the third row of the pane. The 2c and 3c War Department stamps were printed from plates with two panes of 100 subjects, side by side. A straight edge is therefore possible if the error stamp comes from the right pane of 100, as with the example here. The other War Department values were printed from plates of 100 subjects and are perforated at the left edge. A footnote to the Official "Specimen" overprints in the Scott Catalog states "Blocks of four or larger with the 'Sepcimen' error are rare and worth much more than the value of the individual stamps."
Ex Sheriff. Scott Retail as single error $2,000.00
2c War, Specimen Ovpt. (O84S). Block of 40 with bottom imprint and plate no. 35 selvage, natural s.e. with part arrow at left, without gum as issued, bright color, choice centering, few perf separations sensibly reinforced, one stamp at top natural inclusion, bottom left stamp tiny corner crease, scissors-separated with intact perfs at right, Extremely Fine appearance, a rare large multiple, Scott Retail as six blocks of four, plate block of twelve and four singles
3c War, "Sepcimen" Error (O85Sa). Without gum as issued, soft pastel color on fresh paper, centered a bit left but perfs clear, completely soundFINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT WAR DEPARTMENT ISSUE WITH THE "SEPCIMEN" OVERPRINT ERROR.
From the "Framingham Find" and ex Sheriff. With 2010 P.F. certificate
7c War, "Sepcimen" Error (O87Sa). Without gum as issued, rich color, three wide margins, in at top, light horizontal crease and few ink stained perfs at topVERY GOOD APPEARING AND RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 7-CENT WAR DEPARTMENT ISSUE WITH THE "SEPCIMEN" OVERPRINT ERROR.
From the "Framingham Find". With 2010 P.F. certificate
7c War, Specimen Ovpt. (O87S). Block of ten, without gum as issued, radiant color, fresh and Fine, a scarce multiple, Scott Retail as two blocks of four and two singles
10c War, "Sepcimen" Error (O88Sa). Without gum as issued, attractive soft color, wide margins at top and sides, close to barely touching at bottom, slightly shorter perf at leftFINE. AN ATTRACTIVE AND EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT WAR DEPARTMENT ISSUE WITH THE "SEPCIMEN" OVERPRINT ERROR. THIS IS THE ONLY EXAMPLE WE FOUND IN A REVIEW OF AUCTION CATALOGS AND POWER SEARCH.
From the "Framingham Find". With 2010 P.F. certificate
12c War, "Sepcimen" Error (O89Sa). Without gum as issued, deep rich color, margins wide to clear at right, toned spot on back does not show through on frontFINE AND EXTREMELY RARE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT WAR DEPARTMENT ISSUE WITH THE "SEPCIMEN" OVERPRINT ERROR.
From the "Framingham Find". With 2010 P.F. certificate
15c War, "Sepcimen" Error (O90Sa). Without gum as issued, soft shade, choice centering, pulled perf at leftVERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT WAR DEPARTMENT ISSUE WITH THE "SEPCIMEN" OVERPRINT ERROR. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE.
From the "Framingham Find". With 2010 P.F. certificate
24c War, "Sepcimen" Error (O91Sa). Without gum as issued, rich color, clear margins, slightly pulled perf at left and couple small tears at lower left and bottomFINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT WAR DEPARTMENT ISSUE WITH THE "SEPCIMEN" OVERPRINT ERROR. A GREAT HIGH VALUE OFFICIAL RARITY.
From the "Framingham Find". With 2010 P.F. certificate mentioning the small tears but not the pulled perf
30c War, "Sepcimen" Error (O92Sa). Without gum as issued, rich color, centered to lower right, pulled perf at upper left and short perf at lower leftFINE APPEARING AND RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT WAR DEPARTMENT ISSUE WITH THE "SEPCIMEN" OVERPRINT ERROR.
From the "Framingham Find". With 2010 P.F. certificate
90c War, "Sepcimen" Error (O93Sa). Without gum as issued, light color which the P.F. calls slightly faded, nice centering for this difficult issueFINE APPEARING AND EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT WAR DEPARTMENT ISSUE WITH THE "SEPCIMEN" OVERPRINT ERROR.
From the "Framingham Find". With 2010 P.F. certificate