Sale 1007 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 8-10 March, 2011
Category — 1893 Columbian Issue Multiples (30c thru $5.00, Scott 239-245)
30c Columbian (239). Mint N.H. block of four, beautiful centering with wide margins, fresh color on bright paper, top left stamp with small natural gum bend in cornerEXTREMELY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED BLOCK OF THE 30-CENT COLUMBIAN. SCARCE WITH SUCH CHOICE CENTERING.
Scott Retail as singles
50c Columbian (240). Block of four with part imprint and plate no. 77 at bottom, original gum, narrow h.r. at junction of the four stamps and also at top, typical gum bends, Fine, Scott Retail with no premium for the position
$1.00 Columbian (241). Block of four, original gum, h.r. at junction of four stamps and at top, bright color, couple thin specks in bottom right stamp, otherwise Fine block of the $1.00 Columbian
$2.00 Columbian (242). Block of four, original gum, h.r., gorgeous intense color, tiny translucency top right stamp, couple inconsequential perf separations at left, otherwise Fine
$2.00 Columbian (242). Mint N.H. bottom imprint, plate no. 105 and letter "A A" strip of four, natural horizontal gum bend, vivid color and detailed impression, left stamp particularly choice centeringVERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE. AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER STRIP OF FOUR OF THE $4.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE. THIS IS THE FIRST WE HAVE OFFERED IN OUR SALES SINCE 1993 AND OUR RARITY SALES SINCE 1965.
A Review of Power Search revealed no full imprint or plate no. examples of the $4.00 Columbian in Mint N.H. condition -- in any size. When also considering that the only Mint N.H. examples we have sold since 1993 with any part of the printed selvage were a bottom "A A" single and a block of 20 with part imprint (in 2001), the rarity of this piece becomes even more apparent. The $2.00 plate number block of eight is believed to be unique; therefore, a strip of four is the only practical means to show the complete imprint and plate number.
Scott Retail for imprint and plate no. strip of four is $8,500.00. Scott Retail for four Mint N.H. singles, with no premium for the position
$3.00 Columbian (243). Block of four with bottom full imprint and "N" of plate no., part disturbed original gum, rich color and wide margins, small thin spot in selvage below "N"VERY FINE. A RARE IMPRINT BLOCK OF THE $3.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
This is the first block we have offered with the full imprint since our 1996 Rarities of the World sale. Scott Retail for block with original gum and no premium for the position
$4.00 Columbian (244). Block of four, slightly disturbed original gum, h.r. and small adherence on gum of bottom left stamp, fresh color and well-centered, couple perf separations at leftVERY FINE. A SCARCE BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE $4.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
Blocks are surprisingly scarce -- we have only offered four others since 2002.
$5.00 Columbian (245). Block of four, disturbed original gum and small h.r., attractive margins and strong shade, slightly folded horizontal perfs cause a couple minor separationsVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A SCARCE BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE $5.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
We have offered only four others since 2001 plus the unique plate block of eight