Sale 1227 — Outstanding United States Stamps and Gold Coins
Sale Date — Monday-Friday, 19-23 October, 2020
Category — 1c- 50c 1893 Columbian Issue (Scott 230-240)
1c Columbian (230). Top left corner imprint, plate no. 163 and letter "O O" at left block of ten, stamps Mint N.H., lightly hinged in ungummed portion of selvage so counted by us as Mint N.H., deep rich color on bright paper, fresh and Fine-Very Fine, Scott value as Mint N.H. plate block and two singles
2c Columbian (231). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression, extraordinary Jumbo margins and perfect centering, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb one-in-ten-million stamp, with 2019 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $1,900.00), only three grade higher, but frankly this stamp is superior to the 100 and 100J stamps we could find, which begs the question, "if this isn't a 100J, then what is?"
3c Columbian (232). Mint N.H., wonderful depth of color and detailed impression, wide margins and essentially perfect centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2019 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $1,875.00)
3c Columbian (232). Bottom imprint, plate no. 57 and letter "L" at left block of eight, original gum, lightly hinged, crisp impression, Fine-Very Fine
3c-4c Columbian (232-233). Mint N.H. blocks of four, rich colors, Fine-Very Fine, Scott value as singles
4c Columbian (233). Bottom imprint, plate no. 18 and letter "D" at right block of eight, original gum, lightly hinged, remarkably well-centered, fresh color, Extremely Fine, a select quality plate block, with 1992 P.F. certificate
4c Columbian (233). Mint N.H. bottom imprint, plate no. 17 and letter "D" at right block of eight, rich color, fresh and Fine
4c Columbian (233). Bottom left corner imprint, plate no. 20 and letter "D" at left block of ten, original gum, top stamps lightly hinged, bottom stamps mostly Mint N.H., brilliant color, top right stamp small thin spot, overall Fine, Scott value as plate block of eight and two singles
4c Columbian (233). Mint N.H., deep rich color and on crisp paper, essentially perfect centering with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
With 2008 P.F. (Superb 98) and 2014 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $2,150.00). Only three grade higher.
4c Columbian, Error of Color (233a). Mint N.H., deep rich color on bright paper, margins clear of design all aroundFRESH AND FINE. A RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT COLUMBIAN ERROR OF COLOR.
The 4c Columbian color error was caused by the use of a wrong batch of ink, and spectrographic analysis has shown that the blue inks of the 4c error and 1c Columbian have the same components.
Stamps from at least two panes reached collectors, and the few cancelled examples indicate that stamps used by the public came from additional panes. It is likely that a number of full sheets were printed using the wrong ink, and most of the stamps have simply been lost to philately.
With 2018 P.F. certificate
5c Columbian (234). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression, well-balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2002 and 2013 P.F. certificates (XF 90)
5c Columbian (234). Mint N.H., magnificent wide margins, deep rich color, Extremely Fine, with 1999 and 2003 P.F. certificates
5¢ Columbian (234), Mint N.H. top imprint, plate no. 6 and letter "B" at right block of eight, choice centering and margins, deep rich color on post-office fresh paper, shallow thin spot in ungummed selvage at rightEXTREMELY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED TOP POSITION PLATE BLOCK OF EIGHT OF THE 5-CENT COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
Ex Floyd and Gross.
5c Columbian (234). Bottom imprint, plate no. 6 and letter "B" at left block of eight, original gum, lightly hinged, bright shade, fresh and Fine-Very Fine
5c Columbian (234). Bottom imprint, plate no. 7 and letter "B" at left block of eight, original gum, not hinged but right stamps have small gum soak between perfs at edge where slightly reinforced, fresh color, Fine, ex "Silver Lake"
5c Columbian (234). Top imprint, plate no. 8 and letter "B" at left block of eight, original gum, h.r. where perf separations are reinforced at left, rich color, Fine
5c Columbian (234). Mint N.H. bottom imprint, plate no. 10 and letter "B" at right block of eight, bright shade and crisp impression, trivial corner crease in bottom left selvage below the plate no., Fine
5c Columbian (234). Bottom left corner imprint, plate no. 7 and letter "B" at left block of ten, original gum, four end stamps Mint N.H., rich color, small sealed tear in selvage below "American" and minor creasing in corner selvage, Fine-Very Fine, Scott value as plate block of eight plus two Mint N.H. singles
6c Columbian (235). Bottom imprint, plate no. 104 and letter "Z" at left block of eight, original gum, stamps Mint N.H., hinged in selvage only, brilliant color, well-centered, Very Fine, a fresh and choice plate block with Mint N.H. stamps, with 1992 P.F. certificate, Scott value as hinged
6c Columbian (235). Mint N.H. bottom left corner imprint, plate no. 104 and letter "Z" at left block of ten, rich color on bright paper, few natural gum creases, Fine-Very Fine, Scott value as plate block of eight and two singles
6c Columbian (235). Bottom right corner imprint, plate no. 104 and letter "Z" at right block of ten, original gum, lightly hinged at center, six stamps Mint N.H., fresh color, blue crayon "13" in selvage, few minor perf separations, Fine-Very Fine, Scott value as hinged plate block of eight and two Mint N.H. singles
8c Columbian (236). Mint N.H., deep shade, Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine, with 2003 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90 Jumbo; SMQ $775.00)
8c Columbian (236). Bottom imprint and plate no. 131 block of eight, original gum, barely hinged, deep rich color, few trivial perf separations, well-centered throughout, Extremely Fine, ex "Silver Lake"
8c Columbian (236). Bottom imprint and plate no. 130 block of six, rich color, choice centering, a few perf separations and tiny selvage tear at bottom, still Very Fine
10c Columbian (237). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression, gorgeous centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1997 and 2006 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95)
10¢ Columbian (237), Mint N.H. top imprint and plate no. 100 block of six, choice centering and margins, intense shadeFINE-VERY FINE AND FRESH MINT NEVER HINGED TOP POSITION PLATE BLOCK OF SIX OF THE 10-CENT COLUMBIAN.
Ex Gross
10c Columbian (237). Bottom imprint, plate no. 99 and letter "Y" at left block of eight, original gum, narrow h.r. reinforcing perf separations, light vertical crease thru positions 3/5, position 3 also with narrow faint hinge thin at top, otherwise Fine
15c Columbian (238). Mint N.H., beautiful rich color, choice balanced margins, natural straw inclusion on back is invisible with stamp mounted on a page, Extremely Fine, with 1985 P.F. certificate
15c Columbian (238). Block of four, original gum, h.r., rich color, Very Fine-Extremely Fine, with 2018 P.F. certificate
15c Columbian (238). Bottom imprint and plate no. 58 block of six, original gum, rich color, top left and right stamps small thin spots, appears Fine
30c Columbian (239). Mint N.H., rich color, detailed impression on bright paper, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $2,400.00)
30c Columbian (239). Top imprint and plate no. 59 block of six, original gum, single h.r. at right reinforcing a few perf separations, rich color, right pair with light diagonal creaseFINE-VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A SCARCE TOP IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF SIX OF THE 30-CENT COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
Outside of this sale, which contains three top plate blocks (a block of eight is offered in lot 3048), we have offered only one other top position plate block of the 30c Columbian since 2010
30c Columbian (239). Top imprint and plate no. 59 block of six, original gum, slightly disturbed on top right stamp, bright color, minor wrinkling in plate no. selvageFINE. A SCARCE AND ATTRACTIVE TOP IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF SIX OF THE 30-CENT COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
Outside of this sale, which contains three top plate blocks (a block of eight is offered in lot 3048), we have offered only one other top position plate block of the 30c Columbian since 2010
50c Columbian (240). Mint N.H., deep rich color, fresh and Very Fine, with 2000 and 2007 P.F. certificates
50c Columbian (240). Original gum, beautifully balanced margins, intense shade, Extremely Fine, with 2001 P.S.E. certificate
50c Columbian (240). Bottom margin block of four with full imprint, tropicalized original gum, small h.r. at top left, deep shade and sharp impression, bottom right stamp with tiny thin speck, appears Fine-Very Fine, Scott value without premium for the imprint
50c Columbian (240). Bottom imprint and plate no. 77 block of six, original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich color, reinforced perf separations including all perfs between positions 2-3, diagonal crease thru right pairFINE APPEARING PLATE BLOCK OF THE 50-CENT COLUMBIAN.
The 50c Columbian is the first value of the series that was printed in much more limited quantities, with 243,750 copies versus more than 617,000 of the 30c and millions of each of the 1c-15c (or more than a billion in the case of the 2c). It is scarce as a plate block, and it exists only from the bottom position due to the way the sheets from the 100-subject plates were cut and perforated (the $4.00 also exists only as a bottom plate block -- all the other Columbian values have top and bottom plate blocks)
50c Columbian (240). Block of four, well-centered, intense shade and proof-like impression, light strikes of circular datestamp cancel, fresh and Very Fine block, choice quality, ex Twigg-Smith, with 2001 P.F. certificate