Sale 1251 — The John B. Field Collection of Superb United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 2-3 March, 2022
Category — 1922-25 Issues (Scott 551-573a)
-1/2c-$5.00 1922-25 Issue (551-561, 563-573). 23 Mint N.H. singles plus Mint N.H. plate no. booklet panes of 1c and 2c, lacking 10c but with two distinct shades of 11c, phenomenal centering throughout, No. 568 few natural gum skips, No. 572 with top right corner selvage, Extremely Fine Gems, a wonderful group, No. 573 with 1995 P.F. certificate
View PDF of contents of this lot
2c Carmine, Horizontal Pair, Imperforate Vertically (554a). Mint N.H., rich color, Extremely Fine, with 2009 P.F. certificate
5c Dark Blue, Imperforate Pair (557a). Mint N.H., intense shade on post-office fresh paperVERY FINE AND CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE 1922 5-CENT ROOSEVELT IMPERFORATE PAIR. VERY RARE IN MINT NEVER-HINGED CONDITION
One or two panes of 100 were issued. According to Gary Griffith, a pane was found in Stamford Conn. and was broken up by Philip Ward after numbering each stamp in pencil. A Power Search review turned up more than 20 pairs offered in our auctions since 1993, but this is one of only two we have offered in Mint N.H. condition.
With 2002 P.F. certificate for a block of four.
10c Orange, Imperforate Pair (562b). Horizontal pair, unused (no gum) as are all known examples, vivid color, ample to large margins, the usual light blue crayon has been lightened on left stamp, Very Fine, with 1977 A.P.S. certificate, according to United States Stamps 1922-26 by Gary Griffith, dealer Philip Ward purchased a pane in 1925 in Oklahoma, large areas were marked for destruction with a blue crayon
$5.00 Carmine Lake & Dark Blue (573a). Mint N.H., wide margins and fresh colors, beautiful centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $600.00)
1-1/2c Yellow Brown (553). Mint N.H. wide top plate no. F 16842 block of six, outstanding centering and margins, deep rich color, Extremely Fine Gem plate block, wonderful quality
2c Carmine (554). Mint N.H. top plate no. F 17148 and large 5-point star block of eight, vivid color, choice centering throughout, Extremely Fine, a premium quality Mint N.H. 5-point star plate block and scarce in this condition, ex Cleland
3c Violet (555). Mint N.H. top plate no. 17922 block of six, wonderfully fresh and bright, excellent centering, Extremely Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate
4c Yellow Brown (556). Mint N.H. top plate no. 16370 block of six, brilliant color, choice margins and centering, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1997 P.F. certificate
5c Dark Blue (557). Mint N.H. top plate no. 14068 block of six, deep rich color, gorgeous centering throughout, Extremely Fine, a beautiful Mint N.H. plate block, with 2012 P.S.E. certificate
6c Red Orange (558). Mint N.H. top plate no. F 16471 block of six, glowing color, choice centering, Extremely Fine, apart from the two plate blocks in this sale, we have not offered another Mint N.H. top plate block of this issue in nearly 15 years
6c Red Orange (558). Mint N.H. top plate no. F 14172 block of six, vivid color on bright paper, outstanding centeringEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED FULL TOP PLATE BLOCK OF THE 6-CENT 1922 ISSUE. RARE AS A TOP PLATE BLOCK, PARTICULARLY IN THIS QUALITY.
Apart from the two plate blocks in this sale, we have not offered another Mint N.H. top plate block of this issue in nearly 15 years.
7c Black (559). Mint N.H. top plate no. 17453 block of six with wide selvage, intense shade and impression on bright paper, perfect centering throughout, Extremely Fine Gem, a phenomenal Mint N.H. plate block, with 2013 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; plate blocks are unpriced in SMQ), it is exceedingly rare for a perforated plate block to achieve such a high grade
7c Black (559). Mint N.H. wide top plate no. F 16664 block of six, detailed impression, choice centering throughout, Extremely Fine, a beautiful plate block
8c Olive Green (560). Mint N.H. full top plate no. 17916 block of six, brilliant color, gorgeous centering throughout, Extremely Fine Gem plate block
9c Rose (561). Mint N.H. full top plate no. F 14240 block of six, vibrant color, beautiful centering, Extremely Fine, scarce in such superb condition
10c Orange (562). Mint N.H. wide top plate no. F 16389 block of six, vivid color, outstanding centering, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Curtis
12c Brown Violet (564). Mint N.H. wide top plate no. 19163 block of six, rich color, excellent centering and margins, Extremely Fine
15c Gray (566). Mint N.H. wide bottom plate no. 19463 block of six, bright color, unusually choice centering, Extremely Fine
20c Carmine Rose (567). Mint N.H. top plate no. 14562 block of six, brilliant color, phenomenal centering, Extremely Fine Gem, the bottom stamps are especially nice
20c Carmine Rose (567). Mint N.H. top plate no. 14561 block of six, rich color on bright paper, choice centering, fresh and Extremely Fine plate block
25c Yellow Green (568). Mint N.H. top plate no. 14064 block of six, rich color, gorgeous centering, top stamps light natural gum bend, Extremely Fine, scarce with such choice centering
30c Olive Brown (569). Mint N.H. top plate no. 20192 block of six, deep rich color and proof-like impression, well-balanced margins, top stamps few small natural gum skips, Extremely Fine and attractive
50c Lilac (570). Mint N.H. top plate no. 19144 block of six, pretty shade, Extremely Fine, the bottom stamps are especially choice Gems
$1.00 Violet Black (571). Mint N.H. top plate no. F 18680 block of six, deep rich color and detailed impression, well-centered, few small natural gum skips, Extremely Fine
$1.00 Violet Black (571). Mint N.H. bottom plate no. 18642 block of six, rich color, gorgeous centering, Extremely Fine Gem, the top right and top center stamps are especially nice
$2.00 Deep Blue (572). Mint N.H. top plate no. F14306 block of six, extraordinarily well-centered, fabulous color on fresh paper, Extremely Fine Gem, difficult to find this nice, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; blocks unpriced in SMQ)
$2.00 Deep Blue (572). Bottom plate no. 14306 block of six, rich color, well-balanced margins, bottom left stamp natural perf disc inclusion, Extremely Fine
$5.00 Carmine & Blue (573). Mint N.H. top plate nos. F14326/F14327 and arrow block of eight, bright colors, beautiful centering throughoutEXTREMELY FINE. A GORGEOUS MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK OF THE $5.00 1922 ISSUE.
With 2007 P.F. certificate
$5.00 Carmine Lake & Dark Blue (573a). Mint N.H. wide top arrow, marker and double plate nos. F14326/F14327 block of eight, unmistakable intense shades of the Carmine Lake and Dark Blue, exceptional centering throughout with beautifully balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK OF THE ELUSIVE $5.00 1922 CARMINE LAKE & DARK BLUE HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. THIS IS THE FINEST MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK WE HAVE OFFERRED.
While the normal color Scott 573 plate block is relatively easy to find, the Scott 573a plate block is nearly impossible to find in this superior condition. A Power Search review emphasizes this fact. We have offered only two others in sound Mint N.H. condition since keeping computerized records (a third example received a certificate as the normal 573) and none had the centering to match this gem. We also offered one in our Gross sale which was missing the vignette plate (realized $32,500 hammer)
With 2017 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; Plate blocks unpriced in SMQ)