Sale 1162 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 25-26 July, 2017
Category — National Parks and Modern Errors incl. Upright Jenny Sheet (Scott 740a-4806d)
1c Yosemite, Vertical Pair, Imperforate Horizontally (740a). Bottom margin block of four, small h.r., rich color, Pos. 31-32/41-42 and "S.A." (Spencer Anderson) lightly noted in pencil on gum, natural s.e. at leftEXTREMELY FINE. A RARE MULTIPLE OF THE ONE-CENT PARKS ISSUE IMPERFORATE HORIZONTALLY.
Datz states sixteen pairs or strips of three are known. With 1994 P.F. certificate (small part of bottom margin cut off since then for aesthetic purposes). Scott Retail as two pairs
2c Grand Canyon, Vertical Pair, Imperforate Horizontally (741a). Mint N.H., far better centering than typically seen, bright color on fresh white paper, Extremely Fine, certainly one of the finest pairs known, only 2-3 panes recorded, ex Floyd, with 1994 P.F. certificate
2c Grand Canyon, Horizontal Pair, Imperforate Vertically (741b). Sheet margin at right, lightly hinged, fresh color, Fine, with 2017 P.F. certificate
3c Mt. Ranier, Vertical Pair, Imperforate Horizontally (742a). Mint N.H. with bottom sheet margin and part arrow, natural s.e. at left, wide margins, fresh color, light natural gum bend and tiny gum skip not mentioned on accompany certificate, Very Fine and choice, only one pane discovered, with 1969 P.F. certificate
4c Mesa Verde, Vertical Pair, Imperforate Horizontally (743a). Original gum with brown Post Office paper affixed to back prior to perforating, impressively well-centered, rich color, Extremely Fine and rare, Datz states 6-9 of the 15 known examples have this post office paper adherence, with 1976, 1982 and 2006 P.F. certificates
7c Acadia, Horizontal Pair, Imperforate Vertically (746a). Mint N.H., well-centered with wide margins, intense shade and impression, Very Fine and choice, with 2016 P.F. certificate
4c Masaryk, Vertical Pair, Imperforate Between (1147a). Mint N.H., wonderfully fresh, Very Fine, a rare perforation error, the Datz book records only 10 pairs
6c Christmas, Black Omitted (1415b). Mint N.H., fresh colors, Very Fine, a striking error, Datz reports only 5-6 examples recorded
6c Christmas, Black Omitted (1417b). Mint N.H., Very Fine, an eye-catching error, Datz reports only 5-6 examples recorded, with 2016 P.F. certificate
6c Christmas, Black Omitted (1418d). Mint N.H., fresh and Very Fine, rare as Datz reports only 5-6 examples recorded, with 2016 P.F. certificate
10c U.S. Postal Service Bicentennial, Block of Four, Red 10c Omitted (1575b). Mint N.H. bottom right "Use Zip Code" block of all four designs, pos. 2 with slight trace of a fingerprint, centered slightly to top as all known blocks, Fine and extremely rare, Datz states only 6-8 blocks known with this as the unique "Zip" block, only the second block we have offered since keeping computerized records, listed but unpriced in Scott, Datz value
20c Waterfowl Preservation Act, Misplaced Perfs (2092 var). Mint N.H. bottom right plate no. 19 pane of fifty, dramatic diagonal perfs severely shifted to the right, Very Fine
32c Chinese New Year (Rat), Imperforate (3060a). Mint N.H. complete pane of 20 with plate nos. in each corner, Very Fine, likely only few exist as Datz mentions "at least 2 panes", Scott Retail as pairs
32c 1996 Summer Olympics, Se-Tenant Pane of 20, Imperforate (3068u). Mint N.H., Very Fine
34c Lucille Ball, Die Cutting Omitted (3523a). Mint N.H. complete pane of 20, smudge on reverse of no consequence, fresh and Very Fine, Datz states "at least 7 panes", Scott Retail as pairs
$2.00 Red & Blue, Non-Inverted Jenny Error Sheet (4806d). Intact pane of six self-adhesive stamps with souvenir sheet design in margin, choice centering, back of pane indicates plate position (this is the bottom right of the six positions), accompanied by congratulatory sheet which accompanied the pane in the envelopeEXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE NON-INVERTED JENNY SHEET. ONLY 100 WERE DISTRIBUTED TO RANDOM POST OFFICES AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND ONLY APPROXIMATELY 30 HAVE BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE POSTAL SERVICE. A PHENOMENAL MODERN RARITY.
According to the U.S. Postal Service's website (http://about.usps.com/postal-bulletin/2013/pb22371/html/info_003.htm ) and other sources, the $2.00 Inverted Jenny souvenir sheet went on sale nationwide September 22, 2013, and a ceremony was held on that day at the National Postal Museum. The souvenir sheet was printed using the intaglio printing process and plates made from the original dies used to produce the 1918 24c Air Post stamp (Scott C3). The denomination was changed to make it easily distinguishable from the original. The souvenir sheet background depicts the original airmail route, the National Postal Museum, and aviation pioneer Reuben H. Fleet.
A special automatic distribution was done to all post offices. Pre-orders and re-orders through stamp distribution offices or centers were not allowed once original automatic distribution quantities were sold. A total of 13,200,600 stamps were printed, which translates into 2,200,100 souvenir sheets of six. They were printed six souvenir sheets at a time, and their position on the plate is noted on back of each. The sheets were sold individually wrapped in cellophane, which collectors questioned at the time of issue.
The reason for the odd quantity and cellophane wrapping was revealed shortly after the release of the souvenir sheets, when an upright example was discovered by a collector in Ontario, Canada. The USPS then revealed that 100 had been created and randomly seeded throughout their distribution system. The cellophane wrappers were used to prevent searching through stocks for the upright designs -- souvenir sheets with opened cellophane were not returnable.
As of November 2016, Linn's Stamp News reported that only 30 had been registered with the Postal Service. While there are some that have been discovered and not reported, it seems likely that the majority of the 100 sheets remain undiscovered. As of October 2016, the sheets are no longer available from Stamp Fulfillment Services.