Sale 1219 — The Edward Morton Collection of Outstanding Quality U.S. Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 8-9 April, 2020
Category — Air Post
6c Orange, 1918 Air Post (C1). Mint N.H., vibrant color as fresh as the day it was printed, mathematically perfect centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT ORANGE AIR POST ISSUE, WITH THE PERFECT P.S.E. GRADE OF GEM 100.
With 2009 and 2014 P.S.E. certificates (Gem 100; SMQ $7,500.00). Only one grades higher at 100J and only one other shares this perfect grade.
6c Orange, 1918 Air Post (C1). Vibrant color and near perfect centering, light cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2011 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $500.00), the highest grade awarded and shared by only three others
16c Green, 1918 Air Post (C2). Mint N.H., exceptionally choice centering with wide and balanced margins, vivid color, fresh and bright, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp, with 2014 P.S.A.G. certificate (100 og NH)
16c Green, 1918 Air Post (C2). Near mathematically perfect centering, bright color, neat double oval cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb used example, with 2012 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $525.00), only one grades higher (at 100) and five share this lofty grade
24c Carmine Rose & Blue, 1918 Air Post (C3). Mint N.H., mathematically perfect centering with wide margins, deep rich colors and proof-like impressionsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE ICONIC 24-CENT 1918 AIR POST ISSUE, WITH THE PERFECT P.S.E. GRADE OF GEM 100.
With 2010 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $3,250.00). Only three other Scott C3s share this perfect grade, with none higher. Remarkably, despite offering the majority of the existing Scott C3a 24c inverts over the years, this is the first Gem 100 Scott C3 the Siegel firm has offered at auction
24c Carmine Rose & Blue, 1918 Air Post (C3). Mathematically perfect centering, vivid colors, neat New York 1922 double oval cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THE PERFECT USED 24-CENT 1918 AIR POST ISSUE, GRADED GEM 100 BY P.S.E. THIS IS THE SOLE EXAMPLE WITH THIS PERFECT GRADE.
With 2014 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $1,300.00). This is the only used Scott C3 with the Gem 100 grade (none higher)
8c Dark Green, 1923 Air Post (C4). Mint N.H., perfectly centered, beautiful rich color on fresh white paper, Extremely Fine Gem, a truly superb stamp, with 2013 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $1,150.00). Only one grades higher and six others share this perfect grade.
8c Dark Green, 1923 Air Post (C4). Mathematically perfect centering, deep rich color on crisp paper, attractive circular datestamp cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a sensational used C4, ex Helton, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $1,200.00), this is the highest grade awarded to a used example and it is equaled by only one other
16c Dark Blue, 1923 Air Post (C5). Mint N.H., rich color on bright paper, gorgeous centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2012 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $1,350.00), only two grade higher (at 98J and 100)
16c Dark Blue, 1923 Air Post (C5). Jumbo margins and precise centering, rich color complemented by purple and black cancels, Extremely Fine Gem, a huge used Scott C5 which would be very difficult to improve upon, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $700.00), this is the sole used example at this lofty grade, with none higher
24c Carmine, 1923 Air Post (C6). Mint N.H., mathematically perfect centering, vivid color on post office fresh paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SPECTACULAR MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1923 24-CENT AIR POST ISSUE, GRADED GEM 100 BY P.S.E.
With 2014 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $3,250.00). This is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by only eight others
24c Carmine, 1923 Air Post (C6). Mathematically perfect centering, vivid color, neat parallel bars machine cancel, bright and fresh, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb used Scott C6, with 2013 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $1,100.00), only one other used stamp equals this grade, which is the highest awarded
24c Carmine, 1923 Air Post (C6). Near perfect centering with wide and balanced margins, neat vignette-free cancel, bold color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $475.00)
10c Map, Air Post (C7). Mint N.H., mathematically perfect centering, bright shade, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $1,350.00), only two grade higher and three others share this desirable grade
10c Map, Air Post (C7). Mathematically perfect centering, rich color, large circular datestamp cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2013 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $500.00), only one grades higher and none share this desirable grade
15c Map, Air Post (C8). Mint N.H., rich color, perfectly centered, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful stamp, with 2016 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $1,200.00), only two grade higher and seven others share this perfect grade
20c Map, Air Post (C9). Mint N.H., massive Jumbo margins and mathematically perfect centering, bright color on post-office fresh paper, Extremely Fine Gem, an astonishing example of this issue, with 2017 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100 Jumbo; SMQ $1,300.00 as 100, unpriced in the 100 Jumbo grade), one of only two at this grade, which is the highest recorded
20c Map, Air Post (C9). Mathematically perfect centering, rich color, neat wavy-lines machine cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb used example, with 2015 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $750.00), only one grades higher and none share this desirable grade
10c Lindbergh, Air Post (C10). Mint N.H., mathematically perfect centering with wide margins, post-office fresh color and paper, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2011 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $900.00), one of only four at this perfect grade with just one higher, the SMQ value is woefully out of date as the last examples we offered realized $2,100 and $1,400 hammer
10c Lindbergh, Air Post (C10). Mathematically perfect centering, rich color, neat oval grid cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb used example, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $725.00), only one grades higher and none share this desirable grade
5c Beacon, Air Post (C11). Mathematically precise centering with Jumbo margins, remarkably fresh color nicely complemented by vignette-free blue cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, an outstanding stamp in every respect, ex Helton, with 2018 P.F. and 2012 P.S.E. certificates (Gem 100 Jumbo; SMQ $650.00 as 100, unpriced in the 100 Jumbo grade), this is the highest grade possible and it is shared by only one other
5c Winged Globe, Air Post (C12). Mint N.H., exceptional wide margins and mathematically precise centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2019 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $1,500.00), one of only ten at this perfect grade, which is the highest awarded
5c Winged Globe, Air Post (C12). Mathematically perfect centering with Jumbo margins, deep rich color, neat wavy-line machine cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a truly superb stamp, with 2015 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100 Jumbo; SMQ $600.00 as 100, unpriced in the 100 Jumbo grade), this is the highest grade possible and it is shared by only one other
65c Graf Zeppelin (C13). Mint N.H., mathematically precise centering with wide margins, bright color and detailed impressionEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 65-CENT GRAF ZEPPELIN, WITH THE PERFECT P.S.E. GRADE OF GEM 100.
The Graf Zeppelin issue is extremely difficult to obtain in Gem 100 grade. For the 65c, four are graded 100 and two are graded 100 Jumbo. For the $1.30, nine are graded 100 with none graded 100 Jumbo. For the $2.60, only one is graded 100 and one is graded 100 Jumbo.
With 2013 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $4,450.00)
$1.30 Graf Zeppelin (C14). Mint N.H., with right plate no. 20088 selvage, intense color and sharp proof-like impression, mathematically perfect centering with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SPECTACULAR MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE NUMBER EXAMPLE OF THE $1.30 GRAF ZEPPELIN ISSUE, GRADED GEM 100 BY P.S.E.
With 2016 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $7,500.00). This is the highest grade awarded in any category.
$1.30 Graf Zeppelin (C14). Perfectly centered with Jumbo margins all around, crisp impression on bright white paper, neat wavy-line machine cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SPECTACULAR USED EXAMPLE OF THE $1.30 GRAF ZEPPELIN ISSUE, GRADED SUPERB 98 JUMBO BY P.S.E.
With 2013 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $3,000.00). This is the only example to achieve this grade in the P.S.E. Population Report, with only one higher (at 100)
$2.60 Graf Zeppelin (C15). Mint N.H., exceptional centering and margins, intense shade on post-office fresh paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A GORGEOUS MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $2.60 GRAF ZEPPELIN ISSUE, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
With 2012 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $5,000.00). Only the 100J sold in our 2006 "Scarsdale" sale and one other stamp graded 100 have exceeded the grade of the stamp offered here.
65c-$2.60 Graf Zeppelin (C13-C15). 65c with duplex cancel, $1.30 and $2.60 with slogan machine cancels, each with precise centering and wide margins, fresh colors and bright paperEXTREMELY FINE GEMS. A REMARKABLE USED SET OF THE 1930 GRAF ZEPPELIN ISSUE, EACH GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADED USED MATCHED SET.
This is only the second time we have offered a used matched set of the 1930 Graf Zeppelin Issue graded Superb 98. The rarity of high grade used examples should not be underestimated. For the 65c there are only six used stamps graded 98 with none higher (compared to 58 Mint N.H. examples graded 98 or higher). For the $1.30, only two used stamps have exceeded a 98 grade (compared to 14 Mint N.H. graded higher than 98). For the $2.60, only seven used stamps are graded 98 with only one higher (compared to 49 Mint N.H. graded 98 plus two higher). Despite these relative populations, the SMQ value for a matched Superb 98 set in Mint N.H. condition is nearly double that for a used set.
With 2016 (65c), 2009 ($1.30) and 2017 ($2.60) P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; total SMQ $6,100.00).
65c-$2.60 Graf Zeppelin (C13-C15). Rich colors, tied by easily readable "Washington D.C. Apr. 19 5PM 1930" First Day duplex datestamp and oval grid cancel on cacheted cover addressed to Fred J. Plant in Washington D.C., additional strike of duplex at bottom right, Friedrichschafen and New York backstamps, includes round trip cachetVERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL FLOWN FIRST DAY COVER WITH ALL THREE DENOMINATIONS OF THE GRAF ZEPPELIN ISSUE.
With 2007 and 2019 P.F. certificates
65c-$2.60 Graf Zeppelin (C13-C15). Complete set, each tied to piece by "Chicago Ill. Apr. 19, 4PM" First Day cancels, stamps are well-centered, a few perf tips show just a faint bit of toning, still Very Fine-Extremely Fine, with clear 1985 P.F. certificates
5c Winged Globe, Air Post (C16). Mint N.H., wide margins and exceptional centering, rich color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2017 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $750.00), only seven grade higher
50c Chicago Zeppelin (C18). Mint N.H., wide margins and mathematically perfect centering, bright color on fresh paper, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2013 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $1,200.00), one of six at this perfect grade with only one higher
6c Winged Globe, Air Post (C19). Mint N.H., outstanding centering with Jumbo margins, vibrant color on post-office fresh paper, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb and huge stamp, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $1,950.00), only two grade higher (at 100) and only two others share this desirable grade
25c Trans-Pacific, Air Post (C20). Mint N.H., flawless centering with wide margins, brilliantly color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $500.00), only one example grades higher
50c Trans-Pacific, Air Post (C22). Mint N.H. with wide bottom selvage, mathematically perfect centering, vivid color, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $750.00), only five others have equaled this grade with none higher
6c-50c 1941 Transport, Air Post (C25-C31). Mint N.H. set, essentially perfect centering throughout, fresh and Extremely Fine Gems, each with P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; total SMQ $1,165.00)
Air Post Issues, High Grade Balance (C7/C24). Seven Mint N.H. P.S.E. graded stamps, including Nos. C7 (98), C8 (98), C10 (98, plate no. selvage), C17 (95), C21 (95), C23 (95) and C24 (95), bright and fresh throughout, Extremely Fine Gems, total SMQ $1,445.00