Sale 1199 — Gem-Quality United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 1-2 May, 2019
Category — Air Post
Lot
Symbol
Photo/Description
Cat./Est. Value
Realized
1557
6c Orange, 1918 Air Post (C1). Centerline block of four, exceptionally choice centering throughout, brilliant color, central strike of "Brooklyn N.Y. Rec'd. Sta. B Apr. 4, 1919 5pm" circular datestamp, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb used position block, with 2019 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; blocks unpriced in SMQ)
150
0
1558
16c Green, 1918 Air Post (C2). Mint N.H. with top plate no. 8900 selvage, Jumbo margins and outstanding centering, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp, with 2013 P.S.A.G. certificate (100J ogNH)
120
2,000
Back to Top1559
16c Green, 1918 Air Post (C2). Mint N.H., brilliant color and detailed impression, precise centering with wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2013 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $1,375.00), only one grades higher (at 100)
120
1,100
Back to Top1560
24c Carmine Rose & Blue, 1918 Air Post (C3). Mint N.H., beautifully balanced margins, fresh and bright, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2012 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $1,375.00)
130
1,800
Back to Top1561
24c Carmine Rose & Blue, 1918 Air Post (C3). Mint N.H., large balanced margins with choice centering, deep rich colors, vignette shifted forward and approaching the "fast plane", Extremely Fine Gem, with 2002 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $425.00 without any premium for the vignette shift)
130
325
Back to Top1562
16c Dark Blue, 1923 Air Post (C5). Mint N.H., deep rich color on bright paper, wide margins and near perfect centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2011 P.F. certificate (Superb 98)
120
850
Back to Top1563
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 $675.00), only one grades higher and three others share this desirable grade, we are at a loss as to the meager SMQ value of $675.00 -- the last two stamps graded 100 we sold realized $3,000 hammer (in 2016) and $1,600 hammer
4
1,500
Back to Top1564
15c Map (C8). Mint N.H., rich color, mathematically perfect centering, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp, with 2013 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $600.00), as with the C7 offered in the previous lot, the meager SMQ value of $600.00 puzzles us -- each of the the last four 100-point stamps we have sold realized at least $1,000 hammer, with one in 2016 bringing $3,750 hammer
4
1,100
Back to Top1565
20c Map (C9). Mint N.H., perfect centering with wide margins, bright color on post-office fresh paper, Extremely Fine Gem, an exceptional 20c Map in the finest condition, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $650.00), one of only five at this grade with just two higher, as with the C7 and C8 offered in the previous lots, the meager SMQ value of $650.00 is mystifying -- the two 100-point stamps we have sold realized $2,600 hammer (in 2016) and $3,750 hammer
12
1,200
Back to Top1566
10c Lindbergh, Air Post (C10). Mint N.H., bright color and detailed impression, outstanding centering with Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $525.00)
12
600
Back to Top1567
10c Lindbergh, Air Post (C10). Mint N.H., bright color and detailed impression, perfect centering with wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2019 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $375.00)
12
275
Back to Top1568
5c Beacon (C11). Mint N.H., exceptional centering with wide margins, rich colors, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $325.00), surprisingly scarce in the highest grades with only seven graded higher than this 98
10
600
Back to Top1569
5c Winged Globe, Air Post (C12). Mint N.H., choice centering and margins, bright and fresh, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $350.00)
17
400
Back to Top1570
65c Graf Zeppelin (C13). Mint N.H., wide and balanced margins, rich color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $650.00)
250
550
Back to Top1571
65c Graf Zeppelin (C13). Wide margins and essentially perfect centering, light corner strike of circular datestamp leaves entire design clearly visible, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp, with 2019 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $900.00), this is the highest grade awarded to a used C13 and only three others have equaled it
150
1,400
Back to Top1572
$1.30-$2.60 Graf Zeppelin (C14-C15). Choice centering and margins, neat cancels, $1.30 Extremely Fine, with 1992 and 2000 P.F. certificates, $2.60 Extremely Fine, with 1998 and 2003 P.F. certificates
900
475
Back to Top1573
$1.30 Graf Zeppelin (C14). Mint N.H. with bottom plate no. 20087 selvage, outstanding centering with wide margins, marvelous rich colorEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE NUMBER SINGLE OF THE $1.30 GRAF ZEPPELIN ISSUE.
With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $3,000.00)
550
5,000
Back to Top1574
$1.30 Graf Zeppelin (C14). Mint N.H., excellent centering, intense color, Extremely Fine, with 1997 P.F. certificate
550
700
Back to Top1575
$2.60 Graf Zeppelin (C15). Mint N.H. with left plate no. 20091 wide selvage, intense shade and proof-like impression, beautifully centered on bright paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE NUMBER SINGLE OF THE $2.60 GRAF ZEPPELIN ISSUE, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. -- ONLY TWO GRADE HIGHER.
With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $4,250.00). Only two grade higher
925
5,000
Back to Top1576
$2.60 Graf Zeppelin (C15). Mint N.H., rich color, choice centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2019 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,750.00)
925
1,800
Back to Top1577
$2.60 Graf Zeppelin (C15). With wide bottom plate no. 20092 selvage, neat strike of "Varick St. Sta. N.Y. Apr. 25 5-PM" machine cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate
550
250
Back to Top1578
5c Winged Globe, Air Post (C16). Mint N.H., exceptional centering, rich color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $550.00), only seven grade higher
8
800
Back to Top1579
25c Trans-Pacific (C20). Mint N.H., flawless centering with wide margins, brilliantly fresh, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $450.00), there is no 100 Jumbo of this issue, this is the highest grade awarded
1
550
Back to Top1580
20c Trans-Pacific (C21). Mint N.H., choice centering and margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $225.00)
11
650
Back to Top1581
50c Trans-Pacific (C22). Mint N.H. with wide bottom selvage, mathematically perfect centering, vivid color, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $500.00), only five others have achieved this grade with none higher
11
950
Back to Top1582
50c Trans-Pacific, Air Post (C22). Mint N.H. wide top plate no. F 21625 block of six, vivid color, outstanding centering throughoutEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS THE FINEST MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE EXTREMELY RARE WIDE TOP PLATE BLOCK OF THE 50-CENT CLIPPER ISSUE WE HAVE HANDLED. THIS SUPERB BLOCK HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
Advanced collectors of U.S. plate blocks understand that this issue is far rarer as a wide top Mint N.H. plate block than even the $2.60 Graf Zeppelin. There are perhaps 10 or fewer Mint N.H. examples extant. A Power Search review found only three other examples offered in our auctions since 1993. This is the finest centered of that small population. The Scott Catalogue notes "wide full selvage top margin plate blocks of No. C22 are extremely scarce and sell for $3,000.00 or more..." (versus $85.00 price for regular plate block).
With photocopy of 2010 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; plate blocks unpriced in SMQ)
E. 3,000-4,000
1,800
Back to Top