Sale 913 — 2006 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Saturday, 13 May, 2006
Category — Registration, Postage Due
10c Ultramarine, Registration (F1). Mint N.H. top imprint, plate no. 5726 and letter A block of six with extra wide selvage, brilliant color, choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND FRESH MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK OF THE 10-CENT REGISTRATION ISSUE.
With 2003 P.S.E. certificate
3c Deep Brown, Special Printing (J10). Unused (no gum), bright color and detailed impression, choice centering for this difficult issueEXTREMELY FINE. THE 3-CENT IS POSSIBLY THE RAREST OF THE POSTAGE DUE SPECIAL PRINTINGS.
Although 436 copies were reported sold, it is believed that 100 copies were destroyed in the Calman lot. A thorough search of the marketplace, combined with conversations with dealers and collectors, has confirmed the extreme rarity of this stamp.
With 1959 P.F. certificate
5c Deep Brown, Special Printing (J11). Original gum, choice centering, rich color and proof-like impression on bright paperVERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 5-CENT POSTAGE DUE SPECIAL PRINTING.
It has been estimated that only 249 of the 5c Postage Due Special Printing reached the public.
Ex Engel. With 1958 and 1999 P.F. certificates
10c Deep Brown, Special Printing (J12). Original gum, lightly hinged, sharp proof-like impression on bright paperVERY FINE AND CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 10-CENT POSTAGE DUE SPECIAL PRINTING.
It has been estimated that no more than 174 examples of the 10c Postage Due Special Printing reached the public.
With 1984 P.F. certificate
30c Deep Brown, Special Printing (J13). Original gum, radiant color and detailed impressionVERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT POSTAGE DUE SPECIAL PRINTING.
It has been estimated that no more than 179 examples of the 30c Postage Due Special Printing reached the public. The vast majority of surviving original-gum examples are faulty.
With 1971 P.F. certificate
50c Deep Brown, Special Printing (J14). Original gum, lightly hinged, essentially perfect centering, deep shade and sharp impression on bright white paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM. WONDERFUL CHOICE CONDITION FOR THE RARE 50-CENT POSTAGE DUE SPECIAL PRIINTING.
It has been estimated that no more than 179 examples of the 50c Postage Due Special Printing reached the public.
With 1965, 1999 and 2004 P.F. certificates
50c Bright Claret (J28). Mint N.H., Brilliant color on bright paper, unusually wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A GORGEOUS WIDE-MARGINED MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 50-CENT POSTAGE DUE, SCOTT J28.
With 1984 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as hinged
1c Vermilion (J29). Mint N.H., incredibly fresh color, sharp impression showing intricate detailing in the background machinework, well-centered for any Bureau issue, but especially so for this rare stampEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS THE ONLY SUPERBLY-CENTERED MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE CERTIFIED BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION. ONE OF THE FINEST ONE-CENT VERMILION 1894 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU POSTAGE DUE STAMPS EXTANT.
Ex Golin. With 1982 and 1992 P.F. certificates
1c Vermilion (J29). Original gum, lightly hinged, almost perfectly centered. fresh, lovely bright colorEXTREMELY FINE. THE 1894 ONE-CENT VERMILION POSTAGE DUE IS RARE IN THIS CHOICE CONDITION.
With 1997 P.F. certificate
2c Vermilion (J30). Mint N.H., rich color and proof-like impression, unusually wide marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A SCARCE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT VERMILION 1894 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE POSTAGE DUE.
With 2004 P.S.E. certificate
3c Deep Claret (J47). Mint N.H., deep rich color on bright paper, unusually wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT PERF 12 SINGLE-LINE WATERMARK POSTAGE DUE.
Despite its relatively modest catalogue value, this is one of the most difficult values to obtain in superb Mint N.H. condition.
With 1986 P.F. certificate
3c Carmine Lake (J54). Mint N.H., intense color on bright paper, wide and balanced marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT CARMINE LAKE PERF 10 POSTAGE DUE.
With 1982 and 1999 P.F. certificates
30c Carmine Lake (J57). Mint N.H. with part imprint at bottom, deep rich color on bright paper, almost perfectly centered with unusually wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT POSTAGE DUE ISSUE, SCOTT J57.
With 2006 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90 Jumbo--in our opinion, this is at least XF-Superb 95 or Superb 98, but the P.S.E. assigned "Jumbo" to a lower grade category)
50c Carmine Lake (J58). Vertical strip of five with bottom half-arrow selvage and natural s.e. at right, original gum intact, some hinge and paper remnants, Buffalo N.Y. precancels, Very Good-Fine, rare multiple from an old-time estate collection
50c Carmine Lake (J58). Block of four with bottom imprint margin, original gum intact, small paper and h.r., top left stamp thin spot, Very Good appearance, an incalculably rare block from an old-time estate collection
1c Rose (J59). Mint N.H. right margin plate no. single, pretty pastel shade, almost perfectly centered with wide and well-balanced margins, trivial natural inclusion at top left barely visible on front of stampEXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1916 ONE-CENT PERF 10 UNWATERMARKED POSTAGE DUE ISSUE. THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES IN EXISTENCE.
The Perf 10 Postage Due stamps were printed on unwatermarked paper for a brief time. Well-centered original-gum examples are exceedingly rare. This Mint Never-Hinged copy with the finest centering available for this stamp is a true condition rarity.
With 2001 P.F. certificate