Sale 1120 — Outstanding United States Stamps
Sale Date — Thursday-Friday, 17-18 March, 2016
Category — Modern Errors (Scott 832-1257b )
$1.00 Presidential (832). Wide left margin double arrow block of eight, not hinged but with slight gum disturbance, vignettes strongly shifted to upper left, with Wilson's head clear into perforations above on each stamp, choice centering, some minor perf separationsEXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS THE MOST DRAMATIC COLOR SHIFT OF THE $1.00 PRESIDENTIAL ISSUE WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED. ESPECIALLY RARE AS A DOUBLE ARROW POSITION PIECE.
A margin block of six, but with blank selvage and not as dramatic a shift, realized $2,500.00 in our sale 1092
$1.00 Presidential, USIR Wmk. (832b). Mint N.H. with wide selvage at bottom, watermark shows very clearly both in the selvage and on the stamp, rich color, fresh and Extremely Fine, a highly desirable example of this variety, ex "Scarsdale", also including 16c Presidential Mint N.H. graded Superb 98 and $5.00 Presidential Mint N.H. graded 90J, also ex "Scarsdale" (SMQ for both $200.00)
$5.00 Red, Brown & Black (834a). Deep rich color which is significantly different from the normally issued colors, neat strike of oval cancel, tiny filled perf thin speck at right not mentioned on accompanying certificateFINE APPEARANCE. ONLY ONE OTHER USED SINGLE AND A USED BLOCK OF FOUR HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED AS GENUINE BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION. ONE OF THE GREAT RARITIES OF THE 1938 PRESIDENTIAL ISSUE.
According to The Prexies by Roland E. Rustad, this error was discovered by George Sloane in 1947 and is thought to have occurred in the winter of 1938-39. A 1950 letter to Sloane from the director of the Bureau states "it is our opinion that the stamps...are the result of printing ink containing a trace of black rather than as a result of chemical action." A former employee is also known to have stated that the error panes were sold over the counter before they were reported to postal authorities and that "over a million dollars worth of stamps of the error of color were recalled and destroyed when they were discovered".
This used single, another used single from our "Natalee Grace" sale (Siegel Sale 1028, lot 500) and a used block of four with similar centering and cancel have been certified by The Philatelic Foundation. It is also known unused in more plentiful numbers.
Ex Twigg-Smith. With clear 1978 P.F. certificate
3c Liberty, Imperforate Pair (1057b). Lightly hinged (if at all), deep rich color, Very Fine, a scarce error of which Datz states 30 pairs are reported
4c San Martin, Horizontal Pair, Imperforate Between (1125a). Mint N.H., well-centered for this error (which often comes poorly centered), fresh color, Very Fine, Datz states 20 pairs are reported
4c McDowell, Vertical Pair, Imperforate Horizontally (1138b). Mint N.H. vertical strip of three with selvage at right, well-centered, fresh color, Extremely Fine, undervalued in Scott, Scott Retail as pair
4c Water Conservation, Brown Orange Missing (1150a). Mint N.H. bottom right corner selvage horizontal strip of three with plate no. 26592, right stamp the error leaving the left two-thirds of the stamp with color omitted, caused by a small piece of paper having been on top of the sheet during printing and still attached and folded back for display, score line where piece of paper endedVERY FINE. ONE OF THE RAREST COLOR OMITTED ERRORS. ONLY FOUR ARE KNOWN TO EXIST, ALL FROM ONE SHEET. THIS IS THE UNIQUE EXAMPLE WITH PLATE NUMBER.
An impressive and visually striking example.
4c Winslow Homer, Horizontal Pair, Imperforate Between (1207a). Mint N.H. horizontal pair with selvage at right, wide margins, deep rich colors on pristine white paperEXTREMELY FINE. EASILY THE FINEST OF THE FOUR KNOWN EXAMPLES OF THE 4-CENT WINSLOW HOMER IMPERFORATE BETWEEN ERROR.
The other three examples have misaligned perforations on at least one side. Ex Liberman. With 1993 P.F. certificate
5c American Music, Blue Omitted (1252a). Mint N.H., well-centered, Very Fine and rare, Datz states 20-40 examples are reported
5c Christmas Issue, Se-Tenant (1257b var). Mint N.H. se-tenant block of four, unusual foldover causing colors missing, each of the four stamps affected with Holly design completely missing, small thin at top left, Very Fine, most likely a unique example of this unusual foldover