Sale 1251 — The John B. Field Collection of Superb United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 2-3 March, 2022
Category — Special Delivery, Registration
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E1). Mint N.H., bright color on post-office fresh paper, choice centering and marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE FIRST SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE.
With 2010 and 2016 P.F. certificates (XF 90)
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E2). Mint N.H., intense color and impression, well-proportioned margins, Extremely Fine, with 1994 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85; SMQ $1,950.00)
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E2). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep intense shade, outstanding centering and margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1995 P.F. certificate
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E4). Mint N.H., deep rich color nicely contrasted by bright white paper, beautifully centered with wide and balanced margins all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THE 10-CENT 1894 UNWATERMARKED SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE IS NOTORIOUSLY CHALLENGING TO OBTAIN IN THIS SUPERIOR GRADE -- ESPECIALLY IN MINT NEVER-HINGED CONDITION.
The 1894 series was the first produced by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, and encountered many production problems, with poor centering and small margins. This centered Mint N.H. stamp is very much the exception to that rule.
Ex "Beverly Hills". With 2011 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $14,000.00). This is one of only four to achieve this superior grade in the P.S.E. Population Report, with only three higher.
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E5). Mint N.H. with bottom imprint selvage, wonderful intense color and well-centered, fresh and Very Fine, with 1997 P.F. certificate
10c Blue, Special Delivery, Dots in Curved Frame Above Messenger (E5a). Mint N.H. with huge 37mm bottom part imprint selvage, outstanding centering with wide margins, deep rich rich colorEXTREMELY FINE GEM MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1895 10-CENT WATERMARKED SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE WITH DOTS ABOVE THE MESSENGER VARIETY. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH THE HUGE PART IMPRINT SELVAGE.
The Dots in Curved Frame above Messenger variety (E5a) comes only from plate 882. It is priced in Scott at nearly double the normal E5.
With 2020 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 90). Only one stamp grades higher (at 98, last offered in our Morton Sale 1219). The example offered here originally formed a strip of three with the following lot and the example graded 98.
10c Blue, Special Delivery, Dots in Curved Frame Above Messenger (E5a). Mint N.H. with huge 37mm bottom plate no. 882 selvage, outstanding centering with wide margins, deep rich rich colorEXTREMELY FINE GEM MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1895 10-CENT WATERMARKED SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE WITH DOTS ABOVE THE MESSENGER VARIETY. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH THE MASSIVE PLATE NUMBER SELVAGE.
The Dots in Curved Frame above Messenger variety (E5a) comes only from plate 882. It is priced in Scott at nearly double the normal E5.
With 2020 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 90). Only one stamp grades higher (at 98, last offered in our Morton Sale 1219). The example offered here originally formed a strip of three with the previous lot and the example graded 98.
10c Blue, Special Delivery, Imperforate (E5c; formerly E5a). Vertical pair, original gum, large margins, deep rich color, natural gum creaseVERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM PAIR OF THE IMPERFORATE 10-CENT 1895 WATERMARKED BUREAU SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE.
Using the logic behind including No. E3 as a part of the Columbian issues, one can argue Nos. E4 and E5 are part of the 1894 and 1895 Bureau issues. Perhaps this is why Nos. E4 and E5 are the only Special Delivery issues found imperforate. However, unlike its regular-issue counterparts, which exist in abundant quantities, Nos. E4a and E5c are very rare. We have offered only eight unduplicated pairs, one single and one block of four since keeping computerized records. Virtually all have faults, ranging from gum creases to more serious flaws.
Scott value as No. E5P5
10c Green, Special Delivery (E7). Mint N.H. top imprint and plate no. 4916 block of six, crisp impression, few minor perf separations at top right not noted on certificate, Very Fine, with 2016 P.S.E. certificate
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E8). Mint N.H., rich color on bright paper, beautiful centering, fresh and Extremely Fine
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E9). Mint N.H., crisp impression, wide margins and choice centering, Extremely Fine Gem
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E9). Mint N.H. with wide right selvage, radiant color, Extremely Fine Gem, with copy of 1984 P.F. certificate for block of four
10c Pale Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E10). Mint N.H., brilliant color, trivial natural inclusion in top margin not noted on certificate, Very Fine, with 1983 P.F. certificate
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E11). Mint N.H., bright color, unusually choice centering with Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem
10c Gray Violet, Special Delivery (E11b). Mint N.H., rich color on bright paper, gorgeous centering with Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a phenomenal stamp, ex Henson, with 2017 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $1,250.00), this is the highest grade awarded to Scott E11b and it is shared by no others
10c Deep Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E12a). Mint N.H., wonderful depth of color on bright paper, wide margins and exceptional centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $950.00), only six grade higher
10c Gray Violet, Special Delivery, Horizontal Pair, Imperforate Between (E15c). Mint N.H., deep color, attractive centering and margins, Very Fine
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10c Ultramarine, Registration (F1). Mint N.H. top imprint, plate no. 5726 and letter "A" block of six, bright color, better centering than normally encounteredVERY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK OF THE 1911 10-CENT REGISTRATION ISSUE.
This is a difficult plate block to obtain with any decent centering. A review using Power Search indicates we have not offered one with centering comparable to the example offered here in over a decade.
With 2017 P.S.E. certificate (VF 80)