Sale 976 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Friday, 29 September-2 October, 2009
Category — 1913-15 Panama-Pacific Issue (Scott 397-404)
1c Panama-Pacific (397). Mint N.H., rich color and proof-like impression, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp in every respect, P.S.E. encapsulated (Superb 98; SMQ $620.00)
1c Panama-Pacific (397). Mint N.H. wide top plate no. 6147 block of six, beautiful margins and centering, Very Fine-Extremely Fine, a gorgeous 1c Panama-Pacific Perf 12 wide top plate block in Mint N.H. post-office condition
2c Panama-Pacific (398). Mint N.H. with left plate no. 6316 selvage, huge Jumbo margins and handsomely centered, Extremely Fine, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90 Jumbo; SMQ $70.00 as 90, $190.00 as 95)
5c Panama-Pacific (399). Mint N.H. with wide bottom selvage, almost perfectly centered, gorgeous color on crisp white paper, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $740.00)
5c Panama-Pacific (399). Mint N.H., choice margins and centering, lovely color on bright paper, Extremely Fine, with 2007 P.F. certificate (XF 90)
5c Panama-Pacific (399). Mint N.H. block of four, wonderfully fresh, excellent color, three Fine-Very Fine, bottom right stamp Extremely Fine, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate
10c Orange Yellow, Panama-Pacific (400). Mint N.H., fabulous wide margins of near Jumbo proportions, perfectly centered, vivid color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95)
10c Orange Yellow, Panama-Pacific (400). Mint N.H., wide margins with glowing color, Very Fine, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate
10c Orange Yellow, Panama-Pacific (400). Faintly hinged, beautiful wide margins, strong color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $245.00)
10c Orange Yellow, Panama-Pacific (400). Mint N.H. bottom plate no. 6130 block of six, Fine plate block , right pair exceptional, very scarce, with 1998 P.F. certificate
10c Orange, Panama-Pacific (400A). Mint N.H., vibrant color as fresh as the day it was printed, beautiful centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT ORANGE PERF 12 PANAMA-PACIFIC ISSUE.
With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $4,850.00). Only three have graded higher to date (13 others share this grade).
10c Orange, Panama-Pacific (400A). Mint N.H., beautiful glowing color, Extremely Fine, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $770.00)
10c Orange, Panama-Pacific (400A). Mint N.H., wide margins and attractively centered, vivid color, Very Fine and choice, P.S.E. encapsulated (VF-XF 85; SMQ $570.00)
5c Panama-Pacific, Perf 10 (403). Mint N.H., brilliant color on bright paper, perfectly centered with Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a huge stamp, faint pencil on gum, with 1983 P.F. certificate
5c Panama-Pacific, Perf 10 (403). Block of four, left pair minor mount-glazed original gum, Fine; right pair Mint N.H. and Fine-Very Fine, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate
5c Panama-Pacific, Perf 10 (403). Bottom plate no. 6134 block of six, barely hinged, intense shade and impression on bright paper, couple nibbed perfs at left, otherwise Fine-Very Fine
10c Panama-Pacific, Perf 10 (404). Mint N.H. with right selvage, beautiful glowing color, Very Fine and choice, difficult to find in this post-office Mint N.H. condition, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate
10c Panama-Pacific, Perf 10 (404). Mint N.H., beautiful glowing color, fresh and Very Fine, with 1998 P.S.E. certificate
10c Panama-Pacific, Perf 10 (404). Vibrant color on crisp paper, well-balanced margins, Very Fine and choice
10c Panama-Pacific, Perf 10 (404). Deep rich color, attractively centered, Very Fine, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate
10c Panama-Pacific, Perf 10 (404). Wide margins and attractive centering, lightly hinged, Very Fine, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate
10c Panama-Pacific, Perf 10 (404). Attractively centered, lightly hinged, deep rich color, Very Fine, with 2007 P.F. certificate
10c Panama-Pacific, Perf 10 (404). Lightly hinged, deep rich color, wide margins, Very Fine
10c Panama-Pacific, Perf 10 (404). Mint N.H. top plate no. 6130 block of six with wide selvage, rich color as fresh as the day it was printed, gorgeous centering throughout, long and full perforationsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST MINT NEVER-HINGED TOP PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF SIX OF THE 10-CENT PERF 10 PANAMA-PACIFIC ISSUE.
The Panama-Pacific Exposition commemorative set was originally released in late 1912 and officially placed on sale on January 1, 1913, two years in advance of the actual exposition (the stamps are inscribed "San Francisco 1915"). The stamps were first issued with 12-gauge perforations. When the Bureau of Engraving and Printing changed to 10-gauge perforations in late 1914, sheets of Panama-Pacific stamps were issued in Perf 10 form. This modification was not officially announced or widely recognized by stamp collectors; therefore, the Perf 10 stamps are much scarcer than their Perf 12 counterparts.
The 10c design depicts the "Discovery of San Francisco Bay," based on a painting by Charles F. Mathews (Johl, Vol. 1, pp.69-70). It depicts the Spanish explorer Gaspar de Portola and his crew with the Muwekma Ohlone natives. In 1769 Portola led the first expedition and observed San Francisco harbor. In 1775 Juan Manuel de Ayala, captain of the Spanish ship San Carlos, was the first to enter the harbor, which led to the establishment of the earliest European settlements.
The 10c was first issued in the standard Yellow used for the regular-issue 10c stamp, but the design was difficult to see in this shade (Scott 400). The stamp color was changed to a darker Orange and issued with 12-gauge perforations (Scott 400A). When the 10-gauge perforations were introduced, a much smaller supply was issued as Orange Perf 10 (Scott 404).
The 10c Panama-Pacific Perf 10, Scott 404, typically comes poorly centered. It is also plagued by short perfs--for a reason. The wide-spaced 10-gauge perfs were introduced by postal officials to strengthen the sheets during handling. Postmasters complained that the Perf 12 sheets broke apart too easily, but the move to Perf 10 went too far, and postmasters then started complaining that they were tearing apart stamps while trying to separate them (Perf 11 ended up being just right). Scott 404 is also much scarcer than its Perf 12 counterparts, Scott 400 and 400A. Only two panes of 70 are reported to survive.
We are aware of perhaps one other 10c Panama-Pacific Perf 10 top-position plate block that can be compared to the magnificent plate block offered here. The other was last offered in a Christie's Robson Lowe sale almost 20 years ago and is currently in a private collection. The plate block offered here surfaced recently and was certified by The Philatelic Foundation.
With 2009 P.F. certificate