Sale 913 — 2006 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Saturday, 13 May, 2006
Category — Postal Stationery and Postal Cards
2c Black on Buff, Die 2, entire (U48). Unused, sharp impressionVERY FINE. A RARE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT DIE 2 BLACK ON BUFF ENTIRE.
The Die 2 on Buff is one of the rarest of all Black Jack entires. Very few are known.
3c Black on White (UO8). Unused full cornerVERY FINE AND CHOICE FULL CORNER OF THE RARE 3-CENT POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT EMBOSSED STAMP ON WHITE PAPER.
Ex Lilly
6c Black on White (UO13). Unused cut squareFRESH AND VERY FINE. ONE OF THE "KEYS" TO A COMPLETE COLLECTION OF DEPARTMENTAL CUT SQUARES.
Genuine examples of the 6c P.O. Department on white paper are extremely rare.
1c Brown, Postal Card (UX1). Cancelled by brownish-black "Washington D.C. May" First Day Postmark with matching segmented cork, note on card reads "This is the first card sold in Washington D.C. May 13th 1873 6/5 P.M. I certify the above to be correct W.J. Turpin Supt. City P.O. D.C."VERY FINE. THIS IS THE "FIRST" FIRST DAY OF THIS POSTAL CARD USED FROM WASHINGTON D.C. A GREAT RARITY.
A total of eight cards are known to exist cancelled on May 13, in Boston, New York and Washington D.C. One is known cancelled on May 12 in Springfield Mass. (sent by an official of the Morgan Envelope Co.) but has never reached the market.
Ex Kantor. With 1989 P.F. certificate.
1c Brown on Buff, Postal Card, Double Impression (UX8d). Clear second impression, cancelled by "Cairo Ill. Mar. 26" and quartered cork cancels to Cleveland O., 1886 date on back, writer is oblivious to the double impression and asks for information on stone from the stone company, trivial corner bendsVERY FINE. A RARE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1885 ONE-CENT BROWN ON BUFF POSTAL CARD WITH DOUBLE IMPRESSION.
Listed but unpriced in Scott. The United States Postal Card Catalogue notes only one is known used, but we know more than one exists (see next lot)
1c Brown on Buff, Postal Card, Double Impression (UX8d). Clear second impression at left struck partly off card, significantly darker shade than the previous lot, cancelled by "Mosley Hall Fla. 9.21.86" ms. pmk. to Tallahassee Fla., business contents do not mention the unusual appearance of the cardVERY FINE. A RARE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1885 ONE-CENT BROWN ON BUFF POSTAL CARD WITH DOUBLE IMPRESSION.
Listed but unpriced in Scott. The United States Postal Card Catalogue notes only one is known used, but we know more than one exists (see previous lot)
1c Black on Salmon Pink, Postal Card (UX9d). Unused, couple trivial spots on back, Very Fine, scarce, according to the U.S. Postal Card Catalogue, the pink cards were used as a means of counting -- one sheet would be inserted after every 500 of the regular stock. They were supposed to be removed before printing, but some were not and so were printed and distributed
1c Black on Buff, Postal Card, Double Impression, One Inverted (UX10a). Unused, clear second impression inverted at bottom, fresh and Very Fine example of this visually striking rarity, very few are known
1c Black on Buff, Double Impression, One Inverted (UX14a). Both designs cancelled by "Chicago Ill. May 25, 1903" machine cancel with purple typed address to Evanston Ill., receiving datestamp, minor edgewearVERY FINE. A RARE USED EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT JEFFERSON POSTAL CARD WITH DOUBLE IMPRESSION, ONE INVERTED.
Scott Catalogue lists but does not price this postal card in used condition. Catalogue value for unused is $10,000.00
1c Black, Full-Face McKinley Postal Card (UX17). Unused, without printed address, freshVERY FINE AND CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT BLACK FULL-FACE McKINLEY POSTAL CARD. RARE WITHOUT THE PRINTED ADDRESS.
As an indication of rarity, Scott Catalogue prices the card without printed address at $9,000.00, versus $3,250.00 with the printed address.
1c Black, Full-Face McKinley Postal Card (UX17). Unused and unaddressed, few tiny edge flaws and mild toning##A FINE AND VERY RARE UNUSED AND UNADDRESSED FULL-FACE McKINLEY CARD.##The Scott Catalogue prices the card without printed address at $9,000.00, versus $3,250.00 with the printed address.
1c Black, Full-Face McKinley Postal Card (UX17). Unused card with printed address and garbage information on back, Very Fine and choice example of one of the most desirable regularly-issued postal cards, with 1985 P.F. certificate
1c Black, Full-Face McKinley Postal Card (UX17). Unused card with printed address and garbage information on back, Very Fine and choice example of one of the most desirable regularly-issued postal cards
1c Black, Full-Face McKinley Postal Card (UX17). With printed Booth Dailey & Ivins address, so-called "garbage card" text on back, cancelled by "New York N.Y. Oct. 5 3:30PM 1902" duplex, very slight creasing at corners, Very Fine and unusually crisp for a used example of this rare postal card
1c Black, Full-Face McKinley Postal Card (UX17). With printed Booth Dailey & Ivins address, so-called "garbage card" text on back, cancelled by "New York N.Y. Sep. 25 6-PM 1902" duplex, very slight creasing at corners, Very Fine and exceptionally crisp for a used example of this rare postal card
1c Green on Cream, Postal Card, Quadruple Impression (UX27f). Unused, four clear impressionsVERY FINE. PROBABLY A UNIQUE QUADRUPLE IMPRESSION OF THE 1914 ONE-CENT POSTAL CARD.
With 1989 certificate of genuineness signed by John Beachboard.
1c Green, Die I, Gray Rough-Surfaced Postal Card (UX27C). Unused, without printed address, fresh and Very Fine, in 1916, during a war-time paper shortage, this substandard grade of card was used temporarily, for a period of about two months. They were not sold singly, but were supplied to printers. This accounts for their great rarity without printed addresses. The printed address cards catalogue only $275.00
1c Dark Green, Die II, Gray Rough-Surfaced Postal Card (UX27D). Unused, deep rich color, clearly showing the die type with distinctive coat linesEXTREMELY FINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE DIE II DESIGN ON THE PROVISIONAL GRAY ROUGH-SURFACED CARD. ONLY SIX ARE BELIEVED TO EXIST.
Like the previous lot, this was printed on substandard card stock, due to wartime paper shortages. Due to initial poor impressions the die was recut to improve the design, resulting in this Die II variety. Proper card stock was obtained soon after the die recut was made.
Most were supplied to printers for application of printed addresses. However, a small quantity is believed to have been issued at the Hagerstown Md. post office.
With 1988 A.P.S. certificate
1c on 2c Red on Cream, Die II, Postal Card (UX31). Printed address and type on back from Almas Automobile Club in Washington D.C., fresh and Very Fine example of this rare "one-line surcharge" card which was discontinued after a very short period of usage, with 1985 P.F. certificate
1c on 2c Red on Cream, Postal Card (UX36). Clear surcharge, cancelled by "Long Beach Calif. Mar. 21, 1921 4PM" cancel to local address, back of card with Long Beach Public Library notice notifying recipient that his book is reserved until Mar. 24, trivial corner dentsEXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF ONLY THREE CONFIRMED EXAMPLES OF THIS GREAT POSTAL CARD RARITY. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT RARITIES OF POSTAL CARD COLLECTING.
According to an article in Postal Stationery, the surcharging was done in order to provide for cards for the new 1c postal card rate, which was lowered from 2c after World War I. This particular card was revalued at the Los Angeles post office.
Four cards have been reported, but only three have been confirmed. Two have notices from the Long Beach Library. One has a notice regarding an Elks Club Christmas party. The fourth unconfirmed example is also supposed to have an Elks Club notice, but has not been seen in over 80 years and may be lost to philately.
The card offered here was discovered in 1992 by an auction describer for a firm no longer in business. It is offered to the market for the first time since 1993. The last "Library Card" sold was purchased privately from a dealer at a price reported to be approximately $75,000.
12c Battle of Eutaw Springs, Postal Card, Red & Yellow Omitted (UX90a). Unused, bright and fresh, Very Fine example of this great rarity, perhaps three or four are known
6c Boy Scout World Jamboree, Air Post Postal Card, Blue & Black Omitted (UXC7b). Unused, bright and freshVERY FINE AND VERY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT BOY SCOUT JAMBOREE WITH BLUE AND BLACK COLORS OMITTED.
Only two are reported to exist
8c Eagle, Air Post Postal Card, Tag Missing (UXC9 var). Unused, noticeable color difference from accompanying normal card, fresh and Very Fine example of this rare variety which is listed in the U.S. Postal Card Catalogue (No. SA9Ba, only one known)
15c Niagara Falls, Air Post Postal Card, Tagging Omitted (UXC13c). Unused, fresh and Very Fine, very rare, only three are known