Sale 1019 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Thursday-Friday, 1-2 March, 2012
Category — Savings Stamps and Official Seals
$5.00 Carmine, War Savings (WS5). Unused (regummed), pretty shade, Fine, Scott Retail as original gum
Post Office Registry Seal, 1875 Special Printing (OXF2). Full sheet of 30 stamps, without gum as issued, each stamp punch canceled, sheet is cut in half vertically which affects the middle column of six, top and bottom stamps from that column have pieces out, pos. 1 also defective, perf separations incl. pos. 30 completely separated, few other small flawsAN INCREDIBLY RARE SHEET OF THE 1875 POST OFFICE REGISTRY SEAL SPECIAL PRINTING. ONLY ONE OTHER IS KNOWN.
The late Jim Kotanchik discussed the Registry Seal Special Printing at length in his major 2006 work on Post Office seals. The Special Printing was the only stamp of this type printed in sheets of 30. Only one other sheet is known, which was sold in a 2011 Rumsey sale for $10,500 hammer (ex. Col. Green, Wampler and Kotanchik). This sheet originates from the American Bank Note Co. archives and was apparently unknown to Kotanchik when he wrote his book. Despite the condition and the punch cancels, this would be a valuable reference for an Official Seal collection.
Scott Retail for 24 singles, not counting the central column is $24,000.00