Sale 1150 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday, 1 March, 2017
Category — Officials: State Department
1c-$2.00 State (O57-O68). 2c, 7c, 10c and 12c unused (no gum), others original gum, h.r., few faults, appear Fine
1c State (O57). Mint N.H., deep color, fresh and Very Fine, apart from the the Mint N.H. examples offered in this sale, Power Search lists no others
1c State (O57). Three Mint N.H. examples, dark color, Fine, apart from the the Mint N.H. examples offered in this sale, Power Search lists no others
7c, 15c State (O61, O64). One 7c and two 15c, original gum, one 15c with h.r., other two lightly hinged, Fine-Very Fine
7c State (O61). Deep color, exceedingly well-centered, Extremely Fine, with 2016 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90), only two grade higher and one other shares this grade
12c State (O63). Horizontal strip of nine, with selvage at left, unhinged but there is offset on gum (most notably in the middle stamps), so we have catalogued it as nine hinged singles, deep intense color, a few short perfs on positions 7 and 9, Fine-Very Fine
15c State (O64). Mint N.H., fresh and Very Fine, extremely rare in Mint N.H. condition, the examples offered in this sale are the only Mint N.H. 15c State Department stamps to appear in Power Search
15c State (O64). Mint N.H., selvage at right, rich color, Fine, extremely rare in Mint N.H. condition, the examples offered in this sale are the only Mint N.H. 15c State Department stamps to appear in Power Search
15c State (O64). Mint N.H., deep color, fresh and Fine, extremely rare in Mint N.H. condition, the examples offered in this sale are the only Mint N.H. 15c State Department stamps to appear in Power Search
15c State (O64). Mint N.H., rich color, Fine, extremely rare in Mint N.H. condition, the examples offered in this sale are the only Mint N.H. 15c State Department stamps to appear in Power Search
15c State (O64). Mint N.H., attractive color, Fine, extremely rare in Mint N.H. condition, the examples offered in this sale are the only Mint N.H. 15c State Department stamps to appear in Power Search
15c State (O64). Original gum, very lightly hinged, fresh color, Very Fine and choice
24c State (O65). Original gum, wonderful depth of color, beautifully centered, Extremely Fine, with 2016 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF 90; SMQ $1,200.00)
30c State (O66). Original gum, deep color, fresh and Very Fine, a lovely stamp
30c State (O66). Deep rich color, choice centering, neat concentric circles cancel, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2016 P.F. certificate (XF 90)
$2.00 State (O68). Original gum, near mathematically precise centering with Jumbo margins, deep rich colors and detailed impressionsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 STATE DEPARTMENT ISSUE WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED -- AND AT SUPERB 98 JUMBO, IT IS THE HIGHEST GRADED EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 OR OF ANY DOLLAR-VALUE STATE DEPARTMENT STAMPS LISTED BY P.S.E.
A Power Search review, as well as a survey of major named Officials sales, failed to find a $2.00 matching the margins and centering of the stamp offered here. The P.S.E. Population Report also bears this out. This stamp is the highest graded of any of the bicolor dollar-value State Department issues. Only one other dollar value has been graded above 90 -- the $5.00 graded 95 Jumbo from our sale of the Rollin C. Huggins collection in 2016. The highest grades awarded by P.S.E. for the dollar value States are as follows:
$2.00 (Scott O68) OGph, Superb 98 Jumbo, the stamp offered here
$5.00 (Scott O69) OGh, XF-Superb 95 Jumbo, ex Huggins (Siegel Sale 1123, lot 592)
$10.00 (Scott O70) OG, XF 90
$20.00 (Scott O71) OG, VF 80
With 1983 P.F. and 2017 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, Superb 98 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 90J, which bears no relation to the stamp offered here)
$5.00 State (O69). Original gum, deep rich colors and detailed impressions, few short perfs at top left, otherwise Very Fine
$20.00 State (O71). Slightly disturbed original gum, deep rich color, couple short perfs at top and reperforated at bottom, Fine appearance, two small backstamps, with 2016 P.F. certificate
$20.00 State (O71). Unused (no gum), bright colors, reperfed at right, Extremely Fine appearance