Sale 1094 — The Curtis Collection: Back of Book and Possessions
Sale Date — Wednesday, 25 March, 2015
Category — Postage Due: 1894-1912 Issues (Scott J29-J50)
1c Vermilion (J29). Original gum, h.r., excellent centering, bright colorEXTREMELY FINE. AN EXTRAORDINARY QUALITY EXAMPLE OF ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT POSTAGE DUES.
There are no unused copies of No. J29 in the P.S.E. Population Report that grade this high.
With 1995 and 2006 P.F. certificates (XF 90).
1c Vermilion (J29). Brilliant color on bright paper, remarkably wide margins, light strike of oval cancel leaves design clearly visibleEXTREMELY FINE. ARGUABLY THE FINEST USED EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT POSTAGE DUE ISSUE, SCOTT J29, IN EXISTENCE. AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT STAMP TO FIND IN SOUND CONDITION AND WITH SUCH WIDE MARGINS.
Ex Twigg-Smith and Tahoe. With 2001 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85 Jumbo; SMQ $1,300.00). Only one stamp grades slightly higher (90)
2c Vermilion (J30). Original gum, lightly hinged, wide margins, bright and fresh, Extremely Fine, with 1982 and 1994 P.F. certificates
2c Vermilion (J30). Top imprint and plate no. 34 block of six, h.r. in selvage, stamps Mint N.H., bright color, minor selvage crease, Fine appearance, a very rare plate block, with 1999 P.F. certificate
1c Claret (J31). Mint N.H. bottom imprint and plate no. 57 block of six, choice balanced margins, rich color, trivial gum bend on bottom right stamp, Very Fine and choice
2c Deep Claret (J32). Mint N.H., proof-like impression on bright paper, unusually choice centering with Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $975.00 as 95, the highest grade they price), one of only two to achieve this grade with none higher
2c Deep Claret (J32). Mint N.H. bottom imprint and plate no. 60 block of six, radiant color on fresh paper, a couple trivial natural gum bends, Very Fine, ex Wampler
2c Deep Claret (J32). Mint N.H. bottom imprint and plate no. 60 block of 20, comprising the two bottom rows of the pane, intact scissors-separated perfs at top, bright and fresh, minor natural gum bends and skips, trivial margin tear, Fine appearance
5c Deep Claret (J34). Mint N.H. full bottom imprint and plate no. 71 block of six, well-centered, beautiful rich color, natural gum crease at bottom right and a minute tear at top leftVERY FINE AND CHOICE APPEARANCE. A SCARCE MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK OF THE 5-CENT 1894 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU POSTAGE DUE ISSUE.
There are no recorded top plate blocks. This is only the second plate block in any condition we have offered since keeping computerized records
10c Deep Claret (J35). Mint N.H. wide top imprint and plate no. 72 block of six, intense color and impression, bright fresh paper, trivial perf separations in ungummed portion of selvage (not mentioned on certificate)VERY FINE AND CHOICE. PROBABLY THE FINEST PLATE BLOCK OF THE 10-CENT 1894 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU POSTAGE DUE IN EXISTENCE. REPUTED TO BE THE ONLY FULL TOP PLATE BLOCK EXTANT.
The first Bureau printings of all stamps were made in 1894 on unwatermarked paper, which was soon replaced with USPS-watermarked stock. Many denominations on unwatermarked paper were issued in extremely small quantities. The Bureau's first efforts at producing stamps were marred by perforating and gumming problems, which further limits the supply of stamps available to collectors in higher grades of condition. Finally, the popular collecting of imprint and plate number strips of three drastically reduced the number of plate blocks of six, which is the standard for collectors today.
A survey of auction catalogues, including the Siegel firm's Lilly and Todd sales, show the conspicuous absence of a 10c 1894 Scott J35 plate block.
With 2002 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as hinged
50c Deep Claret (J37). Original gum, lightly hinged, exceptionally well-centered for this usually tight-margined Postage Due issue, incredible depth of color and detailed impressionVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE 50-CENT 1895 DEEP CLARET POSTAGE DUE. THIS UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF THE POSTAGE DUES IN ANY CHOICE GRADE.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, VF-XF 85; SMQ $2,000.00). The P.S.E. Population Report demonstrates how difficult it is to find this stamp in higher grades. Despite its high catalogue value, only eight OG and three Mint N.H. examples have been submitted for grading, which tells us that not many are worthy of grading. Of this small population, the highest grade is a single example at 90, then three at 85, one of which is offered here.
3c Carmine (J40 var). Mint N.H., rich color on bright paper, wide and balanced margins, long and full perforations all around, Extremely Fine Gem example of this sub-shade, ex Whitman, with 2004 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $950.00), this is the highest grade awarded and only one other shares this grade
3c Deep Claret (J40). Mint N.H. bottom imprint and plate no. 70 block of eight, deep color, Fine-Very Fine, with 2003 P.F. certificate when it was a plate block of ten
5c Deep Claret (J41). Mint N.H. top imprint and plate no. 255 block of six, bright color, fresh and Fine, a scarce Mint N.H. plate block from the top position, ex Whitpain
10c Deep Claret (J42). Mint N.H., vibrant color and proof-like impression on post-office fresh paper, choice centering with wide margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,250.00), one other shares this grade and one grades higher
10c Deep Claret (J42). Mint N.H. bottom imprint and plate no. 72 block of twenty, wonderfully fresh, a few insignificant perf separations, Fine, ex Wampler
30c Deep Claret (J43). Lightly hinged, well-balanced margins, intensely rich color, Extremely Fine, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,500.00), one of three to grade XF-Superb 95, the highest awarded
30c Deep Claret (J43). Choice centering with wide and balanced margins, face-free strike of grid cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, scarce in such superb condition, ex Tahoe, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $400.00), only one grades higher
30c Deep Claret (J43). Wide top imprint and plate 73 block of six, South Omaha precancel, rich color, some rejoined perfs in the top selvage, Fine, an affordable alternative to an unused plate block that catalogues $6,000.00, Scott Retail as a used block and two singles
50c Deep Claret (J44). Original gum, lightly hinged, rich color and sharp impression showing every detail of the engraving, unusually choice centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $950.00), this is the highest grade awarded and only three others share this grade
50c Deep Claret (J44). Bottom imprint and plate no. 74 block of twelve, South Omaha precancels, rich color, some rejoined or separated perfs, natural gum wrinkle affects third column, Fine-Very Fine appearance, an unused plate block catalogues $4,500.00, Scott Retail as three used blocks of four
3c Deep Claret (J47). Mint N.H. left imprint, plate no. 5523 and star block of six, with wide selvage, intense color and impressionFINE-VERY FINE. AN ENORMOUSLY RARE PLATE BLOCK OF THE 1910 3-CENT SINGLE-LINE WATERMARKED POSTAGE DUE ISSUE. THIS IS ONLY THE SECOND PLATE BLOCK WE HAVE OFFERED SINCE KEEPING COMPUTERIZED RECORDS.
The other example we offered was hinged. This is the only Mint Never-Hinged plate block of No. J47 that we could find in past sale catalogues.
With 1998 P.F. certificate
5c Deep Claret (J48). Top imprint, plate no. 5524 and star block of six, four stamps Mint N.H., right two stamps faintly hinged, bright color, Very Fine
50c Deep Claret (J50). Mint N.H., intense shade, extra wide margins and unusually choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE. THE 1912 50-CENT BUREAU POSTAGE DUE ISSUE IS VERY RARE IN THIS OUTSTANDING MINT NEVER-HINGED CONDITION.
Ex Vineyard. With 2004 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $4,500.00), only one grades higher and two others share this grade
50c Deep Claret (J50). Left imprint, plate no. 5527 and star block of six, bottom pair and center right stamp Mint N.H., others lightly hinged, brilliant color, small tear in bottom selvage, light crease in top selvage, few minor perf separations sensibly reinforced at topFINE APEARANCE. A SCARCE IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF SIX OF THE 50-CENT PERF 12 SINGLE-LINE WATERMARKED POSTAGE DUE. THIS IS THE ONLY PLATE BLOCK WE HAVE OFFERED SINCE KEEPING COMPUTERIZED RECORDS.
Scott Retail as singles is $12,000.00. Scott Retail as a hinged plate block
50c Deep Claret (J50). Block of four, 3mm spacing, intense color, three neat strikes of circular datestamps, bottom stamps light horizontal crease, few sensibly reinforced perf separations, Very Fine appearance, scarce used block, with 2004 P.F. certificate