Sale 1332 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 8-10 October, 2024
Category — Imprint and Plate Number Multiples: Parcel Post
1c-3c Parcel Post (Q1-Q3). Mint N.H. plate blocks of six, right, left and left respectively, fresh colors, Very Fine
4c Carmine Rose, Parcel Post (Q4). Top plate no. 6170 block of six, original gum, two tiny hinge remnants, vibrant color, Fine
4c Carmine Rose, Parcel Post (Q4). Bottom plate no. 6360 and "FOUR" block of six, original gum, deep color, Very Fine
5c Carmine Rose, Parcel Post (Q5). Mint N.H. bottom plate no. 6218 block of six, gorgeous color on bright paper, well-centered, Very Fine and choice
10c Carmine Rose, Parcel Post (Q6). Mint N.H. right plate no. 6162 block of six, bright color, Fine
15c Carmine Rose, Parcel Post (Q7). Bottom plate no. 6261 block of six, original gum, brilliant color, few expertly reattached perf separations, thin spots in selvage at bottom left, Very Fine appearance
25c Carmine Rose, Parcel Post (Q9). Mint N.H. bottom plate no. 6173 block of six, well-centered (especially the top stamps), gorgeous color, a few minor gum skips
VERY FINE AND CHOICE MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK OF THE 25-CENT PARCEL POST.
A rare plate block to find well-centered and never hinged.
25c Carmine Rose, Parcel Post (Q9). Top plate no. 6176 and "TWENTY-FIVE" at right block of six, part arrow at right, original gum, rich color on bright paper, choice centering
EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE TOP IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF SIX OF THE 25-CENT PARCEL POST ISSUE, FROM THE LEFT PANE.
This is the first top imprint plate block we have offered of this issue since our 2009 sale of the "MLG" collection and one of only four imprint plate blocks from any position we have offered since 1993. Despite the increase in rarity for the imprint plate block versus the number-only plate block, Scott prices them the same.
25c Carmine Rose, Parcel Post (Q9). Bottom plate no. 6173 and "TWENTY-FIVE" block of six, original gum, few expertly reattached perf separations, rich color, Fine, scarce with the imprint, this is the first bottom imprint position plate block we have offered since keeping computerized records
50c Carmine Rose, Parcel Post (Q10). Mint N.H. bottom plate no. 6428 and "FIFTY" block of six, from the bottom right pane, brilliant color and choice centering
EXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS THE FINEST MINT NEVER-HINGED BOTTOM OR TOP IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF SIX OF THE 50-CENT PARCEL POST ISSUE WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED.
Since the new Parcel Post service was intended to compete with private express companies in transporting farmers' products, the three high values pictured scenes of rural agricultural industry. The 50c value paid tribute to American dairy farmers with a bucolic scene of grazing cows.
The Parcel Post issues were printed from plates of 180, consisting of four panes of 45. According to Johl, the uniform color of the twelve denominations confused postal clerks, who complained that they were forced to examine the stamps in detail to ensure they had the correct values. In response, on January 27, 1913, large capital letters were added to the margins near each plate number. At the top and bottom of each plate, the imprint is in the selvage next to the plate number; on the sides it is separated by stamp-size blank selvage for some values, depending on the length of the imprint. The plate block offered here comes from the bottom right pane.
This is the first Mint N.H. bottom or top plate block of at least six offered in our sales since the 2008 "MLG" auction. In that sale we offered a Mint N.H. bottom plate block of ten, also from the right pane. That fresh plate block realized $24,000 hammer. Extracting the plate block of six from that larger multiple and comparing it to the plate block offered here, it is clear that this block has better centering.