Sale 1255 — The David W. Gorham Collection of Outstanding Used U.S. Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Friday, 17-20 May, 2022
Category — 1901 Pan-American Issue and Inverts (Scott 294-299)
5c Ultramarine & Black, Pan-American (297). Deep rich color and detailed impressions, beautiful centering, neat machine cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $450.00), only two grade higher (one at 98 and one at 100)
8c Brown Violet & Black, Pan-American (298). Rich colors, unusually wide and balanced margins, purple cancel leaves design clearly visible, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1998 P.F. certificate
10c Pan-American (299). Outstanding centering and margins, rich colors, corner strike of circular datestamp cancel leaves the steamship vignette fully visible, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $550.00), only two used 10c Pan-American grade higher -- the 98J we offered in our Sale 1172 in 2017 and one graded 98 -- the 98J has a much heavier cancel, this example with precise centering and an unobtrusive cancel is very desirable
1c Pan-American, Center Inverted (294a). Deep rich colors and proof-like impressions, neat strike of "Syracuse N.Y." oval cancel, light toning along right margin, tiny corner perf creases at top right and bottom leftVERY FINE APPEARING USED EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT.
The 1c Pan-American Inverts were found in at least four different post offices around the country, soon after release of the issue in May 1901. According to the revised Johl-King book (p.7) "The first known copies of this error were discovered at Bessemer, Alabama, by the Carrell Jewelry Company on some circulars just prior to mailing them. When they realized the find they had made they lost no time in removing the stamps from the circulars and thus saved them to philately."
The 1c Pan-American Invert in used condition is considerably scarcer than unused. Our census, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/294a , records 55 used examples (two on piece and a pair) plus three on covers, for a total of 58 copies.
Census no. 294a-CAN-25. Ex Cunliffe. With copy of 2004 A.P.S. certificate. With 2009 P.F. certificate.
2c Carmine & Black, Pan-American, Center Inverted (295a). Bright colors, choice centering, tied by "Brooklyn N.Y. P.O." registry oval cancel on 31 x 44mm piece, cancel struck clear of inverted train, stamp with small diagonal corner crease at top left, truly negligible and difficult to detectVERY FINE. ONLY SEVEN USED EXAMPLES OF THE 2-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT ARE KNOWN, AND NONE ARE SOUND. THE EXAMPLE OFFERED HERE IS THE ONLY ONE ON PIECE, WITH A CANCEL LEAVING THE ENTIRE INVERTED VIGNETTE CLEARLY VISIBLE. IT IS ARGUABLY THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE.
Our census of the 2c Pan-American Invert in used condition, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/295a , records only seven copies. None are sound -- two are reperfed, one has a tear and another is thinned. The two others have minor flaws, including a surface scrape and crease.
Census no. 295a-CAN-06. Ex Dr. Graves (not in our "Argentum" sale, but his name is on 1976 certificate). Signed in pencil by J. Klemann of Nassau Stamp Co. With 1976 and 2003 P.F. certificates.