Sale 976 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Friday, 29 September-2 October, 2009
Category — Air Post (Scott C1-C12, including Inverted Jenny)
6c Orange, 1918 Air Post (C1). Mint N.H., vibrant color as fresh as the day it was printed, mathematically perfect centering with wide and balanced margins, long and full perforations all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED STAMP HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF GEM 100 BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE ONLY EXAMPLE TO ACHIEVE THIS GRADE AND ONLY ONE HAS GRADED HIGHER.
With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $1,000.00 as 98). Only one has graded higher to date (which recently realized $7,500 hammer in our 2009 Rarities sale), and this is the only example to achieve this grade.
6c Orange, 1918 Air Post (C1). Top arrow and plate no. 9155 block of six, stamps lightly hinged, small h.r. in selvage, vibrant color, few natural inclusions, Very Fine
6c-8c 1918 Air Post (C1, C4). 6c top arrow and plate no. 9155 block of six, couple small h.r., left four stamps nicely centered, vibrant color, Fine-Extremely Fine, 8c Mint N.H. top plate no. 14826 block of six, natural gum bends, Fine
16c Green, 1918 Air Post (C2). Mint N.H., attractive margins and excellent centering, bright color, Extremely Fine, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $180.00)
16c Green, 1918 Air Post (C2). Mint N.H. top plate no. 8900 and arrow block of six, bright color, choice centering throughout, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate
16c Green, 1918 Air Post (C2). Mint N.H. top arrow and plate no. 8900 block of six, rich color, top left stamp few small natural gum skips, Very Fine
16c Green, 1918 Air Post (C2). Mint N.H. top arrow and plate no. 8900 block of six, Fine-Very Fine
16c Green, 1918 Air Post (C2). Top arrow and plate no. 8900 block of six, h.r. at left center, bright color, Fine-Very Fine
24c Carmine Rose & Blue, 1918 Air Post (C3). Block of four with full top right corner selvage, one barely hinged, three N.H., plane shifted left into frame ("fast flyer"), Extremely Fine, the top left corner single especially beautiful
24c Carmine Rose & Blue, 1918 Air Post (C3). Top red "Top" and red plate no. 8492 block of 20, bottom right stamp lightly hinged, other 19 stamps Mint N.H., bright colors, several towards bottom left with exceptional centering, bottom left stamp small scuff and natural inclusion, Fine-Extremely Fine, Scott Retail as singles
24c Carmine Rose & Blue, 1918 Air Post (C3). Top arrow, double plate nos. 8492/8493 and two "TOP" block of twelve, barest trace of hinging, most with choice centering, radiant colors, couple small natural gum skips and tiny natural wood fiber inclusion at bottom, Fine-Very Fine, these were the only plate numbers used to print this issue
24c Carmine Rose & Blue, Center Inverted (C3a). Position 26, slightly disturbed original gum, rich colors, small indentations at top described on accompanying certificate as "few small horizontal creases at top"FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE FAMOUS 1918 24-CENT INVERTED "JENNY" ERROR. WITHOUT QUESTION THIS IS THE MOST FAMOUS STAMP IN AMERICAN PHILATELY..
According to Jenny! by George Amick (Amos Press, 1986), William T. Robey purchased the original sheet of 100 inverted "Jenny" stamps on May 14, 1918, one day after the stamp was placed on sale, at the New York Avenue Post Office window in Washington, D.C. Soon after, the sheet was sold to Col. Edward H. R. Green through Eugene Klein, a Philadelphia stamp dealer. Green paid $20,000 for the sheet, then instructed Klein to divide it into singles and blocks, and to sell all but a few key position blocks.
Stamp specialists and professionals know that examples of this stamp come in different grades of freshness and condition. Many of the original 100 stamps were mistreated by collectors over the years, despite the stamps' rarity and value. Colonel Green himself allowed moisture to affect some of the stamps he retained. Other examples have become slightly toned from improper storage and climatic conditions. Hinging has caused thins and creases in numerous stamps, and at least seven have been "lost" to philately -- or nearly so as in the case of the copy swept up in a vacuum cleaner.
Ex Colonel Edward H.R. Green and offered in Part XX by Laurence and Stryker in March 1945 where purchased by Philip Ward for a customer who held it for decades. With 1993 P.F. certificate
8c Dark Green, 1923 Air Post (C4). Mint N.H., wide balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $135.00)
16c Dark Blue, 1923 Air Post (C5). Bottom plate no. 14831 block of six, hinged in plate no. selvage, stamps Mint N.H., deep rich color, tiny toned speck in bottom center stamp, Fine-Very Fine
24c Carmine, 1923 Air Post (C6). Mint N.H. left plate no. 14843 block of six with wide selvage, rich color, bright color, exceptionally well centered with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK OF THE 24-CENT 1923 AIR POST ISSUE.
Scarce in such choice condition.
5c Winged Globe, Air Post (C12). Mint N.H. with plate no. 19942 at right, perfect centering with Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a huge stamp, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; unpriced above the grade of 98, SMQ $350.00 as 98), only three have graded higher to date
5c Winged Globe, Air Post (C12). Mint N.H. top plate no. 19945 block of six, bright color, choice centering, usual natural gum bends, Extremely Fine