Sale 967 — Important and Superb United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Friday, 16-19 December, 2008
Category — Special Delivery, Registration (E, F)
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E1). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression on fresh paper, exceptional centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE FIRST SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE.
With 1999 and 2007 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $12,200.00)
10c Orange, Special Delivery (E3). Mint N.H., essentially perfectly balanced margins, beautiful glowing color, freshEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A REMARKABLY CHOICE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1893 10-CENT ORANGE SPECIAL DELIVERY STAMP, WHICH WAS RELEASED WITH THE COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $4,650.00). Only two have achieved this grade with only one higher
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E4). Mint N.H., wide margins and particularly well-centered, intense color and clear impressionEXTREMELY FINE. A PREMIUM MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE UNWATERMARKED 1894 SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE.
With 2006 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $7,450.00)
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E4). Disturbed original gum, enormous Jumbo margins, choice color on fresh paper, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2006 P.F. as "redistributed original gum" and 2007 P.S.E. certificate as regummed -- we disagree with the P.S.E. on this one (if it were regummed, the gum wouldn't look disturbed like this)
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E5). Mint N.H., wide margins of near Jumbo proportions, almost perfect centering, deep rich colorEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT-NEVER HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1895 WATERMARKED SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE.
With 2002 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $3,600.00). This is the highest grade awarded to date and only eleven others share this grade.
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E5). Mint N.H., wide margins, beautiful intense color on bright white paper, Extremely Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $1,300.00)
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E5). Original gum, lightly hinged, extraordinarily wide margins and almost mathematically centered, lovely color and impression, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1991 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, Superb 98; SMQ $1,150.00), this is the highest grade awarded to date and only two others share this grade
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E6). Mint N.H. with plate no. 1776 and wide selvage at top, brilliant color and proof-like impression on bright paper, mathematically perfect centering with unusually wide margins on all sidesEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1902 SERIES SPECIAL DELIVERY STAMP, SCOTT E6, HAS BEEN AWARDED THE PERFECT GRADE OF GEM 100 BY P.S.E. -- THIS STANDS ALONE AS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE.
Scott E6 is the first of the "Messenger on Bicycle" Special Delivery designs. It was released as part of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing's "Series of 1902" regular postage issues (Scott 300-313). Scott E6 is printed on double-line "USPS" watermarked paper with 12-gauge perforations. In 1908 the "Helmut of Mercury" Special Delivery stamp was issued. However, the Messenger on Bicycle design was re-issued in 1909 from new plates, and the same basic design was issued continuously until the Motorcycle Delivery design replaced it in 1922. Changes in the paper and perforation gauge for the issues from 1909 until 1922 mirror the changes in the Washington-Franklin series of the same period.
Scott E6 is not particularly scarce (it has a Scott value of $230.00 unused), but experienced collectors and professionals know that very few examples of the 1902 Issue exist with wide and balanced margins. The P.S.E. Population Report statistics support this statement, and a review of our auction records with Power Search provides visual confirmation. None of the stamps (singles or in blocks) in our database compare to this Mint N.H. Gem 100 example.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; unpriced above the grade of 98 in SMQ, SMQ $14,000.00 as 98). This is the highest grade awarded to date and the only example to achieve this desirable grade. One has been graded Superb 98, and two have been graded 95.
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E6). Mint N.H., nicely centered, Very Fine, with 2008 P.F. certificate
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E8). Mint N.H., lovely margins and almost perfectly centered, beautiful soft color and sharp impression, Extremely Fine, with 2000 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $590.00)
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E8). Mint N.H., exceptionally wide margins, almost perfectly balanced, beautiful color and detailed impression, Extremely Fine Gem
10c Ultramarine (E9). Mint N.H., deep rich color and exceptionally well-centered, Very Fine and choice, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF85; SMQ $600.00)
10c Pale Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E10). Balanced margins and precise centering, lovely pastel color and lightly hinged, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, Superb 98; SMQ $1,200.00)
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E11). Balanced Jumbo margins, lovely pastel color, barely cancelled, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $70.00 as 95, $245.00 as 98), the only used No. E11 in this grade with only one graded higher
10c Gray Violet, Special Delivery (E12). Mint N.H., wide balanced margins of near Jumbo proportions, precisely centered, beautiful color and detailed impressionEXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN ABSOLUTELY OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF THE 1922 10-CENT GRAY VIOLET SPECIAL DELIVERY IN MINT NEVER-HINGED POST OFFICE CONDITION.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $1,150.00 as 98, unpriced in higher grade), the only Gray Violet No. E12 awarded this lofty grade with none higher. The Deep Ultramarine No. E12a has a listing of one 100 and one 100J
10c Gray Violet, Special Delivery (E12). Mint N.H., wide margins of near Jumbo proportions, precisely centered, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $1,150.00)
15c Deep Orange, Special Delivery (E13). Mint N.H., wide margins and exceptionally well-centered, beautiful vivid color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $295.00)
20c Black, Special Delivery (E14). Mint N.H., massive Jumbo margins with impeccable centering, clear impression on crisp white paper, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $220.00 as 98, unpriced in higher grade), one of seven to have achieved this lofty grade with only two higher
10c Ultramarine, Registration (F1). Mint N.H. top imprint , plate no. 5726 and letter "A" block of six, brilliant color on bright paper, unusually choice centering throughoutEXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK OF THE 10-CENT REGISTRATION ISSUE. SCARCE IN SUCH SUPERB CONDITION.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate