Sale 967 — Important and Superb United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Friday, 16-19 December, 2008
Category — Postage Due (J)
2c Brown (J2). Mint N.H., beautiful bright color and detailed impression, choice centering with balanced margins of near Jumbo proportionsEXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1879 2-CENT BROWN POSTAGE DUE ISSUE. SCARCE IN SUCH SUPERB CONDITION.
With 1994, 2005 and 2006 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $4,000.00)
30c Brown (J6). Original gum, nice margins and lovely color with clear impression, Very Fine and attractive, with 2005 P.F. certificate
50c Brown (J7). Beautiful margins and centering, lovely color and impression, neat San Francisco circular datestamp, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95), SMQ does not price used Postage Dues
30c Red Brown (J20). Mint N.H., wide margins and excellent centering, crisp color and impression, Very Fine and choice, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate
50c Red Brown (J21). Mint N.H., bright and fresh color, detailed impression showing every nuance of the design, beautiful centeringEXTREMELY FINE. A GORGEOUS MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 50-CENT 1884 RED BROWN POSTAGE DUE.
With 1990 and 2001 P.F. certificates. With 2004 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $6,600.00). This is the only Mint N.H. example to be awarded this grade, which is the highest grade given to date in any condition.
1c Bright Claret (J22). Mint N.H., well-balanced margins, bright color, Extremely Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $265.00)
1c Dark Claret (J22). Mint N.H. vertical block of six, crisp, radiant color, Fine-Very Fine
3c Bright Claret (J24). Mint N.H., Jumbo margins, nearly perfect centering and wonderfully rich color, Extremely Fine, a fairly inexpensive Postage Due, but a rarity in this condition, ex Vineyard, with 1997 P.F. certificate
5c Bright Claret (J25). Mint N.H., balanced margins, wonderful deep rich color, fresh and bright, Extremely Fine, with 1999 P.F. certificate
10c Bright Claret (J26). Mint N.H., magnificent margins and centering, lovely color and as fresh as the day it was printed, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,850.00), only two others share this grade with only one higher
10c Bright Claret (J26). Mint N.H., uncommonly wide margins, vivid color and proof-like impression, Extremely Fine, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $1,050.00)
50c Bright Claret (J28). Mint N.H., deep rich color on brilliant paper, perfectly centered, long and full perforations all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1891 50-CENT BRIGHT CLARET POSTAGE DUE ISSUE.
With 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $5,450.00). This is the highest grade awarded to date and only four others have achieved this grade
50c Bright Claret (J28). Mint N.H., beautiful warm color on crisp paper, unusually wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1891 50-CENT POSTAGE DUE.
With 2003 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $3,250.00)
50c Bright Claret (J28). Fabulous margins and precise centering, deep rich color, small central cork cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98), SMQ does not list used Postage Dues, but if they did, the value would be in the neighborhood of $1,000.00, judging by their pricing structure for unused stamps
2c Deep Claret (J32). Mint N.H., proof-like impression on bright paper, unusually choice centering with Jumbo marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT POSTAGE DUE, SCOTT J32.
With 2006 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $1,000.00 as 95, $2,050.00 as 98). This stands alone as the highest grade awarded to date -- the next highest is a 90J (one stamp) and a 90 (two stamps)
2c Deep Claret (J32). Mint N.H., beautiful wide margins, choice centering, bright color and crisp impression, Extremely Fine, with 2001 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $540.00)
10c Deep Claret (J35). Mint N.H., deep rich color, light natural gum wrinkle, Very Fine, with photocopy of 2008 P.S.E. certificate for vertical pair (top stamp)
10c Deep Claret (J35). Mint N.H., attractive centering with deep rich color, Very Fine and choice, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate for pair
30c Pale Rose (J36b). Original gum, lightly hinged and incredibly well-centered, attractive soft pastel color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,100.00)
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 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 $2,450.00). The P.S.E. Population Report demonstrates how difficult it is to find this stamp in higher grades. Despite its high catalogue value, only seven OG and two 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 two at 85, one of which is offered here.
2c Deep Claret (J39). Mint N.H. with top part imprint selvage, large Jumbo margins for the issue, magnificent color and sharp impression, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95J; SMQ $380.00 as 95, $770.00 as 98)
3c Deep Claret, Postage Due (J40). Pane of 100 with plate no. 70 and imprints at top and bottom, full selvage with arrow at right, natural s.e. at left, deep dark color, 45 stamps incl. top plate no. block Mint N.H., bottom three rows slightly disturbed original gum and nineteen other stamps h.r., Pos. 6-10 with light crease, some perf separations, overall Fine-Very Fine
50c Deep Claret (J44). Original gum, single small hinge mark at top, rich color, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 2008 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $570.00)
2c Rose Carmine (J46a). Mint N.H., brilliant color on bright paper, choice centering with Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1999 P.F. certificate identifying the shade as Deep Claret, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $500.00 as 95, $1,100.00 as 98), this is the highest grade awarded to date among both shade varieties of this issue and in any gum condition
2c Deep Claret (J46). Mint N.H., wide margins with choice centering, lovely color and impression, Extremely Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $330.00), this is a very strong 90
10c Rose Carmine (J49a). Mint N.H., beautiful color, fresh, Fine and attractive, with 2008 P.F. certificate
5c Dull Rose (J55a). Mint N.H., beautiful color on bright paper, perfectly centered with wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $1,200.00), this stands alone as the highest grade awarded to date, the next-highest is a 90
30c Carmine Lake (J57). Mint N.H., gorgeous Jumbo margins and nearly perfectly centered, rich color and detailed impression, Extremely Fine, with 2001 P.F. certificate for pair and 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90 Jumbo; SMQ $1,150.00 as 90, $1,750.00 as 95)
2c Rose (J60). Mint N.H., wide margins and choice centering, bright color, Extremely Fine, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $1,000.00), appears to us to be better than an 85
50c Carmine (J76). Mint N.H., perfectly balanced margins, bright and crisp, Extremely Fine, with 2007 P.F. certificate
50c Scarlet (J86a). Mint N.H., perfectly centered, vivid color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95), SMQ does not list Postage Dues after No. J78