Sale 1094 — The Curtis Collection: Back of Book and Possessions
Sale Date — Wednesday, 25 March, 2015
Category — Postage Due: 1914-56 Issues and Group Lots (Scott J52-J87)
Lot
Symbol
Photo/Description
Cat./Est. Value
Realized
94
2c Vermilion (J53b). Mint N.H., choice centering within wide margins, brilliantly fresh, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $550.00 as 95, the highest grade they price), the highest grade the P.S.E. has given this stamp and the only one to grade 95J
180
550
95
3c Dull Rose (J54a). Wide margins, bright color, Very Fine and choice, with 1992 P.F. certificate
1,000
850
Back to Top96
3c Dull Rose (J54a). Top imprint, plate no. 5523 and star block of six with wide selvage, top left and bottom side stamps Mint N.H., top center stamp h.r., others lightly hinged, brilliant color, some perf separations between plate number selvage and position 3FINE-VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE TOP PLATE BLOCK OF SIX OF THE 1914 3-CENT POSTAGE DUE ISSUE IN THE DULL ROSE SHADE. THIS IS ONLY THE SECOND PLATE BLOCK IN EITHER THE CARMINE LAKE OR DULL ROSE SHADE WE HAVE OFFERED SINCE KEEPING COMPUTERIZED RECORDS.
This is the finer of the two we have offered.
8,750
4,000
Back to Top97
3c Carmine Lake (J54). Used vertical block of 28 (4 x 7), Times Square Station N.Y.C. oval cancels, some hinge and paper remnants, a few minor flaws, Fine, an unusually large and scarce multiple, blocks are listed but unpriced, Scott Retail as used singles
2,100
400
Back to Top98
10c Carmine Rose (J56a). Mint N.H., wide margins and attractive centering, intense shade, Extremely Fine, ex Whitman, with 1995 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $400.00)
250
450
Back to Top99
10c Dull Rose (J56a). Bottom imprint, plate no. 6555 and star block of eight, small h.r., bright and fresh, a few minor perf separations in selvage, Very Fine, ex Wampler
1,050
325
Back to Top100
30c Carmine Lake (J57). Top imprint, plate no. 5526 and star block of six with wide selvage, stamps Mint N.H., h.r. in selvage reinforcing a few perf separations, rich color, Fine
2,750
375
Back to Top101
30c Carmine Lake (J57). Top imprint, plate no. 5526 and star block of six, deep color, about Fine, a scarce plate block
2,750
350
Back to Top102
50c Carmine Lake (J58). Original gum, small h.r., rich colorFINE. THE 1914 50-CENT POSTAGE DUE WITH ORIGINAL GUM IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL POSTAGE DUE STAMPS.
With 1996 P.F. certificate
11,500
4,125
Back to Top103
50c Carmine Lake (J58). Block of four, deep rich color, neat oval cancels, bottom right stamp with light natural horizontal paper wrinkleFRESH AND VERY FINE. A RARE USED BLOCK OF THE 1914 50-CENT CARMINE LAKE POSTAGE DUE.
Ex Twigg-Smith. With 1965 P.F. certificate
7,000
1,400
Back to Top104
50c Carmine Lake (J58). Block of four with oval cancel, rich color, left stamps with small thins, Fine appearance, a rare block, with 2001 P.S.E. certificate
7,000
800
Back to Top105
50c Carmine Lake (J58). Vertical strip of five with bottom half-arrow selvage and natural s.e. at right, original gum intact, some hinge and paper remnants, Buffalo N.Y. precancels, Fine, a very rare multiple, catalogued as five singles
3,750
650
Back to Top106
1c Rose (J59). Lightly hinged, well-centered for this, fresh colorVERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 1916 ONE-CENT PERF 10 UNWATERMARKED POSTAGE DUE ISSUE.
The Postage Due stamps on unwatermarked paper were perforated with 10-gauge pins for a brief time. Well-centered original-gum examples are exceedingly rare.
With 1997 P.F. certificate
4,000
2,100
Back to Top107
1c Rose (J59). Top imprint, plate no. 5522 and star block of six, lightly hinged at top center, other five stamps Mint N.H., deep rich color, selvage slightly reduced, bottom left stamp with three thinned perfs at bottom leftFINE AND EXCEEDINGLY RARE IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF THE ONE-CENT PERF 10 UNWATERMARKED POSTAGE DUE ISSUE.
Generally, the 1c Unwatermarked Perf 10 is found with poor centering. Our review of major plate block and Postage Due auctions, including Chapin, Cole, Kobacker, Simon, Todd, and Wampler, revealed only two examples: the ex-Cole (and Drucker) plate block, and the ex-Wampler plate block, both of which are also hinged once at top with selvage reduced. Of the few remaining plate blocks in existence, two have been broken for singles.
With 2003 P.F. certificate
30,000
4,750
Back to Top108
2c Rose (J60). Lightly hinged, Jumbo margins and almost perfectly centered, vivid color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $600.00 as 95, the highest grade they price), only one stamp grades higher (Mint N.H. 98)
275
650
Back to Top109
2c Rose (J60). Used vertical block of 40 (5 x 8) with bottom plate no. 6705 margin, Times Square Station N.Y.C. oval cancels, few hinge reinforcements, several small faults, Fine appearance, a very scarce and unusually large used block
3,680
250
Back to Top110
30c Carmine Rose (J66). Mint N.H., outstanding centering, rich color, Extremely Fine, with 2000 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates mistakenly identifying it as No. J66a (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $700.00)
220
350
Back to Top111
30c Deep Claret (J66a). Mint N.H., excellent centering, Jumbo margins, rich color and crisp impression, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $700.00 as 95, the highest grade they price), this is the highest grade awarded to this stamp
220
600
Back to Top112
50c Carmine Rose (J67). Right plate no. 15887 block of six, lightly hinged, rich color, Very Fine
1,200
425
Back to Top113
5c Carmine (J73). Mint N.H., brilliant color on crisp paper, perfectly centered, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $385.00), this is the highest grade awarded and only one other shares this grade
42
325
Back to Top114
$1.00 Scarlet (J87). Mint N.H. pane of 100 with plate no. 25243 at lower left, radiant color, Fine-Very Fine, Scott Retail as blocks of four
5,330
1,300
Back to Top115
Postage Dues Unused Balance. Including 13 from the first three issues, some cataloguing several hundred dollars each, a large number of well-centered examples, some Mint N.H., Fine-Very Fine, with the majority Very Fine, eighteen certificates accompany, five of which are graded, also including First Issue "H" proof and No. J15SD-J21SD
E. 1,500-2,000
3,500
Back to Top116
Postage Dues Used Balance. Well-filled album pages (basically lacking only the stamps that were lotted individually), chosen for centering and margin size, Nos. J58 and J59 with small faults, many are Very Fine or Extremely Fine, nine certificates accompany, six of which are graded
E. 500-750
2,900
Back to Top117
Postage Dues Blocks and Plate Blocks. Dozens of items, including both unused and used blocks and plate blocks, blocks range in size from 4 to 70, many used blocks including No. J20 (eight) and J28, unused No. J16 block of six with plate no. in selvage, unused plate blocks including Nos. J24, J25, J33 and J57 (these higher cataloguing plate blocks have small faults), several later plate blocks cataloguing hundreds of dollars each, also many used plate blocks, condition is somewhat mixed, Fine-Very Fine appearance
E. 3,000-4,000
5,000
Back to Top118
Postage Dues Used Multiples. 20 items, including few full panes such as J78, J87 and others, also about 20 Postage Due bills with various stamps, mixed condition, overall a nice lot for someone who likes multiples
E. 200-300
110
Back to Top119
Postage Dues on Cover. Collection offered intact, over 50 covers or cards with postage due stamp applied, several originated overseas, fourteen have the first three issues, including No. J1 block of ten, No. J17 pair, and Nos. J25 and J27 on domestic cover, with the postage due stamps paying for the return of 35 unclaimed letters (P.F. certificate), covers are in typical mixed condition, Fine-Very Fine appearance
E. 1,500-2,000
1,200
Back to Top