Sale 921 — Superb Graded United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday, 18 October, 2006
Category — 1893 Columbian Issue
1c Columbian (230). Mint N.H., beautiful wide margins and perfectly centered, delightful color, clear impression, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $475.00)
2c Columbian (231). Mint N.H. with left sheet margin, uncommonly dark color and fine impression, unusually wide margins and choice centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $475.00)
3c Columbian (232). Mint N.H., choice margins and beautifully centered, bright and crisp, Extremely Fine, with 2006 P.F. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $400.00)
4c Columbian (233). Mint N.H., brilliant color and detailed impression, perfectly centered with unusually wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT COLUMBIAN ISSUE, WHICH HAS ACHIEVED A GRADE OF SUPERB 98 FROM P.S.E.
With 2005 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $5,050.00)
4c Columbian (233). Mint N.H., radiant color, perfectly centered with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT COLUMBIAN ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
With 2004 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,800.00)
4c Columbian, Error of Color (233a). Original gum, lightly hinged, breathtaking deep rich color on bright paper, unusually choice centering with Jumbo marginsEXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THE RARE 4-CENT COLUMBIAN ERROR OF COLOR. A MARVELOUS STAMP.
The 4c Columbian color error was caused by the use of a wrong batch of ink, and spectrographic analysis has shown that the blue inks of the 4c error and 1c Columbian have the same components.
Stamps from at least two panes reached collectors, and the few cancelled examples indicate that stamps used by the public came from other panes. It is likely that a number of full sheets were printed using the wrong ink, and most of the stamps have simply been lost to philately.
Ex Hetherington. With 1951 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85 Jumbo; the highest grade priced by SMQ is VF 80 at $37,000.00). The P.S.E. population report lists one example in the grade of 85 and one in the grade of 90.
5c Columbian (234). Mint N.H., brilliant color and detailed impression, almost perfectly centered with Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a gorgeous stamp, P.S.E. encapsulated (XF 90 Jumbo; SMQ $700.00 as 90, $2,050.00 as 95)
6c Columbian (235). Mint N.H., deep rich color and sharp proof-like impression, perfectly centered with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
With 2006 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,800.00)
15c Columbian (238). Original gum, barely hinged (appears Mint N.H.), incredibly wide balanced Jumbo margins and perfectly centered, Extremely Fine Gem, certainly one of the widest-margined, centered original-gum examples of this stamp extant, with 1987 P.F. (stating that it is genuine which implies Mint N.H. ) and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98 Jumbo, the only example to receive this grade; SMQ $1,400.00 as 98)
30c Columbian (239). Mint N.H., brilliant color and crisp impression, almost perfectly centered with Jumbo marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT COLUMBIAN ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 JUMBO BY P.S.E.
P.S.E. encapsulated (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $6,150.00 as 95, $14,400.00 as 98)
30c Columbian (239). Mint N.H., deep rich color on bright paper, sharp proof-like impression, perfectly centered with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT COLUMBIAN ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN GIVEN THE GRADE OF XF-SUPERB 95 BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION.
With 1984 P.F. certificate as block of four and 2006 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $6,150.00)
50c Columbian (240). Choice wide margins and wonderfully well-centered, intense color, New York grid duplex cancellation, Extremely Fine, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $395.00)
$1.00 Columbian (241). Original gum, barely hinged, rich color and proof-like impression, choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
P.S.E. encapsulated (XF 90; SMQ $2,200.00)
$1.00 Columbian (241). Original gum, lightly hinged, brilliant color, beautiful centering with well-proportioned marginsEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
P.S.E. encapsulated (XF 90; SMQ $2,200.00)
$2.00 Columbian (242). Original gum, lightly hinged, exceptional centering and color, fresh and crispEXTREMELY FINE LIGHTLY-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
With 2001 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $2,300.00)
$2.00 Columbian (242). Original gum, lightly hinged, attractive margins and exceptionally well-centered, wonderful deep rich colorEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
With 2006 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $2,300.00)
$4.00 Columbian (244). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich color, choice centering with well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $4.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
With 2006 P.F. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $4,350.00)
$5.00 Columbian (245). Original gum, single hinge mark, intense shade and detailed impression, beautiful centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A GORGEOUS ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
With 2006 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $8,700.00)