Sale 1014 — Outstanding United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Friday, 12-14 October, 2011
Category — Special Delivery, Registration (Scott E1-E21, F1)
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E1). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression, wide beautifully balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1998 and 2009 P.F. and 2010 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $3,600.00)
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E1). Original gum, lightly hinged, Jumbo margins and handsomely centered, Very Fine and attractive, with 2011 P.S.E. certificate (VF 80 Jumbo; SMQ $370.00 as 80, $540.00 as 85)
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E2). Mint N.H., exceptionally wide margins and nearly perfectly centered, vivid color on post-office fresh paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MARVELOUS MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE SECOND SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE OF 1888. GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
P.S.E. encapsulated (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $8,200.00). Only one example has been graded higher to date in the P.S.E. Population Report (at 98) and only three others share this grade.
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E2). Mint N.H., radiant color and crisp impression on post-office fresh paper, gorgeous centering with Jumbo margins, long and full perforations all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1888 10-CENT SPECIAL DELIVERY, SCOTT E2.
With 2005 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90 Jumbo; SMQ $3,500.00 as 90, $8,200.00 as 95). Only one other shares this grade and only five have graded higher to date.
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E2). Gorgeous centering with Jumbo margins, bright shade, unobtrusive cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp in the finest condition attainable, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $625.00 as 98), this is the highest grade awarded to date in any category and the only example to achieve this grade
10c Orange, Special Delivery (E3). Mint N.H., colossal Jumbo margins and precise centering, vivid color as fresh as the day it was printedEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1893 "COLUMBIAN" SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 JUMBO BY P.S.E. THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE AND THE ONLY EXAMPLE TO ACHIEVE THIS GRADE.
P.S.E. encapsulated (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 95, SMQ $4,100.00 as 95). This stamp is exceptionally rare in the higher grades in Mint N.H. condition. Only seven stamps have been graded above 90 in the P.S.E. Population Report, with four at 95 and this single example at 95J. As another indicator of rarity, SMQ does not even price this issue in the grade of 98.
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E4). Mint N.H., deep rich color nicely contrasted by bright white paper, beautifully centered with wide and balanced margins all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THE 10-CENT 1894 UNWATERMARKED SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE IS A NOTORIOUSLY CHALLENGING ISSUE TO OBTAIN IN THIS SUPERIOR GRADE.
The 1894 series, being the first printed by the Bureau, encountered many production problems. Most stamps were poorly centered and have small margins.
Ex Beverly Hills. P.S.E. encapsulated (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $17,500.00). This is one of only three to achieve this grade in the P.S.E. Population Report. Only two have graded higher to date.
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E4). Original gum, Jumbo margins with perfect centering, rich color and impression on bright paper, Extremely Fine Gem, a spectacular example of the challenging 1894 Unwatermarked Bureau Special Delivery Issue, with 2011 P.S.A.G. certificate (95J ogPH)
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E4). Lightly hinged, deep rich color on fresh paper, reperfed at right, Very Fine and choice appearance
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E5). Mint N.H., deep shade on bright white paper, Very Fine
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E5). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression on brilliant paper, perfectly centered with wide and balanced margins all around, long and full perforationsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1895 10-CENT WATERMARKED BUREAU SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE -- GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E., WHICH IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE. A TRUE CONDITION RARITY IN THE FINEST ATTAINABLE QUALITY.
Ex Whitman. With 1996 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $7,250.00). This remains the only stamp to achieve this desirable grade
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E6). Mint N.H., beautiful bright color on fresh paper, wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1902 10-CENT SPECIAL DELIVERY, SCOTT E6.
Ex Beverly Hills. P.S.E. encapsulated (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $4,850.00). Only two have graded higher to date and only three others share this grade.
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E6). Mint N.H. with top part imprint selvage, uncommonly wide margins which we believe qualify as Jumbo for this typically tight-margined Special Delivery Issue, intense color and clear impression on fresh paper, Extremely Fine, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $1,650.00)
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E6). Plate no. selvage at bottom, rich color, wide margins and choice centering, Extremely Fine, with 1990 P.F. certificate
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E6). Wide top imprint and plate no. 1484 block of six, stamps not hinged but a few reinforced perf separations prevent us from calling the block Mint N.H., beautiful bright color, choice margins and centering, light fingerprint on gumVERY FINE. A RARE AND DESIRABLE WIDE TOP PLATE BLOCK OF THE 1902 SERIES SPECIAL DELIVERY STAMP, SCOTT E6.
A review using Power Search failed to find any Mint N.H. plate blocks of E6 and only one hinged top plate block (with glazed original gum) in all our sales since 1994
10c Green, Special Delivery (E7). Mint N.H., perfect centering and deep rich color, fresh and crisp, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $1,800.00)
10c Green, Special Delivery (E7). Mint N.H. wide top imprint and plate no. 4921 block of six, fresh and Very Fine, a lovely plate block, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate
10c Green, Special Delivery (E7). Mint N.H. wide left imprint and plate no. 4917 block of six, well-balanced margins, fresh color on crisp paper, Very Fine and choice
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E8). Mint N.H., brilliant color and proof-like impression on bright paper, mathematically perfect centering with Jumbo marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS COLOSSAL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1911 SERIES SPECIAL DELIVERY STAMP, SCOTT E8, HAS BEEN AWARDED THE ULTIMATE GRADE OF GEM 100 JUMBO BY P.S.E. -- THIS STANDS ALONE AS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE.
The first "Messenger on Bicycle" Special Delivery design was the 1902 double-line watermarked Scott E6. In 1908 the "Helmut of Mercury" Special Delivery stamp was issued. However, the Messenger on Bicycle design was re-issued in 1911 from new plates with a single-line watermark, and the same basic design was issued continuously until the Motorcycle Delivery design replaced it in 1922.
Scott E8 is not particularly scarce (it has a Scott value of $240.00 in Mint N.H. condition), but to find an example such as this one defies the odds. At first glance it almost strikes one as a perforated small die proof. The P.S.E. Population Report statistics support this statement, as does a review of Power Search and older auction catalogs, which failed to find its equal
Ex Whitman. With 1992 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (Gem 100 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $2,300.00 as 98). This is the only example to have achieved this pinnacle of grades. No other examples have been graded above 98J, of which there is one
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E8). Mint N.H. block of four, intense color with proof-like impression, bright paper, Fine-Very Fine, with 2011 P.S.E. certificate
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E8). Block of four with plate no. 5863 selvage at top, top left stamp barest trace of hinging, other three Mint N.H., wide beautifully balanced margins, Extremely Fine, Scott Retail as singles
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E9a). Mint N.H., intense bright color nicely contrasted by fresh white paper, almost mathematically perfect centering with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1914 BLUE SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
Ex Whitman. With 2001 P.F., 1999 and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $3,600.00). Only two examples have graded higher to date and no others share this grade
10c Ultramarine (E9). Mint N.H., Jumbo margins and almost perfectly centered, bright color, Extremely Fine Gem, P.S.E. encapsulated (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $1,200.00 as 95, $2,700.00 as 98), one of only six to achieve this grade with only three higher (all at 98)
10c Ultramarine (E9). Mint N.H., Jumbo margins, bright color, tiny natural gum skip, Extremely Fine
10c Ultramarine (E9). Mint N.H. bottom plate no. 5857 block of six, huge margins, bright color on fresh paper, light natural gum creaseVERY FINE. A RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK OF THE 10-CENT ULTRAMARINE 1914 SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE, SCOTT E9.
We have sold only three Mint N.H. plate blocks of Scott E9 since 1993
10c Pale Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E10). Mint N.H. with plate no. 6046 wide selvage at top, brilliant color, mathematically precise centering with Jumbo marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS MAGNIFICENT STAMP HAS BEEN GRADED GEM 100 JUMBO BY P.S.E. -- THE ONLY EXAMPLE TO ACHIEVE THIS GRADE.
With 1995 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (Gem 100 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $3,700.00 as 98). This is the only example to achieve this ultimate grade. No others have been graded above 98J, of which there is one
10c Pale Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E10). With part top imprint selvage, Jumbo margins, lovely pastel color, Extremely Fine Gem, an impressive stamp, with 1985 P.F. and 2011 P.S.A.G. certificates, latter graded 95J
10c Pale Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E10). Wide almost perfectly balanced margins, attractive pastel color, fresh and crisp, Extremely Fine Gem, with 29011 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $600.00)
10c Pale Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E10). Mint N.H., wide margins and well-centered, pretty pastel color, Extremely Fine, with 2001 P.F. certificate, with 2007 and 2010 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85; SMQ $800.00)
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E11). Mint N.H., mathematically perfect centering with wide margins, proof-like impression on bright paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE 1917 PERF 11 SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE HAS BEEN AWARDED THE PERFECT GRADE OF GEM 100 BY P.S.E. THIS IS THE ONLY EXAMPLE TO ACHIEVE THIS GRADE.
P.S.E. encapsulated (Gem 100; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $650.00 as 98). This is the only example to achieve a Gem 100 grade to date (only two have graded at 98J, one offered in the following lot)
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E11). Mint N.H., precise centering with Jumbo margins, deep rich color on bright paper, Extremely Fine Gem, a huge and striking stamp, with 1992 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $650.00 as 98), this is one of only two examples to achieve this desirable grade, with only one -- offered in the previous lot -- grading higher at Gem 100
10c Gray Violet, Special Delivery (E11b). Mint N.H., brilliant color on bright white paper, perfectly centered with exceptionally wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem example of this elusive shade variety, ex Whitman, P.S.E. encapsulated (Superb 98; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 95, $650.00 as 95)
10c Deep Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E12a). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression, mathematically perfect centering with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1922 10-CENT SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE HAS BEEN AWARDED THE PERFECT GRADE OF GEM 100 BY P.S.E.
Ex Whitman. With 1995 P.F. (as Scott E12) and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (Gem 100; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, $800.00 as 98). Only one example has graded 100J and no others share this 100 grade. Among the Gray Violet shade E12's only one has graded 100 with none higher
10c Deep Ultramarine (E12a). Mint N.H., wide even margin with flawless centering, deep rich color on bright white paper, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Whitman, 2001 P.F. certificate no longer accompanies, P.S.E. encapsulated (Superb 98; SMQ $800.00)
15c Deep Orange, Special Delivery (E13). Mint N.H., Jumbo margins and exceptionally choice centering, vivid color on post-office fresh paper, Extremely Fine Gem, a stunning stamp, with 1994 and 2001 P.F. certificates, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $400.00 as 98), this is the highest grade awarded to date and the only example to achieve this grade
15c Deep Orange, Special Delivery (E13). Mint N.H. wide top plate no. 16836 block of six, excellent centering, bright color, Very Fine, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate
20c Black, Special Delivery (E14). Mint N.H., colossal margins and mathematically perfect centering, proof-like impression on fresh paper, Extremely Fine Gem, in a word "spectacular", P.S.E. encapsulated (Gem 100 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98), this is the only example to achieve this loftiest of grades, with no others equaling it
10c Red Lilac, Special Delivery (E15a). Mint N.H., gorgeous deep shade on fresh paper, mathematically perfect centering, Extremely Fine Gem, P.S.E. encapsulated (Gem 100; SMQ $350.00), one of nine to have achieved this desirable grade with none higher
17c Orange Yellow, Special Delivery (E18). Perfectly balanced margins, vivid color on crisp paper, Extremely Fine Gem, P.S.E. encapsulated (Gem 100; SMQ $420.00), this is the only example to achieve this perfect grade to date, with none higher
Special Delivery, Graded Balance (E14, E15a, E19, E21). Mint N.H., each with wide margins and precise centering, Extremely Fine Gem group, each P.S.E. encapsulated and graded Superb 98, total SMQ $435.00
10c Ultramarine, Registration (F1). Mint N.H. right imprint, plate no. 5723 and "A" block of six, deep rich color on bright paper, trivial natural gum skips and bends, Very Fine