Sale 976 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Friday, 29 September-2 October, 2009
Category — Postal Note, Parcel Post (PN, Q, JQ, QE)
3c Parcel Post (Q3). Mint N.H. with siderographer's initials in bottom left corner selvage, balanced Jumbo margins, intense shade and impression, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $315.00 as 95, $960.00 as 98)
4c Parcel Post (Q4). Mint N.H. bottom plate no. 6347 block of six with wide selvage, rich color and detailed impression, few perf separations in selvage, Very Fine, a beautiful Mint N.H. plate block, with 2009 P.F. certificate
15c-$1.00 Parcel Post (Q7-Q12). Blocks of four, 25c bottom right corner selvage with siderographer's initials, 75c bottom selvage with plate no. 6287, some h.r., few small flaws incl. 15c thin spot and few with perf separations sensibly reinforced, overall Fine-Very Fine, scarce group
20c Parcel Post (Q8). Mint N.H. wide right plate no. 6193 and "TWENTY" block of eight, rich color, well-proportioned margins, Pos. 1 with additional ink in left "20", Pos. 6 with unusual ink smear at bottom from adherence on the plate, purple post office mark in selvage, light natural gum bend at top right, bottom stamp natural gum creaseFINE-EXTREMELY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE AND DESIRABLE MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE NUMBER AND "TWENTY" BLOCK OF EIGHT OF THE 209-CENT PARCEL POST ISSUE.
The Parcel Post issues were printed from plates of 180 which consisted of four panes of 45. According to Johl, the uniform color of the twelve denominations led to confusion on the part of postal clerks, who complained that they were forced to examine the stamps in detail to ensure they had the correct values. In response, on January 27, 1913 large capital letters were added to the margins near each plate number. At top and bottom the imprint is in the selvage next to the plate number; on the sides it is separated by a stamp with blank selvage, except in the case where the lettering is too long. We can tell that this came from the bottom right pane, because on that pane the letters precede rather than follow the plate number at the side. In the case of the 20c, the spacing of the letters stretches across three stamps and so the most desirable way to collect this with the imprint is as a block of eight.
Scott Retail as hinged.
50c Parcel Post (Q10). Mint N.H., choice margins and centering, vivid color on crisp paper, Extremely Fine, with 2006 P.F. certificate (XF 90)
50c Parcel Post (Q10). Mint N.H., wide margins, vivid color on bright white paper, Extremely Fine, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $850.00)
50c Parcel Post (Q10). Mint N.H., radiant color, wide margins, Extremely Fine, ex Silver Lake, with 2004 P.F. certificate
50c Parcel Post (Q10). Bottom imprint and plate no. 6427 block of four, bottom stamps Mint N.H., brilliant color, fresh and Very Fine, Scott Retail with no premium for the two Mint N.H. stamps
50c Parcel Post (Q10). Brilliant color, gorgeous centering with wide and balanced margins, neat strike of Boston oval registry cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp in every respect, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $990.00), only one has graded higher to date (at 98J)
75c Parcel Post (Q11). Right plate no. 6288 and "SEVENTY-FIVE" at bottom block of eight with wide selvage, top right stamp barest trace of hinging, other seven stamps Mint N.H., brilliant color, few trivial perf separations at top, Pos. 6 small natural inclusionFINE-VERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF EIGHT OF THE 75-CENT PARCEL POST ISSUE.
From the top right pane of the plate. With 2009 P.F. certificate
75c Parcel Post (Q11). Top plate no. 6299 block of six, barest trace of hinging with several Mint N.H., few with small adherences on gum, rich color, detailed impression, few minor perf separations, Very Fine
$1.00 Parcel Post (Q12). Mint N.H. vertical pair, wide margins and wonderfully well-centered, bright color, natural fiber inclusion between stamps, otherwise Extremely Fine, with 2006 P.F. certificate
2c Dark Green, Parcel Post Postage Due (JQ2). Mint N.H., perfectly centered with wide balanced margins, crisp detailed impression, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $960.00)
10c Dark Green, Parcel Post Postage Due (JQ4). Mint N.H., detailed impression, well-proportioned margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1998 P.F. certificate